This article is currently semi-protected to prevent sock puppets of currently blocked or banned users from editing it. Please discuss changes on the talk page, or request unprotection.

This article is about the Persian people, an ethnic group found mainly in Iran. For information about all peoples of Iran, see Iranians. For Central Asian Persians see Tajiks. For the ancient empire, see Persian Empire.

Persians
Total population	c. 40-54 million (not including sub-groups)
Regions with significant populations	Iran:    40,810,716[1]    34,689,910 [2] United States:    600,000[3][4]    1,100,000[4][5] Image File history File links Padlock. ... now. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans) and beyond. ... Image File history File links Cyrus_portrait. ... Turkey:    800,000 [2] United Arab Emirates:    400,000 [6] Germany:    110,000 [7] Canada:    88,200[8] United Kingdom: 80,000 [3] France: 62,000 [4] India: 60,000 [5] Israel: 50,000 [6] Lebanon: 50,000 [7] Australia:    25,000 [9] Azerbaijan Republic: 22,000 [8] Kuwait: 20,000 [9] Greece: 20,000 [10] Sweden: 15,000 [11] China: 10,000 [12] Denmark: 10,000 [13] Belgium: 6,000 [14] Netherlands: 6,000 [15] Norway: 6,000 [16] South Africa: 5,000 [17] Finland: 2,000 [18]
Language	Persian (Western dialect, in addition to regional varieties)
Religion	Islam, Bahá'í Faith, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
Related ethnic groups	Other Iranian peoples (Lurs, Kurds, etc)

The Persians are an Iranian people who speak the Persian language and share a common culture and history. Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... For other uses, including people named Islam, see Islam (disambiguation). ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... Faravahar is a prominent guardian spirit in Zoroastrianism and Iranian culture that is believed to be a depiction of a Fravashi. ... Lurs can refer to: Ancient wind instruments, see Lur An Iranian ethnic group; see: Lorestan Lurs, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, a commune of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... Faravahar is a prominent guardian spirit in Zoroastrianism and Iranian culture that is believed to be a depiction of a Fravashi. ... Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Iran is one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations. ...

Significant numbers of Persians also reside outside of Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, with the largest communities found in the United States, Germany, England, Canada, Kuwait, Turkey and UAE. Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE also have large populations of Persian descendents, referred to as Ajamis. Smaller communities are also found in surrounding countries and the Arabian Peninsula. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq... UAE redirects here; for other uses of that term, see UAE (disambiguation) The United Arab Emirates is an oil-rich country situated in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. ... UAE redirects here; for other uses of that term, see UAE (disambiguation) The United Arab Emirates is an oil-rich country situated in the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. ... Ajam in Arabic means non-Arab, or in particular non-Arabic-speaker. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية, or جزيرة العرب) is a peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia consisting mainly of desert. ...

Terminology

Although all Iranians, including Persians, have always referred to their land as Iran or other similar variations, the term Persia was adopted by all western languages through the Greeks and was used as an official name for Iran by the West until 1935. Due to that label, all Iranians were considered Persian. Therefore, many Western sources, when regarding Iran's history, will label many non-Persian Iranians as Persians, which distinguishes nationality, not necessarily the Persian ethnic group.

Also, many others who embraced the Persian language and culture are also often referred to as Persian, not necessarily meaning ethnic group, but rather as a part of Persian civilization (culturally and linguistically).

