Iran Chamber Society: When "Persia" became "Iran" Geography of Iran When "Persia" became "Iran" This article is a part of "Persia or Iran" by Professor Ehsan Yarshater, published in Iranian Studies, Vol. XXII, No.1, 1989. In 1935 the Iranian government requested those countries which it had diplomatic relations with, to call Persia "Iran," which is the name of the country in Persian. The suggestion for the change is said to have come from the Iranian ambassador to Germany, who came under the influence of the Nazis. At the time Germany was in the grip of racial fever and cultivated good relations with nations of "Aryan" blood.

It is said that some German friends of the ambassador persuaded him that, as with the advent of Reza Shah, Persia had turned a new leaf in its history and had freed itself from the pernicious influences of Britain and Russia, whose interventions in Persian affairs had practically crippled the country under the Qajars, it was only fitting that the country be called by its own name, "Iran." This would not only signal a new beginning and bring home to the world the new era in Iranian history, but would also signify the Aryan race of its population, as "Iran" is a cognate of "Aryan" and derived from it. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a circular to all foreign embassies in Tehran, requesting that the country thenceforth be called "Iran." Diplomatic courtesy obliged, and by and by the name "Iran" began to appear in official correspondence and news items. At first "Iran" sounded alien (for non-Iranians), and many failed to recognize its connection with Persia.

Some (Westerners) thought that it was perhaps one of the new countries like Iraq and Jordan carved out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, or a country in Africa or Southeast Asia that had just been granted independence; and not a few confused it with Iraq, itself a recent entity. As time passed and as a number of events, like the Allied invasion of Iran in 1941 and the nationalization of the oil industry under Prime Minster Dr Mohammad Mosaddeq, put the country in the headlines, the name "Iran" became generally accepted, and "Persia" fell into comparative disuse, though more slowly in Britain than in the United States. Renaming Persia Renaming Persia Persians Are Not Arabs Persians Are Not Arabs we explain the difference Persian New Year Persian New Year Read More Renaming Persia Persia, What’s in a name? The name Persia is actually a Latin derivation used mainly by Westerners to describe the region roughly equivalent to that of present day Iran . In truth during the rise and fall of the Persian Empire the land was known to its people as 'Aryanam', which is equated to the current “ Iran ” in the proto - Iranian language .

During the reign of the Sassanids it became Eran – meaning "land of the Aryans". Aryan: Aryan by definition meant anyone speaking any of the Indo-European languages, including that of the Iranians . Unfortunately, with the rise of Hitler in the 1930’s, "Aryan" came to be associated with the Nazi definition: being of Non-Jewish Caucasian descent, especially the blue eyed, blond haired Nordic races that Hitler himself favored and hoped to make a master race. Iran VS Persia: In fact, in 1935, Dr Hjalmar Schacht, the Nazi Economics minister noted the Aryan origin of the Persians and encouraged the Persian Reza Shah Pahlavi to ask foreign delegates to use the term Iran, "land of Aryans" instead of Persia. As the New York Times explained at the time, "At the suggestion of the Persian Legation in Berlin, the Tehran government, on the Persian New Year , March 21, 1935, substituted Iran for Persia as the official name of the country. Defenders of the name change, point to its use by the Greek historians citing that "Aryan" means "noble".

Many also felt that calling something or someone Persian was dated and somewhat restrictive. There was a need to unify the people of this land under one nation, Iran , thus encompassing the other ethnicities, such as the Kurds or Turks, residing in former Persia . In its decision it was influenced by the Nazi revival of interest in the various Aryan races, cradled in ancient Persia . As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs set forth in its memorandum on the subject, 'Perse,' the French designation of Persia, connoted the weakness and tottering independence of the country in the nineteenth century, when it was the chessboard of European imperialistic rivalry. conjured up memories of the vigor and splendor of its historic past." Name Change This change however, evoked much opposition and confusion as Persians felt that the term damaged their cultural heritage and aligned them with pro Nazi sentiment. Additionally, all too often Iran was confused with their neighboring Arab state of Iraq, so much that during World War II, Winston Churchill called to enforce continuation of the term of Persia when dealing with political documentation. Even today, in an effort to separate themselves, those opposed to the current government in Iran continue to refer to themselves as Persian .

