Persia To Iran

Persia To Iran

Why in News Persia To Iran? 

Recently, during rising tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict, an Iranian missile strike reportedly hit a hospital. In response, the Israeli Prime Minister referenced ancient Persia, hinting at a deeper historical incident.

Ancient Persia: A Great Civilization

• Geographical Roots:

• • • Persia’s early roots can be traced to the Iranian plateau, located between the Caspian Sea and the Zagros Mountains.
    • This land offered fertile valleys, high mountains, and easy access to neighboring civilizations like Mesopotamia and India. 
    • The early settlers, mostly Indo-Iranian tribes, arrived around 2000 BCE, blending their customs with local traditions. 
    • Among these tribes were the Persians and the Medes, who would later form powerful kingdoms. 
    • The Medes settled in the northwest, the Persians took root in the south, in a region called Parsa, later known as Fars.

• The Rise of the Achaemenid Empire:

• • • The true beginning of Persia’s golden age came with the rise of Cyrus II, also known as Cyrus the Great. 
    • In 550 BCE, Cyrus the Great brought together Persian tribes and removed the Median ruler Astyages from power.
    • He went on to conquer Lydia in Asia Minor, Babylon in Mesopotamia, and parts of Central Asia. 
    • His leadership started the Achaemenid Empire, which later expanded from the Aegean Sea in the west to India in the east.
    • Cyrus is also remembered for his humane governance. After capturing Babylon in 539 BCE, he freed the Jewish people from captivity and allowed them to return to Jerusalem.

• Darius the Great and Imperial Administration:

• • • After Cyrus, Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, led the empire into a period of strength and growth.
    • Under his rule, the empire extended into Thrace in Europe, parts of India, and also reached into Egypt.
    • Darius created a centralized system of administration. Darius organized the empire into separate regions called satrapies, each led by its own local governor.
    • Darius also introduced standard coinage, known as the daric, and built a vast network of royal roads, including the famous Royal Road from Susa to Sardis (over 2,500 km long). 

• Culture of Ancient Persia:

• • • Ancient Persia is known for its magnificent architecture, especially at Persepolis, which became the ceremonial capital under Darius I. 
    • Stone palaces, grand columns, and carved reliefs showing processions of delegates from across the empire reflect the glory of the Persian court.
    • Persians practiced Zoroastrianism, founded by Zoroaster (Zarathustra) around 1000 BCE.  
    • This dualistic worldview influenced other religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
    • Zoroastrianism taught about an ongoing conflict between Ahura Mazda, the god of truth and light, and Angra Mainyu, the force of darkness.

• Legacy of Ancient Persia:

• • The Achaemenid Empire eventually declined under Xerxes I and his successors, facing major defeats like the one at Salamis (480 BCE) during the wars with Greece. 
  • By 330 BCE, Alexander the Great invaded Persia and defeated Darius III, marking the end of the Achaemenid rule.

The Persian Dynasties

• Parthian Empire (247 BCE – 224 CE):

• • • The Parthians, originally a nomadic tribe from the northeast region of Iran, rose to power after overthrowing Seleucid rule in 247 BCE. 
    • Their kingdom began under Arsaces I, who founded the Arsacid Dynasty. The Parthians controlled a large area stretching from Mesopotamia to Central Asia.
    • One of their strengths was their skilled cavalry, especially horse archers, who became famous for the “Parthian shot” — a military tactic used while retreating on horseback. 
    • Their military success helped them resist repeated attacks from the Roman Empire, especially during the 1st century BCE.

• Sassanid Empire (224 CE – 651 CE):

• • • In 224 CE, the Parthians were defeated by Ardashir I, a local ruler from Fars province. 
    • Ardashir I started the Sassanid rule with a goal to rebuild ancient Persia’s power and strengthen central rule.
    • Shapur I fought against the Roman Empire and managed to capture their emperor, Valerian, in 260 CE.
    • The Sassanids considered themselves the true heirs of the Achaemenids.
    • The empire flourished under kings like Shapur I (240–270 CE) and Khosrow I (531–579 CE). 
    • Khosrow I introduced reforms in taxation, administration, and supported scholars and artists.

• The Islamic Conquest (7th Century CE):

• • The Sassanid Empire collapsed as Muslim Arab forces advanced during the 7th century and conquered its lands.
  • Years of war with the Byzantines had weakened the empire. When the Rashidun Caliphate launched military campaigns in the 630s CE, the Sassanids struggled to resist.
  • The key battle was the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636 CE, where Arab forces defeated the Sassanids. 
  • By 651 CE, with the death of Yazdegerd III, the last Sassanid king, the empire collapsed, and Persia came under Islamic rule.

Transformation of Persian Identity

The identity of Persia underwent major changes during the early modern era. This period, roughly between the 16th and 18th centuries.

• • In 1501, Shah Ismail I founded the Safavid Dynasty and declared Twelver Shi’a Islam as the official state religion.
    • By promoting Shiism, the Safavids distinguished Persia from their Sunni neighbors, especially the Ottoman Empire to the west.
    • The move helped unify the population under a shared faith but also led to conflicts with Sunni rulers for centuries.

• A new clerical class, known as the ulama, gained influence in both religious and political affairs. 

• Under Safavid rule, Persian culture experienced a strong revival. 
  • The court supported poets, artists, and historians who wrote in Persian. 
  • Cities like Isfahan, made capital by Shah Abbas I in the late 1500s, became centers of architecture and trade.
  • The Safavids helped Persian become the language of the elite and administration. 
• The early modern period gave Persia a new political and religious image. 
  • The state’s support for Shiism, use of Persian language, and promotion of native arts created a national identity that lasted even after the fall of the Safavids in 1736.
  • This transformation marked the start of modern Iranian identity—firmly rooted in Shiism and separate from the Arab and Ottoman worlds.

Renaming of Persia to Iran (1935)

• Rise of Nationalism:

• • • The early 20th century saw growing nationalist movements across the world. In Iran, Reza Shah Pahlavi, who came to power in 1925, wanted to modernize the nation and reduce foreign influence. 
    • Inspired by nationalist ideas and reforms in countries like Turkey, he aimed to reshape Iran’s global image.
    • Reza Shah considered “Persia” a name given by outsiders and thought it no longer suited the modern identity of the country.
    • He wanted the world to recognize his country by the name its own people used—Iran. 

• Official Name Change:

• • • In March 1935, Reza Shah’s government formally asked all foreign embassies to use the name “Iran” in official documents and diplomatic communication. 
    • The request was made on Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
    • Most countries quickly adopted the change. Maps, books, and newspapers began using “Iran” instead of “Persia.” 

• Debate and Clarification:

• • After Reza Shah’s fall in 1941, some academics and diplomats suggested restoring the international use of “Persia”. 
  • In response, his son Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi clarified that both “Persia” and “Iran” could be used, depending on the context.
  • Today, “Iran” is the official name used in politics and global relations. 
  • However, “Persia” is still widely used when referring to the country’s art, history, literature, and ancient civilization.

Meaning of Iran: The name “Iran” comes from the term “Aryānām,” which means the land of the Aryans, as found in ancient Avesta writings. This native name appeared in official writings during the Sassanid period (224–651 CE).