History

See also: Persian Empire and History of Iran

The Persians are descendents of the Aryan (Indo-Iranian) tribes that began migrating from Central Asia into what is now Iran in the 2nd millennium BC.^[10][11][12] The Persian language and other Iranian tongues emerged as these Aryan tribes split up into two major groups, the Persians and the Medes, and intermarried with peoples indigenous to the Iranian plateau such as the Elamites.^[13][14] The first known written record about them is from an Assyrian inscription of the 834 BC, which mentions both Parsua (Persians) and Muddai (Medes).^[15][16] The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans) and beyond. ... Iran is one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations. ... Aryan () is an English language word derived from the Sanskrit and Iranian terms ari-, arya-, ārya-, and/or the extended form aryāna-. The Sanskrit and Old Persian languages both pronounced the word as arya- () and aryan. ... Map of the Sintashta-Petrovka culture (red), its expansion into the Andronovo culture during the 2nd millennium BC, showing the overlap with the BMAC in the south. ... Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Current distribution of the Iranian languages. ... The Medes(ancient Kurdistan) were an Iranian people, who lived in the north, western, and northwestern portions of present-day Iran, and roughly the areas of present day Tehran, Hamedan, Azarbaijan, north of Esfahan, Zanjan, and Kurdistan. ... The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Elam (Persian: ایلام) is one of the most ancient civilizations on record. ...

The ancient Persians from the province of Pars became the rulers of a large empire under the Achaemenid dynasty (Hakhamanesheeyan) in the sixth century BC, reuniting the tribes and other provinces of the ancient Iranian plateau and forming the Persian Empire. Over the centuries Persia was ruled by various dynasties; some of them were ethnic Iranians including the Achaemenids, Parthians (Ashkanian), Sassanids (Sassanian), Buwayhids and Samanids, and some of them were not, such as the Seleucids, Ummayyads, Abbasids, Seljuk Turks, Afsharids and Qajars. The Persepolis Ruins The Achaemenid dynasty (Old Persian:Hakamanishiya, Persian: هخامنشیان) - was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans) and beyond. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans) and beyond. ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... Reproduction of a Parthian warrior as depicted on Trajans Column The Parthian Empire was the dominating force on the Iranian plateau beginning in the late 3rd century BCE, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca 190 BCE and 224 CE. Origins Bust of Parthian soldier, Esgh-abad Museum, Turkmenia. ... The Sassanid Empire in the time of Shapur I; the conquest of Cappadocia was temporary Official language Pahlavi (Middle Persian) Dominant Religion Zoroastrianism Capital Ctesiphon Sovereigns Shahanshah of the Iran (Eranshahr) First Ruler Ardashir I Last Ruler Yazdegerd III Establishment 224 AD Dissolution 651 AD Part of the History of... The Buwayhids or Buyyids or Ä€l-i Buyeh, were a Yazdani tribal confederation from Daylam, a region on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. ... The Samanids (875-999) (in Persian: Samanian) were a Persian dynasty in Central Asia and eastern Iran, named after its founder Saman Khoda. ... After the death of Alexander the Great in the afternoon of 11 June 323 BC, his empire was divided by his generals, the Diadochi(successors). ... The Umayyad Dynasty (Arabic الأمويون / بنو أمية umawiyy; in Turkish, Emevi) was the first dynasty of caliphs of the Prophet Muhammad who were not closely related to Muhammad himself, though they were of the same Meccan tribe, the... Abbasid provinces during the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid Abbasid (Arabic: العبّاسيّون, AbbāsÄ«yÅ«n) is the dynastic name generally given to the caliph of Baghdad, the second of the two great Sunni dynasties of the Arab Empires, that overthrew the Umayyad caliphs from all but Spain. ... The Seljuk coat of arms was a double headed eagle The Seljuk Turks (also Seldjuk, Seldjuq, Seljuq; in modern Turkish Selçuklular; in Persian سلجوقيان SaljÅ«qiyān; in Arabic سلجوق SaljÅ«q, or السلاجقة al-Salājiqa) were a major branch of the Oghuz Turks and a dynasty that ruled parts of... Tomb of Nader Shah Afshar, a popular tourist attraction in Mashad. ... The Qajar dynasty was the ruling family of Persia from 1781 to 1925. ...

