Why iranian call themselves persian

I am saying that there is a tendency to not just necessarily look at the time before they left Iran, but also to more ancient Iranian history.

Why is it, for example, that they identify more readily with Cyrus the Great than with figures in contemporary culture? Yes, I think they identify more readily with ancient culture. It is very much generational and depends on when a person left Iran. Those who have migrated more recently are not necessarily as preoccupied with identifying themselves with ancient Iran. They may have difficulties, and they might try to challenge Iranian culture as it is seen, but they have lived a different reality than those who came at the time of the Revolution or just before.

Also, we are a product of what we grew up with. We attempt to recreate a modern Iran that could trace its own legacy back to Cyrus the Great. Those who have grown up in Iran in more recent times have had to grapple with an education system that imposes itself in a certain way. I cannot prove it empirically, but I think the younger generation would see themselves differently, even today.

The older generation will insist more on the older concept of Iran. How does belonging to a certain political and economic class influence culture identification? A lot! Politics has a major role, as Iran has gone from seeing itself as a modernized and secularized society to an Islamic Republic. You can be Iranian and not speak Persian. Growing up in Alabama , I got my fair share of ridiculous comments.

There was even a lot of BS to deal with in other countries. But I no longer do that. Pontia writes and blogs about all things Iran: culture, language, and travel. Cite this Article Format. Johnson, Bridget. The Difference Between 'Iranian' and 'Persian'. Ancient Sources on Persian or Iranian History. Sunni Versus Shiite Conflict Explained. Geography, History, and Culture of Bahrain.

Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for ThoughtCo. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. In , however, the Iranian government requested that all countries with which it had diplomatic relations call the country by its Persian name, Iran.

At that time, Germany had good relations with countries of Aryan descent. To signal the changes that had come to Persia under the rule of Reza Shah, namely that Persia had freed itself from the grip of the British and Russians, it would be known as Iran. But as time went on and Iran made headlines, particularly after Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq nationalized the oil industry, it became more familiar.