Persian rugs were born from the ancient Persian empire, where handweaving was a highly respected art form. Greater Persia encompassed regions belonging to the Caucasus, West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. Today, it’s most closely associated with Iran. The oldest known carpet from the world is a Persian rug dating back to the 5th century BC. From the outset, Persian rugs were considered extremely luxurious owing to the craftsmanship required to make them and are referenced in Greek texts published as early as 500 BC.