Why did they change Persia to Iran?
Just curious. Seems to me Persia was a much nicer name but what do I know. 🤭
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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".