The founding dynasty of the empire, the Achaemenids, and later the Sassanids, were from the southern province of Pars, (the Parthian dynasty arose from the north) from which in Western literature the word Persia is derived and used to distinguish between ancient and modern Iran. (lit: Land of the Aryans) However, according to archaeological evidence found in modern day Iran in the form of cuneiforms that go back to the Achaemenid era, it is evident that the native name of Persia had been applied to Iran from its birth.^[17][18] Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... Head of king Shapur II (Sasanian dynasty A.D. 4th century). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... Aryan () is an English language word derived from the Sanskrit and Iranian terms ari-, arya-, ārya-, and/or the extended form aryāna-. The Sanskrit and Old Persian languages both pronounced the word as arya- () and aryan. ... Look up Cuneiform in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Sub-groups

Main articles: Tajiks, Farsiwan, and Tats

Ethnic Persians can also be found outside of Iran and include the Tajiks and Farsiwan who can be found in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Xinjiang province of China. Another group called the Tats lives mainly in the Caucasus region concentrated in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russian Dagestan. The Parsis, a small community in India, are also largely descended from Persian Zoroastrian refugees who fled from Persia following the Arab conquests. The Iranis, another small community in western India, are descended from more recent Persian Zoroastrian immigrants to the subcontinent. In addition, the Hazara are largely a Persianized Turkic-Mongol ethnic group. now. ... The Parsiwan, or simply Parsi (Persian), are found mainly in western Afghanistan and are generally distiguished from the Tajiks by their adherance to Shia Islam as opposed to the Sunni sect favored by the Tajiks. ... The Tat are an Iranian ethnic group from the Caucasus. ... now. ... The Parsiwan, or simply Parsi (Persian), are found mainly in western Afghanistan and are generally distiguished from the Tajiks by their adherance to Shia Islam as opposed to the Sunni sect favored by the Tajiks. ... For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ... The Tat are an Iranian ethnic group from the Caucasus. ... The Entholinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map The Caucasus, a region bordering Asia Minor, is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding lowlands. ... The Republic of Dagestan IPA: (Russian: ), older spelling Daghestan, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ... a person from Pars (the middle-Persian word for Fars), a region now within the geographical boundaries of Iran, and is roughly the original homeland of the Persian people. ... Irani is a term used to denote Indian Zoroastrians whose ancestors emigrated from Iran within the last two centuries, as opposed to the longer residing Parsis. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... The Hazara are an ethnic group who reside mainly in the central Afghanistan mountain region called Hazarajat or Hazaristan. ... This article is about the various peoples speaking one of the Turkic languages. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Persian language

Main article: Persian language

Map showing the distribution of Persian-speakers (in dark blue)

The Persian language is one of the world's oldest languages still in use today, and is known to have one of the most powerful literary traditions, with formidable Persian poets like Hafez, Ferdowsi, Khayyam, Saadi and, of course, the legendary Rumi. By native speakers as well as in Urdu, Arabic and other neighboring languages, it is called Fārsī, and additionally Dari or Tajiki east of Iran. It is part of the Iranian sub-section of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Persian-speakers are today in the majority in Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan ^[19], and form a large minority in Uzbekistan as well. Smaller groups of Persian-speakers are found in Pakistan and western China, as well as in Bahrain, Iraq, and Azerbaijan. Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Image File history File links Ethnic_Persians_Map. ... Image File history File links Ethnic_Persians_Map. ... Hafez, detail of an illumination in a Persian manuscript of the Divan of Hafez, 18th century. ... Ferdowsi Tousi (فردوسی طوسی in Persian) (more commonly transliterated Firdausi, Ferdosi or Ferdusi) (935–1020) is considered to be one of the greatest Persian poets to have ever lived. ... Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, better known as Khayyam is an indian music composer whose career spanned across 4 decades (1953 - 1990). ... Tomb of Sadi, Shiraz, Iran. ... Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi or Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi Rumi (also known as Mowlavi or Moulana, meaning my guide in Iran, Central and South Asia or Mevlana meaning our guide in Turkey) (September 30, 1207 - December 17, 1273 CE) was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic, who was... Dari (دری) is the local written name for the Persian language in Afghanistan used mainly in official papers. ... Tajik or Tadjik (тоҷикӣ, تاجیکی, tojikí) is a descendant of the Persian language spoken in Central Asia. ... Indo-Iranian can refer to: The Indo-Iranian languages The prehistoric Indo-Iranian people, see Aryan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Indo-European languages comprise a family of several hundred languages and dialects [1], including most of the major languages of Europe, as well as many in Southwest Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. ...

