Documents on the Persian Gulf's name

Documents on the Persian Gulf's name the eternal heritage ancient time is a book and atlas written and compiled by Dr. M. Ajam. It was published first on 2004. A second edition was published under the supervision of Dr. Pirouz Mojtahedzadeh and Dr.Mohammad Hassan Ganji in 2009.the book collects maps and historical documents about the Indian Ocean and its related bays and seas, especially the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Awards 
At the eleventh International Festival of Iran's Best Research and Researchers of 2010, this book received the Gold Coin of best Award presented by the Vice President of Iran. This book has received many other awards and numerous other letters of appreciation, among them former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani The book was candidate  to receive prize of the  year book in Iran. The book was considered among the best books in the last 50 years on Persian Gulf issues in Iran.
A documentary film titled Persian Gulf's Name in the Course of History has been filmed, mainly based on this book.
 Part of the book was published in the website  the UNGEGN.
The book has 6 chapters.

This book was first published online in 2001.then was published in 2004 in color and a newer version of it was released in 2009. The contents of this book have been repeatedly published in the Persian media. According to the suggestion of this book, the Persian Gulf National Day was registered by the Iranian government in 2005.
 A summary of the book had been published on the UN website in 2006   under the title: A glance at the Historical, Geographical and Legal Validity of the term. The 2006 UN report prepared by a panel of experts regarding the names

part of the book also had been included  in the book “Persian  Gulf"  by Javad Nourouzi and published into 10 languages : Persian, Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Urdu
 also a famous documentary film titled Persian Gulf, in the Course of  History by  Orod Atarpour has been produced  and broadcasted in IRIB TV and Press TV mainly based on the document of this book.
 VOA Voice of America in a documentary named Citizen Observer | roots of the name of the Persian Gulf in historical documents had used several maps and document from this book.

Chapter one

The first chapter covers geographical and political issues of the Persian Gulf, historical recorded documents on the "Persian Gulf" name, the recent Persian Gulf naming dispute, and the 3 Islands.

1-1 The records and description of the Persian Gulf by early Travelers and Geographers, including written description by Muslim travelers and European geographers.

Recorded  the 300  historians, travelers and geographers of  the Middle Ages, especially those writing in Arabic and Persian from the 9th to the 15th century. According to the book “Documents on the Persian Gulf's Name, the Eternal Heritage of Ancient Time,” the term Persian Gulf and its equivalents have been used continuously since 400 BC in all languages, especially in the Arabic language.

On almost all maps printed before 1960, and in most modern international treaties, documents and maps, this body of water is known by the name "Persian Gulf."
Following British attempts to control the seaway in the late 1830s, the Times Journal, published in London in 1840, referred to the Persian Gulf as the "Britain Sea", but this name was never used in any other context.

Chapter two
 part 1: talks about the different Names of Iran from 500 BC till now.especially the name Iran and Persia.
 part 2: discusses maps, atlases, and history of maps. and documents about Persian Gulf in different era since Alexander the great, page 52-92. and also some famous contract and treaties which mentioned the Persian Gulf.

page 98 -122 explain some of the most important historical atlases which have the Persian Gulf name such as:
 - Atlas  The Arabian Peninsula in Old European Maps (253 maps) by Khaled Al Ankary, Institute du Monde Arabe,Paris and Tunisia University,2001.all 253 maps of  this atlas have been printed in color and 3 languages and have the correct name of Persian gulf.MEI: Issue No. 22 : Occassional Paper 
 part 2: page 170-216 ,view points of those defending  the name and says any change in geographical names should consider the facts as :
 . Historical & geographical facts and 2500 years continuous use of the term in all languages.
On almost all maps printed before 1960, and in most modern international treaties, documents and maps, this body of water is known as"Persian Gulf" or equivalent.
  Contracts and legal and geographical facts in Arabic texts. all Arabs letter and contracts before 1960 used the name as Persian Gulf(خلیج فارس).

