By the early 20th century, the Qajar dynasty had lost much of its legitimacy. Their failure to resist foreign domination or bring about meaningful reform set the stage for their downfall. The constitutional movement, press freedom, and intellectual developments fostered a new sense of identity tied to sovereignty and modern governance. After a brief regency under Ahmad Shah, Reza Khan’s rise in 1921 and eventual coronation in 1925 marked the start of the Pahlavi dynasty, ushering in a new chapter of forced modernization and state centralization.