Religion

The Persian civilization spawned three major religions: Zoroastrianism, Manichaeanism, and the Bahá'í Faith. Other religions such as Mazdakism and Manichaenism also arose from ancient Iran, with the former having been dubbed the first communistic ideology, and the latter heavily influencing Saint Augustine, hence, indirectly influencing Christianity: Both religions were sub-branches of Zoroastrianism. Today many scholars are still debating which religion first introduced monotheism; Zoroastrianism, or Judaism. They, however, have conceded that it was the religion of Zoroastrianism that for the first time introduced angelology, demonology, apocalyptical doctrines, as well as, some eschatological notions to humanity. ^[20] Such ideas would later be passed on to the Babylonian Jews via the Persian Empire. All of these reflect the dualism of Persian culture which has also significantly influenced Western civilization. In addition, Persian civilization has affected its neighbors through culture, religion, and language. Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. ... St. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... In theology, monotheism (in Greek μόνος = single and θεός = God) is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... For other uses, see Angel (disambiguation). ... Demonology is the systematic study of demons. ... Albrecht Dürer - Four horsemen of the Apocalypse This article is about the concept of the end of the world. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau (Irān - Land of the Aryans) and beyond. ... It has been suggested that Combative dualism be merged into this article or section. ... For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ...

Most Persians in Iran are Shia Muslims, while smaller communties of Shia Sufis, Sunni Muslims, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, and Bahá'ís remain. There are also Persians who are Atheist and Agnostic. Also see religious minorities in Iran. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ... The 18th-century French author Baron dHolbach was one of the first self-described atheists; he did not believe in the existence of any deities. ... Agnosticism is the philosophical view that the (truth) values of certain claims—particularly theological claims regarding the existence of God, gods, or deities—are unknown, inherently unknowable, or incoherent, and therefore, (some agnostics may go as far to say) irrelevant to life. ... Map showing ethnic and religious diversity among the population of Iran. ...

Persian arts

Main article: Persian art

A modern example of Persian miniature

The artistic heritage of Persia is actually quite eclectic and includes major contributions from both east and west. Persian art borrowed heavily from the indigenous Elamite civilization and Mesopotamia and later from Hellenism (as can be seen with statues from the Greek period). In addition, due to Persia's somewhat central location, it has served as a fusion point between eastern and western arts and architecture as Greco-Roman influence was often fused with ideas and techniques from India and China. When talking of the creative Persian arts one has to include a geographic area that actually extends into Central Asia, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Iraq as well as modern Iran. This vast geographic region has been pivotal in the development of the Persian arts as a whole. Iran is filled with tombs of poets and musicians, such as this one belonging to Rahi Moayeri. ... Image File history File links MahmoudFarshchian. ... Image File history File links MahmoudFarshchian. ... Elam (Persian: ایلام) is one of the most ancient civilizations on record. ... Mesopotamia refers to the region now occupied by modern Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and Southwest Iran. ... The Hellenistic period of Greek history was the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the annexation of the Greek peninsula and islands by Rome in 146 BC. Although the establishment of Roman rule did not break the continuity of Hellenistic society and culture, which...

