To best understand Iran and its people, one must first attempt to acquire an understanding of its ancient culture. It is in the study of this area where the Iranian identity optimally expresses itself. Hence the first sentence of prominent Iranologist Richard Nelson Frye's latest book on Iran reads:
- "Iran's glory has always been its culture. Iranian Studies ( ايران شناسیis an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the Iranian cultural region (or the Iranian "cultural continent" Richard Nelson Frye (born c 1920 is an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian Studies, and Aga Khan Professor Emeritus "[1]
Iranians were not only open to other cultures, but freely adopted to all they found useful. Thus an eclectic cultural elasticity has been said to be one of the key defining characteristics of the Persian spirit and a clue to its historic longevity. [2]
Furthermore, Iran's culture has manifested itself in several facets throughout the history of Iran, as well as that of many Central Asian and west South Asian states like Afghanistan and Pakistan. See Also Persian Empire History of Iran and Greater Iran (also referred to as the " Iranian Cultural Continent Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and
The article uses the words Persian and Iranian interchangeably, sometimes referring to the language and its speakers, and other times referring to the name of pre-20th century Iran, a nomenclature which survives from wester explorers and orientalists. Both are not the same however, and the cultures of the people of Greater Iran is the focus of this article. Greater Iran (in Irān-e Bozorg, or fa ایرانزمین Irān-zamīn; the Encyclopedia Iranica uses the term
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Art
Iranian art has gone through numerous phases of evolution. The Iranian cultural region - consisting of the modern nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and The visual arts are art forms that focus on the creation of works which are primarily Visual in nature such as Painting, Photography Persian painting has several branches most famously the classical art of the Persian miniature, and including the modern popular form of "Qahveh Khanehei" Painting A Persian miniature is a small painting whether a book illustration or a separate work of art intended to be kept in an album of such works The decorative arts are traditionally defined as ornamental and functional works in Ceramic, Wood, Glass, Metal, or Textile. Iran (Persia possesses an extraordinary treasure of royal Jewelry, including a copious amount of Mother-of-pearl from the Persian Gulf. Persian embroidery is one of the many forms of the multi-faceted Persian arts. Persia ( Iran) has an ancient tradition of its own design of motifs Iranian craftwork, are Handicrafts works that are useful in ordinary life or are decorative This article has references but they are not inline references Iranian pottery (sometimes known as gombroon) production presents a continuous Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Persian literature ( spans two and a half millennia though much of the pre- Islamic material has been lost By Persian Mythology is meant the myths and sacred narratives of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Iranian Plateau Iranian folklore including jokes legends games folklore heroes and beliefs is sophisticated and complex Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria Persian cuisine or the cuisine of Iran is diverse with each province featuring dishes culinary traditions and styles distinct to their regions The Persian carpet ( Pahlavi bōb Persian farš فرش meaning "to spread" and qāli) is an essential part of The tradition and style of Garden design of Persian gardens ( Persian باغ ایرانی influenced the design of gardens from Andalusia to India This article is about Performance art For other uses see Performance (disambiguation Persian dance refers to the type of Dancing from Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The music of Iran or Persian music has thousands of years of history dating back to the Neolithic age as seen in the archeological The cinema of Iran (or Persian cinema) is a flourishing film industry with a long history The Iranian cultural region - consisting of the modern nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and The unique aesthetics of Iran is evident from the Achaemenid reliefs in Persepolis to the mosaic paintings of Bishapur. Aesthetics or esthetics ( also spelled æsthetics) is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values sometimes called The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of Persepolis ( Old Persian: Pārsa, Modern Persian: تخت جمشید/پارسه Takht-e Jamshid or Chehel Minar) was the ceremonial Bishapur (or Bishâpûr) is an ancient city situated south of modern Faliyan, Iran on the ancient road between Persis and Elam. The Islamic era drastically brought changes to the styles and practice of the arts, each dynasty with its own particular foci. The Qajarid era was the last stage of classical Persian art, before modernism was imported and suffused into elements of traditionalist schools of aesthetics. Modernism describes an array of Cultural movements rooted in the changes in Western society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century
Language and literature
The Persian language has been in continuous use for over 2500 years. Persian literature ( spans two and a half millennia though much of the pre- Islamic material has been lost Yet it is a subset of the Iranian languages. The Iranian languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family and its subfamily Indo-Iranian.