In 1959, the work of Professor Ehsan Yarshater, editor of Encyclopedia Iranica, propagated a move to use Persia and Iran interchangeably which was approved by Mohammad Reza Shah. Share : middle east - What was the significance of changing the name of "Persia" to "Iran"? - History Stack Exchange Definitely on point. I would however, emphasize the fact that the use of the term "Persia" to refer to Iran was a western invention dating back to the Greeks. From what I understand it was a derivation of the name of the modern western province of Fars. Thus Reza Shah's request (which the attached article argues was in bad judgement) in 1935 to the West was for them to use the name the "Iran", as that is what its inhabitants referred to it as. – BrotherJack Mar 26 '12 at 12:37 Might the European use of the word "Persia" to refer to Iran be analogous with the Roman use of the word "Palestine" to refer to the Levant? I understand that both were intended to separate (in the eyes of the Greeks and Romans) the lands from those who were currently inhabiting it.

Are there other examples of such "conquerors renaming" to separate the people from the land? – dotancohen Jul 25 '12 at 6:20 3 I know some (Shah era) Iranian expats that insist on being referred to as "Persian" rather than Iranian. Which name you use appears to be viewed by Iranians/Persians as a political decision, not just an issue of taxonomy. – T.E.D.♦ Feb 13 '13 at 17:31 1 I know some people from Iran with whom I play in some internet MMORPG games who calls their country "Persia". They dislike the name "Iran". – Anixx Mar 5 '13 at 19:57 2 Personal anecdote: the Iranians I have known (as international students in Canada) all agreed that Iran was the name of the nation-state, but Persia was the name of the region, the people, and the culture. So they would talk about an Iranian visa, but a Persian restaurant.

– Peter LeFanu Lumsdaine Jul 8 '14 at 15:45 I really do sympathize with your agitation over this, but please consider this rationally: a lot of ancient history was written by the Greeks and Romans about Persia (cf. the Greco-Persian wars). It'd be absolutely ahistorical (and very confusing for scholars and students) to retroactively rewrite ancient history to be about Iran, instead of Persia. No slight or insinuation is implied by using the name Persia in its ancient historical context. – Felix Goldberg Mar 5 '13 at 11:18 I do not know what is your mean of agitation. It is just a piece of reality. There is no need for sympathy or the other feelings. I am talking about history not imagination or a local history classroom. When you talk about world's history you have to increase your information about it by any help from everyone who can help to know more about. And a lot of ancient history was written on stones and walls of Persepolis,Pasargad,Susa and Bisotoun.

I am not talking according to my own personal idea but according to the contemporary situation of my own country which my grandfathers have written it. – Persian Cat Mar 5 '13 at 11:28 We are talking about history here which has been mixed with politics so there is not the matter of feelings or prejudice. It is reality nothing less,nothing more! We all are responsible about reality as the main core of history and have to protect it against distort,lie and prejudice. – Persian Cat Mar 5 '13 at 11:32 Agitation as in "Emotional state of excitement or restlessness", not in the political sense. Sorry if my choice of word had an unintended double-meaning I hadn't in mind! – Felix Goldberg Mar 5 '13 at 11:36 1 @Anixx Parthia refers to one of many different Iranian ethnics which were living in this big old complicated land. Surely there are many others too but none of them can be used instead of ancient-iran because of a very simple reasoning that is ancient Iran includes all of them not some or one.

– Persian Cat Apr 23 '13 at 3:05 When Persia became Iran By Professor Ehsan Yarshater Translated for CAIS by Abbas Farzamfar - 1998 This article is a part of "Persia or Iran" published in Iranian Studies, Vol. XXII, No.1, 1989 In 1935 the Iranian government requested those countries which it had diplomatic relations with, to call Persia "Iran," which is the name of the country in Persian. The suggestion for the change is said to have come from the Iranian ambassador to Germany, who came under the influence of the Nazis. At the time Germany was in the grip of racial fever and cultivated good relations with nations of "Aryan" blood.