Persian painting and depiction artistry

Main article: Persian miniature

Persians artistic expression can be seen as far back as the Achaemenid period as numerous statues depicting various important figures, usually of political significance as well as religious, such as the Immortals (elite troops of the emperor) are indicative of the influence of Mesopotamia and ancient Babylon. What is perhaps most representative of a more indigenous artistic expression are Persian miniatures. Although the influence of Chinese art is apparent, local Persian artists used the art form in various ways including portraits that could be seen from the Ottoman Empire to the courts of the Safavids and Mughals. Safavid era Miniature painting kept at Shah Abbas Hotel in Isfahan. ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... Immortality can refer to Article about Immortality Les Immortels, members of the Académie française. ... The themes of Persian miniature are mostly related to the Persian mythology and poetry. ... Chinese art is art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists or performers. ... now. ... The Safavid Empire at its 1512 borders. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ...

Persian music

Main article: Music of Iran

The music of Persia goes back to the days of Barbod in the royal Sassanid courts, and even earlier. As it evolved, a distinct eastern Mediterranean style emerged as Persian folk music is often quite similar to the music of modern Iran's neighbors. In modern times, musical tradition has seen setbacks due to the religious government's policies in Iran, but has survived in the form of Iranian exiles and dissidents who have turned to Western rock music with a distinctive Iranian style as well as Persian rap. A prominent persian female singer is Googoosh who was the most famous pre-revoloutionary singer was silenced after the revoloution. In 2000, Googoosh left Iran to Canada where she gave her first concert in 25 years. Figurines playing stringed instruments, excavated at Susa, 3rd millennium BC. Iran National Museum. ... Sassanid Empire at its greatest extent The Sassanid dynasty (also Sassanian) was the name given to the kings of Persia during the era of the second Persian Empire, from 224 until 651, when the last Sassanid shah, Yazdegerd III, lost a 14-year struggle to drive out the Umayyad Caliphate... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Typically, hip hop and rap music consists of one or more rappers who tell semi-autobiographic tales, often relating to a fictionalized counterpart, in an intensely rhythmic lyrical form making abundant use of techniques like assonance, alliteration, and rhyme. ... Faegheh Atashin (Persian: : گوگوش) (born February 7, 1951), nicknamed Googoosh, is considered one of the most famous Persian (Iranian) pop singers and actresses among Middle Eastern countries. ...

Persian architecture

Main article: Iranian architecture

The ruins of Persepolis known as the Takht-e Jamshid or throne of Jamshid is part of the ancient architectural tradition of Persia

Architecture is one of the areas where Persians have made outstanding contributions. Ancient examples can be seen in the ruins at Persepolis, while in modern times monuments such as the Tomb of Omar Khayyam are displays of the varied tradition in Persia. Various cities in Iran are historical displays of a distinctive Persian style that can be seen in the Kharaghan twin towers of Qazvin province and the Shah Mosque found in Isfahan. Persian architecture streams over the borders of Iran and is clearly seen throughout Central Asia as with the Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarkand and the Minaret of Jam in western Afghanistan. Islamic architecture was founded on the base established by the Persians. Persian techniques can also be clearly seen in the structures of the Taj Mahal at Agra and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Isfahan, is the second largest square in the world and arguably the gem of Persian architectural masterpieces. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Takht-jamshid. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Takht-jamshid. ... Persepolis Aerial View - After 2500 years, the ruins of Persepolis still inspire visitors from far and near. ... Persepolis Aerial View - After 2500 years, the ruins of Persepolis still inspire visitors from far and near. ... Tomb of Omar Khayam, Neishapur, Iran. ... Shah Mosque is a mosque in Isfahan,Iran standing in soyth side of Naghsh-i Jahan square. ... Colour photograph of a Madrasa taken in Samarkand ca. ... The Minaret of Jam and Qasr Zarafshan, August 2005 The Minaret of Jam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Afghanistan. ... Taj Mahal The Tāj Mahal (Hindi:  ; Urdu: تجتاج ممحال ) is a monument located in Agra, India, constructed between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 22,000. ... The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (in Turkish Sultanahmet Camii, in English commonly called the Blue Mosque) is a mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1923. ...

