Why did they change Persia to Iran?
Just curious. Seems to me Persia was a much nicer name but what do I know. 🤭
Anthony450 · 31-35, M
"Persia" is an exonym, a name used outside of the country and language itself. "Iran", "Arya" (from which "Iran" derives), and other similar terms were the terms used by the Iranians themselves. "Persia" comes from the name of a tribe and a region of Iran, Fars, which is also the source of the term "Farsi" for the language.
Most of the "old names" of places are exonyms, which end up being replaced by endonyms in some cases. Not always, though. "Japan" and "China", for example, are exonyms. In their languages, the countries would be called "Nihon" and "Zhongguo".
Most of the "old names" of places are exonyms, which end up being replaced by endonyms in some cases. Not always, though. "Japan" and "China", for example, are exonyms. In their languages, the countries would be called "Nihon" and "Zhongguo".
DDonde · 31-35, M
Persia was the name passed down to us in English from the Greeks. The name "Iran" is pretty old too, though, and it's the name they use for themselves. Related to our word "Aryan". The old monarchy asked that other governments start using Iran instead of Persia, so it stuck.
SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M
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tobynshorty · 51-55, F
RogueLodyte · M
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
Northwest · M
@Lilymoon Kind of. The Islamic conquest, in the 7th century, unified the various parts that disintegrated following the demise of the Persian Empire at the hands of Alexander, leading to a succession of Islamic dynasties.
Eventually the Safavid Dynasty emerged in the 16th century, the adoption of Twelver Shia Islam as the state religion, and the formation of what Iran is today (or close to it). The Twelver Shia Islam extended into India, and from there to Uganda, and from there to South Africa (starting when Indians got kicked out of Uganda), and from there to New York, where Ammdani recently won the Democrat Mayoral primary, earning Trump's Ire and now talk of stripping him of his US citizenship and deporting him.
But I digress.
The Pahlavi Dynasty, as it rose through power in 1925, formalized the name of the Pahlavis home as Iran in 1935. The Pahlavi dynasty ended when Khomeini took over in the late 1970s.
I'm sure if I gave this to CharGPT, it might come up with a more refined timeline.
Eventually the Safavid Dynasty emerged in the 16th century, the adoption of Twelver Shia Islam as the state religion, and the formation of what Iran is today (or close to it). The Twelver Shia Islam extended into India, and from there to Uganda, and from there to South Africa (starting when Indians got kicked out of Uganda), and from there to New York, where Ammdani recently won the Democrat Mayoral primary, earning Trump's Ire and now talk of stripping him of his US citizenship and deporting him.
But I digress.
The Pahlavi Dynasty, as it rose through power in 1925, formalized the name of the Pahlavis home as Iran in 1935. The Pahlavi dynasty ended when Khomeini took over in the late 1970s.
I'm sure if I gave this to CharGPT, it might come up with a more refined timeline.
Thatsright · 61-69, M