It is said that some German friends of the ambassador persuaded him that, as with the advent of Reza Shah, Persia had turned a new leaf in its history and had freed itself from the pernicious influences of Britain and Russia, whose interventions in Persian affairs had practically crippled the country under the Qajars, it was only fitting that the country be called by its own name, "Iran." This would not only signal a new beginning and bring home to the world the new era in Iranian history, but would also signify the Aryan race of its population, as "Iran" is a cognate of "Aryan" and derived from it. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a circular to all foreign embassies in Tehran, requesting that the country thenceforth be called "Iran." Diplomatic courtesy obliged, and by and by the name "Iran" began to appear in official correspondence and news items. At first "Iran" sounded alien (for non-Iranians), and many failed to recognize its connection with Persia.

Some (Westerners) thought that it was perhaps one of the new countries like Iraq and Jordan carved out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, or a country in Africa or Southeast Asia that had just been granted independence; and not a few confused it with Iraq, itself a recent entity. As time passed and as a number of events, like the Allied invasion of Iran in 1941 and the nationalization of the oil industry under Prime Minster Dr Mohammad Mosaddeq, put the country in the headlines, the name "Iran" became generally accepted, and "Persia" fell into comparative disuse, though more slowly in Britain than in the United States. Persia changed its name to Iran in 1935.... Rate This Interesting Fun Funny Fact Persia changed its name to Iran in 1935. Date Added: 12/10/2010 Topic: Did You Know Facts A bird 'chews' with its stomach. Topic: Did You Know Facts | Buttermilk does not contain any butter. Topic: Did You Know Facts | In 1956, 80% of all U.S.

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Topic: Did You Know Facts | Persia, Iran, and the Persian Gulf: A Brief History of Names Persia, Iran, and the Persian Gulf: A Brief History of Names By Fouad Kazem A campaign has been recently launched. Many Iranians from all stripes, fascists, monarchists, nationalists, reformists, liberals, even some leftists, and some religious hardliners, whether in Iran or abroad, have been swept up by a nationalistic fervor. And, what, you may ask, is the root cause of this rare moment of unity among Iranians? It is the fact that an atlas published by the National Geographic (in 2004) included in parentheses the words "Arabian Gulf" next to the "Persian Gulf". That is why there is a campaign to convince the world about the name of the "Persian Gulf". It is a fact that by all historical accounts the Persian Gulf has always been called the "Persian Gulf", in most recorded history. It is also true that in the same region there is the "Sea of Oman", and next to that there is the "Arab Sea".

There is no reason to change the name of "Persian Gulf" to the "Arab Gulf", for that would create more confusion. However, should those interested in Iran's progress and democracy focus their time and energy on teaching everyone in the world about the name of a gulf? Would it not be more productive to devote efforts to make the historical connections between Iran, Iranian, Farsi, and Persian? Would it not make more sense to study the basic facts of Persian and world history we can change the present and work towards a better future? At this point, the vast majority of non-Iranians do not even know that Iranian, Farsi, and Persian are synonymous words referring to the same civilization and language. At best they think Persia is a region larger than Iran; at worst they think Persian is a civilization that disappeared along with the Hittites (who used to live in today's Turkey) or Babylonians (who used to live in today's Iraq). They think Farsi is a new dialect remotely related to Persian. They think Persian is a type of cat, a style of rug, or a flying carpet from somewhere exotic in the East.