United Nations Document 
According to the book (Documents on the Persian Gulf's) pages ( 92–98), the United Nations Secretariat and its specialized agencies have requested its staff many times to use only "Persian Gulf" as a standard geographical designation.
The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names discussed the naming issue during its 23rd session, held in Vienna from 28 March to 4 April 2006. According to the report of the meeting, "It is interesting that from among 6000 existing historical maps published up to 1890, there are only three maps mentioning the names of Basreh Gulf, Ghatif Gulf, and Arabic Gulf, which are in fact bays but in local language both the bays and the gulf  is called khaleej(Gulf) but such names are not applied to the entirety of the Persian Gulf. It is obvious that the promotional use by the Arabs of the three aforementioned maps, whose identity and originality are not clear, in comparison with 6000 maps and more than 200 historical and tourism books from Irastus to Herodotus to Estakhri and Ibn Houghal, who have all called the water body, Persian Gulf, shall lack any value."
The United Nations has 8 times  stated in its statements, amendments and resolutions that the name "Persian Gulf" is official, and called on the staff of the Secretariat and other affiliated organizations to use the full name of the Persian Gulf in official correspondence. some of the enlistments are as follow:

Official Documents System - Home Page
 Circular No. CAB/1/87/63 dated 16.02.1987 of Managing Director of UNESCO.
 ST/CSSER/29 dated Jan. 10, 1990.
 AD/311/1/GEN dated March 5, 1991.
 ST/CS/SER.A/29/Add.1 dated Jan. 24, 1992.
 ST/CS/SER.A/29/Add.2 dated Aug. 18, 1994.ST/CS/SER.A/29/ADD.2 - E - ST/CS/SER.A/29/ADD.2
 ST/CS/SER.A/29/Rev.1 dated May 14, 1999. UN   UNSC in Arabic  
 2008 ,4 April UN. Department of Economic and Social Affairs(DESA)
 ST/CS/SER.A/29/Add.۲ (UN)
 Resolution.S/RES/2182 (2014) Para 15 S/RES/2182%20(2014) - E - S/RES/2182%20(2014)
 A/RES/51/21 4 December 1996 RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Para 3.A/RES/51/21 - E - A/RES/51/21
 Documents-dds-ny.un.org UNLA 1984
 Documents UNAD 311/Qen 1971
 UN's maps Asia، map No 3978 ( 2007)
 No 3891 UN (2004Jan)
 UN map Asia No 3978 .1998). The report further notes that "any change, destruction, or alteration of the names registered in historical deeds and maps is like the destruction of ancient works and is considered as an improper action. Therefore, the names of geographical features profiting from a unique historical identity, should not be utilized as political instruments in reaching a political, tribal, and racial objective, or in any clash with national interests and other's values".
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), an international body for provision of hydrographic information for worldwide marine navigation and other purposes, uses the name "Gulf of Iran (Persian Gulf)" for this body of water, in its standard S-23 (Limits of Oceans and Seas), section 41, published in 1953.
The United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency GEOnet Names Server (GNS) is the "official repository of standard spellings of all foreign place names"  The GNS lists "Persian Gulf" as the Conventional name.
"

Viewpoint of Iran‌ (Persia)
Iran uses only Persian Gulf since 1980S Some atlases and media outlets have taken to referring to it as"The Gulf" without adjective. Iran does not consider this an impartial usage and views it as the ignore of the historical and legal facts.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a speech to the United Nations General Assembly during which he said that the only correct name of the sea between Iran and the Arabian peninsula was the Persian Gulf, and he dismissed the use of any other names as “illegitimate and void.Iran officially designated 30 April as National Persian Gulf Day. The date coincides with the anniversary of Abbas I of Persia's successful military campaign when the Portuguese navy was driven out of the Strait of Hormuz in the Capture of Hormuz (1622). The decision was taken by the High Council of Cultural Revolution,  noting that the campaign launched in 2009 by certain Arab states to rename Persian Gulf was the driver behind the decision.

Confession of Arabs scholars 
Pages 126 to 146 of the book contain material and quotes about the confession of many contemporary Arab leaders and elites about the legitimacy of the name of the Persian Gulf.
Gamal Abdel Nasser and other Arabs leaders were using the Persian gulf. Abdel Khaleq al-Janabi, a Saudi Arabian historian, said "It's this name [Persian Gulf] that has been retained by history books and Arab historians, like Ibn Khaldoun and Ibn al Athir. It's also in treaties signed between the governors of the gulf and the British who dominated the region from the beginning of the 20th century ... From a scientific and historical point of view, it has been called the Persian Gulf since Alexander the Great".  He said that it was "without foundation" to claim the Romans named it "Arabian Gulf". "Things didn't change until Nasser came to power and the rise of Arab nationalism. The Arabs then began to use the name 'Arabian Gulf, he added.
And many prominent scholars and political and religious leaders such as Professor Abdelhadi Tazi, Ahmad al-Saraf,  Abdelilah Benkirane (Prime Minister of 2011-2013 Morocco), Abdul Monem Saeed, Abdul Khaliq al-Janabi,  Qaradawi, Gen. Majdi Omar, Former First Deputy of the Egyptian National Defense Council in recent decades have commented on the authenticity of the name of the Persian Gulf and the lack of justification for changing the name.