Persian rugs

Main article: Persian rug

Gottfried Semper called rugs "the original means of separating space". Rug weaving was thus developed by ancient civilizations as a basis of architecture. A traditional craftsman mending a rug in Isfahan. ... Gottfried Semper Gottfried Semper (1803-1879) was a German architect, art critic, and professor of architecture, who designed and built the Semper Oper in Dresden between 1838 and 1841. ...

Persian gardens

Main article: Persian Gardens

The Persian garden was designed as a reflection of paradise on earth; the word "garden" itself coming from Persian roots as does the word paradise which was often associated with Persian gardens. Although having existed since ancient times, the Persian garden gained greater prominence during the Islamic period as Arab rulers cultivated Persian techniques to create gardens of Persian design from Al-Andalus to Kashgar. Persian gardens are immortalized in the One Thousand and one nights and the works of Omar Khayyam. Art depicting two men in a Persian Garden Persian Gardens refers to a tradition and style of garden design which originated in Persia (more commonly known today as Iran). ... Al-Andalus is the Arabic name given the Iberian Peninsula by its Muslim conquerors; it refers to both the Caliphate proper and the general period of Muslim rule (711–1492). ... Location of Kashgar Kashgars Sunday market Kashgar (also spelled Cascar[citation needed]; Uyghur: قەشقەر/; Chinese: ; pinyin: Kāshí, ), is an oasis city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Queen Scheherazade tells her stories to King Shahryar. ... Tomb of Omar Khayam, Neishapur, Iran. ...

Persian women

Main article: Persian Woman

Persian women have played an important role throughout history. Shahrazad, though fictional, is an important figure of female wit and intelligence, while the beauty of Mumtaz Mahal inspired the building of the Taj Mahal itself. While in ancient times, aristocratic females possessed numerous rights sometimes on par with men, generally Persian women did not attain greater parity until the 20th century. Females were given such status in ancient Persia that they were the first to ever serve in a national military.^{[citation needed]} Peace activists such as Shirin Ebadi have pushed for greater rights for women, while many Iranian women exiles have set examples of excellence that have no doubt inspired many Persian women to strive for change in the conservative society prevalent in today's Iran. Even with the current climate of religious conservativism Persian women still tend to take a more active role in social, religious and family affairs than their Arab or Turkish counterparts. Despite the barriers imposed by the Revolution, Iranian women can be seen working in a variety of areas such as politics, law enforcement, taxi driving, etc. Universities still tend to be dominated by women in Iran and one may find a large number of female legislators in the Iranian Majlis (parliament), even by western standards. Former Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar, noted for her eloquence in dealing with western media, set a new standard for aspiring Iranian female politicians while serving under President Khatami. Outstanding Iranian female academics, such as Laleh Bakhtiar have forever left a mark in the fields they contribute to. A Persian woman here as depicted during the Safavi period of Iran. ... Scheherazade or Shahrazad (Persian: شهرزاد Shahrzad) is the (fictional) storyteller of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. ... Artistic depiction of Mumtaz Mahal Mumtāz Mahal (Persian: ممتاز محل, meaning beloved ornament of the palace; pronunciation //) is the common nickname of Arjumand Banu Begum, who was born in April of 1593 in Agra, India. ... Taj Mahal The Tāj Mahal (Hindi:  ; Urdu: تجتاج ممحال ) is a monument located in Agra, India, constructed between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 22,000. ... Catherine Zeta Jones congratulating Shirin Ebadi at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, December 11 2003. ... Masoumeh Ebtekar (معصومه ابتکار; born 1960) is an Iranian Vice President and the head of the Environment Protection Organization of Iran under President Mohammad Khatami. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Iran