Basic facts of Persian history need to be clarified, before we focus on teaching people about the name of the Persian Gulf. Even if we succeed in convincing everyone in the world (including every Saudi Sheikh in his Harem) to use the name "Persian Gulf", the connection of that name with Iran will still be problematic in the minds of many. To be clear, in Persian we call the Persian Gulf, Khalije "Fars". Persia's government in 1935 asked the world to stop using the word, "Persian" and use the word "Iranian" instead (1). And yet in English we want it to be called the "Persian Gulf". Why the confusion over the names Persian and Iranian? For the last 2600 years, up to the year 1935, following a naming convention that was started by the ancient Greeks, in all Western languages today's Iran was known as "Persia", a word that was different from the word used in Persian, which was always "Iran". There are many other examples of such naming conventions in the world.

Indians call their country "Bharat", Egyptians call their land "Missr", in Finland they call their country "Suomi", the Japanese call their country "Nihon", and Germans call their country "Deutschland" (2). By the same token, the language of Persia (Iran) has always been internationally known as Persian. The naming conventions for Persia (aka Iran) changed in 1935. The suggestion for the name change from Persia to Iran is said to have come from the Persian ambassador to Germany, who was a Nazi sympathizer. In 1935 Germany was ruled by Hitler. Aryanism was equated by the Nazis as the highest level of human civilization, in an article of faith based on a vulgar Hegelian hyperbola. Apparently the Persian ambassador was persuaded by his Nazi friends that Persia would be better off as an ally of Nazi Germany. Moreover, he became convinced that the country should be called by its Persian name, Iran, in Western languages. This was to signal a new beginning and bring home to the world the new era in Iranian history, one that would emphasize the Aryan aspect of its people. The name Iran is a cognate of the old word Aryan.

The Persian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a memo to all foreign embassies in Tehran, requesting that the country be called "Iran." Unfortunately "Iran" sounded alien to non-Iranians, and many failed to recognize its connection with the historic Persia. Some (Westerners) thought that it was perhaps one of the new countries like Kuwait or Jordan carved out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, or like "Pakistan", carved out of India. Even today many confuse Iran with Iraq. The confusion has been made worse by the usage of the word Farsi, which is the Persian word for Persian, just as "Deutsch" is the German word for German. To make matters worse, for marketing purposes Rumi and other Persian poets are presented by American book publishers as Sufi poets and not as Persian poets (3). It is generally known that Dante was Italian and Shakespeare was British. But most Americans know Rumi as a "Sufi poet" from somewhere in the East, as if Sufi were a nationality.

As the references in a large body of European texts (Examples: texts by Schopenhauer, Nietzche, Hegel, Montesquieu, etc.) indicate, Persian civilization has been very well known in European philosophy and culture for centuries. For today's Persians (Iranians), the name "Iran" refers to a rich and historic civilization. For most non-Iranians, Iran is a country in the Middle East with a more or less Islamic identity, and with no clear connection with the historic "Persia". Let us look at another interesting example: the name of the Caspian Sea. Today in most Middle Eastern languages including Persian and Turkish, the Caspian Sea is called the Sea of the Khazar. The name refers to the Khazar people who inhabited an area extending from the Caucus Mountains to Central Ukraine from the 5th to the 13th century and whose civilization disappeared after successive attacks by the Mongols. The Khazars were a Turkic people who had originated in Central Asia. In the beginning, the Khazars believed in Shamanism, spoke a Turkic language, and were nomads.

Later, the Khazars adopted Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and settled in cities and towns that they built throughout the north Caucasus and Eastern Ukraine. The Khazars had a tradition of religious tolerance. Kiev, the capital city of modern Ukraine, was largely founded by the Khazars. Kiev is a Turkic name (K�i = riverbank + ev = settlement). The Hungarian-Jewish writer, Arthur Koestler, argued in his carefully researched work, The Thirteenth Tribe (1976) that large portions of the Khazars converted to Judaism. He also documents that the Khazars were forced to migrate to Eastern Europe under attacks from the East by the Mongols in the 13th Century. Through an interesting twist of history, Westerners today refer to the Caspian Sea with the old Latin name for the historic city of Qazvin (in today's Iran), while Persians and Turks refer to it as the Sea of the Khazar, named after a proud civilization that disappeared long ago. Superficial isolated discussions about the name of the Persian Gulf are misplaced. They distract us from more basic problems.