Chapter three
chapter3 part one: page 142-155 .talk about  viewpoints of Arabs:
 Arabs countries around the Gulf have the right to name it according to what fit to them.
 Pliny the Elder, Natural History (Pliny) had mentioned it as Persian gulf or Arabian gulf?
 part 2 page 170-216 .view points of those defending  the historical name and says any change in geographical names should consider the facts as :
 Historical & Geographical facts and 2500 years continuous Universal use of the term in all languages.
On almost all maps printed before 1960, and in most modern international treaties, documents and maps, this body of water is known as"Persian Gulf" or equivalent.
 Contracts and legal and geographical facts in Arabic texts.　all Arabs letter and contracts before 1960 used the name as Persian gulf(خلیج فارس).
According to the pages(92–98), the United Nations Secretariat and specialized agencies of the United Nations agencies have requested its staff many times to use only "Persian Gulf" as a standard geographical designation. 
Chapter 3 also discusses the history of falsification of the name of the Persian Gulf.  In this chapter, the role of Arab nationalist leaders - the role of religious leaders - the role of the Arab media is examined.
and focus on the controversy between Iran and Arab countries and how it developed.
Mentions other names used by other countries and throughout history.

Chapter four 

part 7 page 87 is about British control and colonialist time of controlling the Persian gulf . Portuguese, Netherlands and British.
For about 200 years, from 1763 until 1971, the United Kingdom kept some control over some of the Persian Gulf lands. The lands were current states of the United Arab Emirates and at various times Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.
 printed in the Book's Documents.

Chapter five 
Differentiation between  Indian Ocean, Persian Sea and Persian Gulf and Oman sea/gulf. 
In ancient times usually persian were considering there is a long sea all around the world called(Mohit) the Ocean and from this long round ocean separate two large sea called Persian sea and (Rum ) Mediterranean sea. even in Quran it mentions 2 seas (Bahrain). some other geographer mentioned the world has 7 seas and the most important seas are : Bahr Mohit (ocean) , Persian sea ,Mediterranean sea , Africa sea (Habasha) and china sea.

Erythraean sea 
In the old time The Indian ocean and Arabian sea historically and geographically has been referred to with different names by Turks, Persian and Arabs, and others. According to the the book of Wilfred Harvey Schoff The name of the Erythraean Sea.-By WILFRED H. - jstor1913,  oldest text which tells about Erythraean Sea was Herodotus (484-425BC) after him others also mentioned the name until 18 century Herodotus was telling about the sea from Babylon to the east toward (India) it means current Arabian sea and gulf of Oman . but later the total part of Indian ocean was called Erythraean Sea, in “the Voyage around the Erythraean” first century  called all north part of  Indian ocean as Erythraean Sea and also  mentioned the Persian Sea, in para33-34-35., .also  in the book  the sea of Erythraeo  by Agatharchides it of the Erythraean Sea and then this term applied by Greek and Roman geographers to the Indian Ocean until 18 century and the term was including its adjuncts, the Red Sea and the Persian sea(Gulf) and Arabian Sea . Erythra means Red, but we are assured by Agatharchides that it means, not Red Sea, but Sea of King Erythras, following a Persian legend and the island of Erythra. according to the The Histories of Herodotus book 7 page 785 Sumerian and Akkadian were calling the Persians as Arthaians (Artaioi) or Erythraean. most probably related to the Aratta    . and Pliny in Natural History 6.96-111. (On India) wrote : XXVIII.(107) Moreover in this region the Erythraean sea then makes a double inroad, into the land; the name given to it by our countrymen is the Red Sea, while the Greeks call it Erythrum, from King Erythras a persian name ,related to the Ṛta , Hr̥tás,the "truth" and the Sun wheel .and Aratta also has a relation with this words.