From the humble brick to the windmill, Persians have strived to create a better world by mixing creativity with art. Persian culture can be defined through its literary tradition, social customs, religions (both past and present), distinctive foods, and foreign influences that have merged with local traditions. In recent years, Persian culture has seen itself expressed through the medium of films as Persian cinema has attained a substantial amount of international and critical acclaim through such films as Children of Heaven and Taste of Cherry, which give both insights into the current state of Persian culture and profound depictions of the general human condition. Safavid era painting kept at The Grand Shah Abbas Caravanserai Hotel in Isfahan. ... An old brick wall in English bond laid with alternating courses of headers and Brick is an artificial stone made by forming clay into rectangular blocks which are hardened, either by burning in a kiln or sometimes, in warm and sunny countries, by sun-drying. ... Spanish Windmills at La Mancha A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... Iranian cinema (or Persian cinema), which has won thousands of International film awards, has become one of the most renowned in the world. ... Children of Heaven is an 1997 Iranian film. ... Taste of Cherry (Persian: طعم گيلاس Tam-e gilass) is a 1997 film by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. ...

See also

• Demographics of Iran
• History of Iran
• Iranian-American
• Iranian Kuwaitis
• List of Iranians
• Tajiks
• Farsiwans
• Persian Jews
• Iranis of India
• Parsis of India

Ethnolinguistic groups in Iran Irans population was estimated to be 68,688,433 in July 2006, with nearly two-fifths of its people being 15 years of age or younger. ... Iran is one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations. ... Iranian-Americans (sometimes called Persian-Americans) are Americans of Iranian descent, including those who are expatriates in exile or permanent immigrants. ... Iranian immigration to the Arabian Peninsula has been continuous and very rapid since the fall of the third Persian Empire, that is from the rule of Nader Shah to the rule of the Qajar dynasty. ... This is a list of famous or important Iranians: // [edit] In the news Nazanin Afshin-Jam, 2nd place, Miss World 2003; Miss Canada 2003. ... now. ... Jewish children in Iran in a specially designated Jewish school. ... Irani is a term used to denote Indian Zoroastrians whose ancestors emigrated from Iran within the last two centuries, as opposed to the longer residing Parsis. ... A Parsi (IPA: ) is a member of the close-knit Zoroastrian community based in the Indian subcontinent. ...

References

1. ^ MSN Encarta - Iran
2. ^ CIA - The World Factbook -- Iran
3. ^ "Factsheet on the Iranian-American Community", Iranian Studies Group Research Series, 2004
4. ^ ^a b Iranian-American Community Survey, Poll: "What is (are) your Iranian ethnic background(s)?", Poll results, (LINK)
5. ^ Farsinet.com, "The Persian Diaspora", with reference to "Demographic data of Iranians in the US" from Iranian American Republican Council
6. ^ Travel Video Television News - Iranians investing heavily in Dubai
7. ^ Persian World Outreach - Persian-speaking people outside of Iran
8. ^ [1]
9. ^ Top 20 Language Groups-Australia, 2001 Census
10. ^ http://wwwa.britannica.com/eb/article-230041?tocId=230041
11. ^ The Medes and the Persians, c.1500-559 from The Encyclopedia of World History Sixth Edition, Peter N. Stearns (general editor), © 2001 The Houghton Mifflin Company, at Bartleby.com.
12. ^ Bahman Firuzmandi "Mad, Hakhamanishi, Ashkani, Sasani" pp. 20
13. ^ Iran. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05
14. ^ Bahman Firuzmandi "Mad, Hakhamanishi, Ashkani, Sasani" pp. 12-19
15. ^ Abdolhossein Zarinkoob "Ruzgaran : tarikh-i Iran az aghz ta saqut saltnat Pahlvi" pp. 37
16. ^ Bahman Firuzmandi "Mad, Hakhamanishi, Ashkani, Sasani" pp. 155
17. ^ Persia - Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
18. ^ The Splendor of Persia: The Land and the People - by Robert Payne
19. ^ BBC News - Afghan poll's ethnic battleground
20. ^ JewishEncyclopedia.com - Zoroastrianism

The Encyclopedia of World History is a classic single volume work detailing world history. ... Bartleby. ...

External links

• Ethnologue information for Western Persians
• Statistics on geographic distribution of Persians worldwide
• Persian Diaspora