If something is to be done from a naming point of view to promote a better understanding of Persian culture and history, it would be far more sensible to officially change the name of Iran back to Persia, Farsi and Iranian back to Persian, in all Western languages; That can be achieved through a campaign that will educate people about Persian civilization in a clear progressive manner, through a dialogue that will highlight Persia's contributions to the world, without attacking, or claiming superiority over other peoples of the Middle East: the Arabs, the Turks, the Jews, the Armenians, the Kurds.

The Persian rug, the Persian cat, the Persian Empire, the Persia that Alexander the Great was so proud to have defeated, the Persia that the Greek historian, Herodotos, wrote about in his world classic, The Persian Wars, the Persian civilization that Hegel wrote about in his world classic, Philosophy of History, Scheherazade who told stories to the Calif of Baghdad in the tales of A Thousands and One Nights, Ibn-e Sina (aka Avicenna) whose works of medicine were taught in Europe for centuries, Hafez who was admired by Goethe, the great astronomer and poet, Omar Khayyam, Rumi (Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi) were all Persians, they were from Persia, the same country that has been known in the West as Iran since 1935, through a strange accident of history. In Western Europe, after long periods of warfare and violence (culminating in the savagery of World War II), they finally opted for cooperation among nations and the formation of a European Union. A time may come when the peoples of the Middle East will overcome the existing cultural backwardness and live in harmony and rich cultural exchange with each other.

They will learn to collaborate with each other and not claim superiority over each other. (1) cf. Article by Ehsan Yarshater, professor at Columbia University in New York and editor of the Encyclopedia Iranica. (2) Deutschland, Germany, and Allemagne all refer to the same country in different languages: German, English, and French. (3) Presumably because these publishers believe pointing out Rumi's national origins will dampen the sales efforts. ... Payvand News - 03/25/16 ... -- The Iranian History 1935 AD The Iranian History 1935 AD Persia Shall Be Called Iran Mar, 22, 1935 AD By decree of Reza Shah Pahlavi , the name of Persia was changed to the name by which that country's natives have always known it, Iran . In reality Persia is only a southern province. Although foreigners have called our land Persia, local residents have always called it Iran. The Shah 's decision with respect to the diplomatic corps, acted from the national and patriotic motives that inspire his new nationalist policy.

There are some other examples: Japan is Nippon , Germany is Deutschland , Egypt is Mesr, Greece is Hellas, and Finland is Suomi according to natives. This decree indeed was a decision to eliminate further confusion. (Updated: Oct, 19, 2008) Majlis Tenth Term Begins Jun, 15, 1935 AD The head of the parliament in an official letter to the government on June, 15, 1935 announced that 3/4 of all deputies attended the assembly on Thursday, June, 13. The letter from the head of the legislation body to the executive body is part of a formality. The United States was observing an approaching policy towards Iran . Iran also needed a balancing third power to play against influential UK and USSR . Thus the two countries entered a joint venture. As it was a foreign deal, parliament approval was needed. Thus, Majlis granted a license for exploration and sales of petroleum in the eastern region to Amiranian Oil Company. Another important issue was a bill regarding foundation of Iran State Railways . A project that in West was regarded as one of Reza Shah 's great ambitions.

The great Trans-Iranian Railway project was only financed by adding a small tax on sugar and tea and was completed in a very short time. A non-aggression pact between Iran, Afghanistan , Turkey and Iraq was negotiated in the tenth term. The tenth Majlis ended on June, 12, 1937. (Updated: May, 28, 2009) Dr. Schacht Visits Tehran Nov, 11, 1935 AD London newspapers expressed concern after Hjalmar Schacht visited Tehran on Nov, 11, 1935. Reza Shah personally met with this German economist known in Iran as Dr. Schacht. Reza Shah was looking for an alternative to reduce British and Russian influence in Iran. He gave Reza Shah the path to use customs and taxes in order towards industrialization. After the WWII , he was tried at Nuremburg but was acquitted. Then he travelled to Tehran again in Sep, 1953 and presented his economic plan without petroleum which included fiscal and monetary policy along with methods of decreasing government expenses. Dr. Mosaddegh was implementing this plan before the coup of 1953.