Persian literature inspired Goethe, Ralph Waldo Emerson and many others, and it has been often dubbed as a most worthy language to serve as a conduit for poetry. ˈjoːhan ˈvɔlfgaŋ fɔn ˈgøːtə (in English generally ˈgɝːtə 28 August 1749 22 March 1832 was a German writer Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25 1803 &ndash April 27 1882 was an American essayist philosopher poet and leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the early 19th century Dialects of Persian are widely spoken throughout the region sporadically from China to Syria and mainly in Iranian Plateau. The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern Two important dialects of Persian serving as languages are Tajiki and Dari respectively spoken in Tajikistan and Afghanistan as official languages. The Tajik language, or Tajik Persian, or Tajiki, (sometimes written Tadjik or Tadzhik; тоҷикӣ, tg-Latn ''tojikí'') is a modern Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان taajikestaan officially the Republic of Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت,
Cinema
With 300 international awards in the past 25 years, films from Iran continue to be celebrated worldwide. The cinema of Iran (or Persian cinema) is a flourishing film industry with a long history Perhaps the best known director is Abbas Kiarostami. Abbas Kiarostami ( `Abbās Kiyārostamī born 22 June 1940 is an internationally acclaimed Iranian Film director, Screenwriter, and Film producer
Music
The music of Persia goes back to before the days of Barbod in the royal Sassanid courts. The music of Iran or Persian music has thousands of years of history dating back to the Neolithic age as seen in the archeological This is a list of Iranian ( Persian) musicians and singers Classical See List of Iranian composers Iranian Classical/Traditional Persian traditional music (also known as Iranian traditional music, Musiqi-e Sonati-e Irani, also Persian classical music or Iranian classical music Barbad or Barbad the Great (in باربد The name is the arabicized pronunciation of the Persian name Pahlbod which is most probably how he was called in his own day The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire This is where many music cultures trace back their distant origins to. [3]
Architecture
Traditional teahouses of Iran
There are nearly countless numbers of traditional teahouses (chai khaneh) throughout Iran, and each province features its own unique cultural presentation of this ancient tradition. Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria However, there are certain traits which are common to all teahouses, especially the most visible aspects, strong chai (tea) and the ever-present ghaluyn. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market A hookah (हुक़्क़ा حقّہ hukkah) is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based water pipe for Smoking. Almost all teahouses serve baqleh, steam boiled fava beans (in the pod), served with salt and vinegar, as well as a variety of desserts and pastries. Vicia faba, the broad bean, fava bean, faba bean, horse bean, field bean, tic bean is a species of Many teahouses also serve full meals, typically a variety of kababs as well as regional specialities. Kebab (also transliterated as kabab, kabob, kibob, kebhav, kephav) refers to a variety of meat dishes in Middle Eastern
Persian gardens
The Persian Garden was designed as a reflection of paradise on earth; the word "garden" itself coming from Persian roots. The tradition and style of Garden design of Persian gardens ( Persian باغ ایرانی influenced the design of gardens from Andalusia to India The special place of the garden in the Iranian heart can be seen in their architecture, in the ruins of Iran, and in their paintings.
Cuisine
In Persian mythology, Persian food is so delicious and tempting that Ahriman (the devil) uses it to corrupt the King of the land, causing two serpents to sprout from the King's shoulders, turning him into an evil tyrant; Zahhāk The Dragon King. Persian cuisine or the cuisine of Iran is diverse with each province featuring dishes culinary traditions and styles distinct to their regions Zahhāk or Zohhāk (in ضحاک is a figure of Persian mythology, evident in ancient Iranian Folklore as Aži Dahāka, the name by which he
Dance of Iran
Religion
Iran has been the birthplace of many of the world's most influential religions and religion in Iran has always had a direct impact on its culture. The Islamic conquest of Persia (637-651 led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia. Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, Manichaeism, Mazdakism, Yazdanism, Bábí Faith and the Bahá'í Faith are some of the religions that originated there. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating Mazdak (in Persian مزدک (died c 524 or 528 was a proto- socialist Persian reformer who gained influence under the reign of the Sassanian Yazdânism is a term introduced by Mehrdad Izady to denote a group of native Kurdish monotheistic religions Alevism Yarsan and Yazidism Izady Bábism () is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852 then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire (especially Cyprus) as The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind
Today, the Shia version of Islam continues to have an immediate bearing on Iranian culture and identity. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.
Sports
- The game of Polo originated with Iranian tribes in ancient times and was regularly seen throughout the country until the revolution of 1979 where it became associated with the monarchy. Many sports are practiced in Iran, both traditional and modern Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team It continues to be played, but only in rural areas and discreetly. Recently, as of 2005, it has been acquiring an increasingly higher profile. In March 2006, there was a highly publicised tournament and all significant matches are now televised.
- The Iranian Zoor Khaneh
Women in Persian culture
In the tales of the 1001 Nights, it is a woman, Scheherazade, who is the protagonist and heroine of the frame tale. varzeš-e pahlavānī ورزش پهلوانی meaning the "Sport of the Heroes" also known as Varzesh-e Bastani ( Persian varzeš-e bāstnī Scheherazade (ʃəˌhɛrəˈzɑːd -ˈzɑːdə sometimes Scheherazadea, Persian transliteration Shahrazad or Shahrzād (شهرزاد Šahrzād
Traditional Important Days
Iranians celeberate the following days based on a Solar calendar, in addition to important religious days of Islamic and Shia calendars, which are based on a lunar calendar. The following is a List of Festivals in Iran Iranian Festivals Nowruz: Celebration of the start of spring ("Rejuvenation" For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.
