Shiraz has been the birthplace or home of some of the most influential figures in Iranian history.
* **Hafez:** 14th-century poet whose lyric poetry is considered the absolute pinnacle of Persian literature. * **Saadi Shirazi:** 13th-century poet and prose writer, widely recognized as one of the greatest masters of the classical literary tradition. * **Karim Khan Zand:** 18th-century ruler and founder of the Zand Dynasty, who made Shiraz his capital and built much of its enduring historic infrastructure. * **Mulla Sadra:** 17th-century Islamic philosopher who led the Iranian cultural renaissance. * **Firouz Naderi:** Prominent Iranian-American scientist and former director at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. * **Valerie Jarrett:** American businesswoman and former senior advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama, born in Shiraz to American parents. * **Abbas Doran:** Celebrated and highly decorated Iranian fighter pilot during the Iran-Iraq War.