On Feb, 7, 1953, Dr. Schacht travelled to Tehran for a third time. General Zahedi , the Prime Minister of the military junta tried to get his approval for issuing 20 Tomans banknotes which Dr. Schacht strongly opposed to. Ferdowsi chain stores which were founded to reduce intermediate dealers and thus keeping prices low were one of his ideas implemented by Germans in Iran. (Updated: Jul, 23, 2010) Reza Shah Dismisses Prime Minister Dec, 1, 1935 AD Mohammad Ali Foroughi was dismissed from duty by Reza Shah after allegations that he was misusing his authority in favor of relatives. Before becoming prime minister, Foroughi had served as minister of foreign affairs and later as minister in charge of economy. 6 years later Foroughi played a significant role in toppling Reza Shah , an event after which the Shah was sent to exile in the Maurice Island . Foroughi died 15 months after Iran surrendered to the Allied Powers on Nov, 26, 1942.

(Updated: Dec, 2, 2007) English-Persian Glossary Trans-Iranian Railway : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Iran State Railways : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Hjalmar Schacht : دکï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Dr.

Shakht) Maurice Island : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Morris Island, Island of Mauritius) Prime Minister : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Allied Powers : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Allies,Aliied Forces) United States : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Deutschland : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Afghanistan : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Amiranian : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟

½ Mosaddegh : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Mossaddegh, Mosaddeq) دکï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ق،ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Nuremburg : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½رگ Reza Shah : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Sardar Sepah, Reza Gholdor) ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Ferdowsi : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Ferdosi,Firdusi or Firdousi) Iranian : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï

؟½ ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Finland : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Germany : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Russian : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ British : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Pahlavi : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Pahlevi) Persia : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Greece : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Ionia,Yunan) Zahedi : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Tehran : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Teheran, Tahran) ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ London : ï؟½

ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Turkey : ï؟½رکï؟½ï؟½ Nippon : ï؟½اپï؟½ German : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Majlis : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Majles) Egypt : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Al Mesr) Japan : ï؟½اپï؟½ Iraq : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Al Aragh) USSR : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)) Iran : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ WWII : ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ Shah : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟

½ ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ UK : ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½ï؟½(United Kingdom,The Old Fox) IRAN or PERSIA Greece Hellas Japan Nihon Although for us, the name "Iran" is a very dear and respectable name, but the change in the international name of our country, from Persia to Iran, has created a detrimental gap between Persia and its historical and cultural past in the minds of the people of the world.

In the West today, there are very few people for whom Iran and Persia connote the same meaning. Contrary to what the government officials of Persia believed in the 1930s, in the West, not only are people not aware of an association between the name "Iran" and the "Aryan" race, but rather due to the great similarity that exists in European languages between the names "Iran" and "Iraq," many, especially among the youth, mistake Iran with this newly-established Arab entity which borders western Iran. Like it or not, the great similarity between these two names in the West have muddled the identities of these two countries. For those who recognize a diference between "Iran" and "Iraq", Iran is a country bordering the Persian Gulf, possessing oil, with a more or less Arab identity, which has no clear connection with the "Persia" in history. A large portion of the budgets of various countries is spent annually on advertising and cultivating their international image. Postal stamps that are currently being distributed by Switzerland may be the best example.

Despite the fact that its international name is Switzerland, on its stamps one reads the name "Helvetia," which was the Latin name given to Switzerland centuries ago but has long been abolished. Nearly seventy years have passed since the change of name from "Persia" to "Iran" for international usage, but on many occasions (especially when relating to Persian history, art and culture), in works written in European languages, Persian and non-Persian scholars use the name "Persia" and the adjective "Persian" for "Iran" and "Iranian", since historically and culturally, "Iran" and "Iranian" do not convey any special meaning to non-Persians. The name "Persia" for Iran, and phrases such as Persian Carpet, Persian Gulf, Persian Miniature, Persian Garden, Persian Cat etc.. have all been entered in respectable world encyclopedias.