Persian sea
Expert of Geography and cartography in medieval Islam, usually  named it as Persian sea a  vast sea from  Vak Vak island (including Thailand coast and Andaman sea to the west Basra bay and to the red sea. some of them called all body of water in north Indian ocean as the Persian sea (Bahre Fars)  and the south part as Erythraean sea European geographers and travelers, also Differentiated   between Persian sea and Persian Gulf and Indian ocean.
geographers in medieval Islam were using the word Bahre Fars بحر فارس (Persian sea) to mention the current body of water in the north of Indian Ocean, In the Book Documents on the Persian Gulf's name,  Pages 60 to 84 explained  the description of the Persian Sea in the 40  books of Muslims from 10 to 18 centuries . they called the seas of south part of Iran, Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula  as the Persian Sea, sometimes Indian sea and rarely Macran or Makaran , and Oman sea among the scholars:
Ibn Khordadbeh,  Muhammad al-Idrisi, Istakhri, Mahmud, al-Khwarizmi , Zakariya al-Qazwini, Al-Masudi , Ibn Hawqal,  Ibn al-Faqih, Ibn Rustah, Sohrab, Ramhormozi, Farisi al Istakhri,Tahir al-Maqdisi (d. 966), Ibn Khaldun, Mohammad ibn Najub Bekiran, Abu Rayhan Biruni, Yaqut al-Hamawi,Abu'l-Fida, Al-Dimashqi, Hamdollah Mostowfi, Al-Nuwayri, Ibn Batutta,Katip Çelebi have used the terms, "Bahr-i Mohit i Ajam",  "Bahr-i-Fars", (Persian sea), and "Bahr-i Mokaran/Mecran", "Bahr-e Al Akhzar" (green) to refer to the current Arabian sea. None of them used the term Arabian sea.
the book cited  description of the Persian sea from the book (Sourat Ard)Face of the Earth page 42 Written by Ibn Hawql: ”  … after Arabs lands should be mentioned The Sea of Persia because Persian sea includes most of Arabs borders, the Arab peninsula  are connected to this sea ,the Persian  sea connected  to many countries of Islam. this sea  start from  the Qulzam(Red sea ) it ends to Eble (Basra bay), then It crosses Siraf (Bushehr) then extends to the Hormuz and  Macran  and the coasts of Multan, which is the coasts of Sindh (Pakistan) which the boundaries  of the countries  of Islam is ended then the Persian sea continues to the coasts of India finally in east it connect to  the sea of China”.   
at least 40 Muslim geographers explained  Persian sea, they were considering the world only have 7 seas and the vast sea was Persian sea and Rum sea. they did not mentioned Arabian Sea at all  this name first used by European cartographer of 17 century .   . another name was makran sea this name was used mostly by Muslims. Macaran or Makaran (most probably related to Diety called Makara Persian plural is Makaran ,in English this Crocodile is called Mugger crocodile)  or maybe have root in Persian word Mahikhoran(fish eater).

Chapter six Documents 
part 11 is about important Documents, Maps and Pictures on the museums and archives in different countries . also answers to the question of those say the names should change.

 Basra BahreFars(Persian Gulf's name in the time Ottoman Empire official map printed in the Book's Documents section.

Gallery Documents from the Book
Some of the historical maps and documents Which is introduced in this book.3d pan white - Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Tokyo- Introducing a Book and Atlas

Related pages 
 Names of Iran
 Persian Gulf
 Persian Gulf naming dispute
 Early world maps
 List of cartographers
 Iran
 Middle East
 Cartography
 Maps
 Persian Inscriptions on Indian Monuments

References

Other websites 
Full word text of the book in Persian.(edition 2009)
 Arabic documents 
 Documents on the Persian Gulf's name Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Tokyo- Introducing a Book and Atlas
 Documents on the Persian Gulf's name Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Tokyo- A book and atlas
 Documents from the book in flickr: 32 historical map of Persian gulf,from the Documents on the Persian Gulf's name.
 Documents from the book in flickr: 3d pan white
Documents from the book 
 more Maps and documents from this book: 
 Documents from the book in parssea  
 What’s in a name? The New York Times 
 Persian Gulf: From rich history to security depth Persian Gulf: From rich history to security depth - Tehran Times
 times of India
 Documentary film:Documentary film of the Persian Gulf
 UNGEGN UNGEGN Working Paper No. 61
 Voice of America.(voanews.com)VOA documentary 
 Documents on the Persian Gulf's name facts    
 Documents PGSC Persian Gulf Studies Center 
Atlas of geographical maps and historical documents about the Persian Gulf from prehistoric times to the present Published by Sahab Institute of Geography and Cartography , 1971 , and 2005 ,Tehran .
Atlas of maps"Description of the Persian Gulf in Historical Maps", the Iranology Foundation,Tehran , 2008.

2001 books
2004 books
2009 books
Middle East
Cartography
History