In 1935, the then Persian government requested all countries to use the words "Iran" and "Iranian" in their official correspondence in place of "Persia" and "Persian." Thus the two words which embrace all the history and culture of Persia abroad gradually faded out of public usage in foreign languages; only the word "Persian" remained to denote the Persian language. However, in recent years and following the emigration of hundreds of thousands of Persians to Europe, Australia and America, the lack of knowledge and attention on the part of some of them paid to this issue, as well as the lack of attention by some official organizations within the country, regrettably, the term "Farsi," instead of "Persian," has entered Western languages (especially English) a completely new word in Western literature which is in no way representative of Persian history and literature.

Some publications and English-language television channels, both inside and outside the country, many Persians who possess Internet sites, various news agencies, computer companies (especially those producing Persian word processors), those who broadcast the Persian service of the Voice of America (VOA), many supposedly reputable universities and language institutes are among individuals and organizations which have had a role in aggravating this cultural complexity whose scope is ever widening. Apparently, however, no one has been as dedicated to burying alive our cultural heritage as much as we Persians ourselves! School books for teaching English, which until recently were insistent upon using "Farsi" instead of "Persian", English-language newspapers published in Tehran, our English-language television programs, and the live program which is currently being broadcast by the international television network, Sahar, entitled, "Let's Learn Farsi" are examples of our own doing. The increasing usage of Farsi in place Voice of America of Persian has caused this term to enter world encyclopedias. In recent years, under the adjective "Persian", Oxford University Press has added: "Now usually called Iranian or Farsi".

It must be emphasized that "Farsi" is the native name for this language while "Persian" is its international equivalent just as, for example, the native names for the German and Greek languages are Deutsch and Hellenika, while they are never used in English. It is essential to note that today's Persian youth are generally alien to the terms Persia, Persian, and even the Persian Gulf. They associate the name "Persia" with Peugeot Persia!, and they associate the name "Persepolis" (Persia's most famous historical relic) with a football team! The discussion over the usage of Persia and Iran in European languages has long existed among Iranians, especially Iranian immigrants. As usual, some agree and others disagree. Apparently a completely wrong idea exists among some of our fellow countrymen that "Persia" is a dead historical word, representing the Zoroastrian culture, whereas, without any prejudice and considering historical research, one must easily accept the fact that Persia is the English equivalent of Iran. According to undeniable existing documents, this name was officially applied to Iran from 600 B.C.

until 1935 A.D., and unofficially since then in European languages; in no way does it exclusively apply to the Persia of the Achaemenid and Sassanid periods. Today's Iran is the same Persia. Political and cultural changes that exist in the history of most nations are no reason for a change in the nation's historical name. Just as there is no comparison between today's Egypt and the Egypt of 7000 years ago, or as there is no comparison between the vastness and political situation of today's Greece and the Greece of 3000 years ago. Dr. Ehsan Yarshater, professor at Columbia University in New York and editor of the Encyclopedia Iranica; Dr. Kazem Abhary, professor at South Australian University in Adelaide; Dr. Hormoz Farhat, professor at Dublin University; Amir-Rostam Beigi and Javad Fakharzadeh, two Persians residing in the United States, are among the most industrious individuals on the promotion of this topic, whose works have also contributed to the writing of this article.

In order to protect national interests and the country's history, we must remain faithful in using the word "Persia" on an international level, and use the adjective "Persian" for anything that is related to Persia  its history, civilization, culture, art, language, and people. ENDS IRAN OR PERSIA 111202 Editorï¿½S note: Mr. Akbarzadeh Is a journalist and researcher in Tehran. He contributed this article to Iran Press Service. He can be reached at e-mail; persia_1980@hotmail.com

Question: What changed its name to Iran in 1935?
Answer: Persia