- Norouz (Iranian/Persian New Year)
- Sizdah be dar (Nature Day)
- Jashn-e-Tirgan (Water Festival)
- Jashn-e-Sadeh (Fire Festival)
- Jashn-e-Mehregan (Autumn Festival)
- Shab-e-Yalda (Winter Feast)
- Charshanbeh Suri
Traditional cultural inheritors of the old Persia
Like the Persian Rug that exhibits numerous colors and forms in a dazzling display of warmth and creativity, Persian culture is the glue that bonds the peoples of western and central Asia. The Persian carpet ( Pahlavi bōb Persian farš فرش meaning "to spread" and qāli) is an essential part of The Caucasus and Central Asia "occupy an important place in the historical geography of Persian civilization. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south Much of the region was included in the Pre-Islamic Persian empires, and many of its ancient peoples either belonged to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European peoples (e. g. Medes and Soghdians), or were in close cultural contact with them (e. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. History Hellenistic period The Sogdian Rock or Rock of Ariamazes a fortress in Sogdiana was captured in 327 BC by the forces of Alexander the Great g. the Armenians). The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large [4] In the words of Iranologist Richard Nelson Frye:
- "Many times I have emphasized that the present peoples of central Asia, whether Iranian or Turkic speaking, have one culture, one religion, one set of social values and traditions with only language separating them. Richard Nelson Frye (born c 1920 is an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian Studies, and Aga Khan Professor Emeritus "
The Culture of Persia has thus developed over several thousand years. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia But historically, the peoples of Islamic Republic of Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan originate from the same or similar stock, and are related to one another as part of the larger group of peoples of Greater Iran. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان taajikestaan officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi or Ўзбекистон Республикаси is a doubly Turkmenistan ( Türkmenistan; also known as Turkmenia) is a Turkic country in Central Asia. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South Kyrgyzstan (ˈkɻ̩gɪztɑn (AmE or /'kɝgəztan/ (BrE Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан; Russian: Киргизия or Киргизстан or Кыргызстан Greater Iran (in Irān-e Bozorg, or fa ایرانزمین Irān-zamīn; the Encyclopedia Iranica uses the term Armenia, Georgia,[5] and Daghestan were also well within the sphere of influence of Persian culture as well, as can be seen from the many remaining relics, ruins, and works of literature from that region. Persian Armenia corresponds to the Armenian territory controlled by Persia throughout history Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between The Republic of Dagestan dæɡɪˈstɑːn (IntEng ˈdeɪɡəstæn (AmEng (Респу́блика Дагеста́н Дагъистанлъул ДжумхIурият Daɣistanłul (e.g. 1) (e.g. 2)
In particular, Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan have been able to almost fully retain their Persian identity, while the other aforementioned entities still exhibit considerable traces of their Iranian past. Derbent (Дербе́нт Azeri: Dərbənd; Lezgian: Дербент Avar: Дербенд; Persian: دربند Darband For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان taajikestaan officially the Republic of
Contributions to humanity in ancient history
From the humble brick, to the windmill, Persians have mixed creativity with art and offered the world numerous contributions. A brick is a block of Ceramic material used in Masonry construction laid using mortar. A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind [6][7] What follows is a list of just a few examples of the cultural contributions of Iran. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics.
- (10,000 BC) - Earliest known domestication of the goat. [8]
- (6000 BC) - The modern brick. [9] Some of the oldest bricks found to date are Persian, from ca. 6000 BC.
- (~5000 BC) - Invention of Wine. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Discovery made by University of Pennsylvania excavations at Hajji Firuz Tepe in northwestern Iran. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [10]
- (5000 BC) - Invention of Tar (lute), that led to the development of the guitar. For other uses of this term including another kind of musical instrument see Tar (disambiguation. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles [11]
- (3000 BC) - The ziggurat. The Sialk ziggurat, according to the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran, predates that of Ur or any other of Mesopotamia's 34 ziggurats. Sialk is a large ancient archeological site near Kashan, Iran, tucked away in the suburbs of the city of Kashan, in central Iran, close to Iran Cultural Heritage Handcrafts and Tourism Organization ( is an educational and research institution overseeing numerous associated museum complexes throughout Iran. Ur ( Sumerian:urim; Akkadian: ?) is modern Tell el-Mukayyar, Iraq, and was a city in ancient Sumer.
- (2000 BC) - Peaches are a fruit of Iranian origin, as indicated by their Latin scientific name, Prunus persica, from which (by way of the French) we have the English word "peach. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The peach ( Prunus persica) is a species of Prunus native to China that bears an edible juicy fruit also called a peach "[12]
- Tulips were first cultivated in ancient Persia. Tulipa, commonly called tulip, is a Genus of about 150 species of bulbous Flowering plants in the family Liliaceae. [13]
- (1400 BC) - The game of Backgammon appears in the east of Iran. Backgammon is a Board game for two players in which the playing pieces are moved according to the roll of Dice.
- (1400 BC to 600 BC) - Zoroastrianism: where the first prophet of a monotheistic faith arose according to some scholars,[14] claiming Zoroastrianism as being "the oldest of the revealed credal religions, which has probably had more influence on mankind directly or indirectly, more than any other faith". Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings [15][16]
- (576 BC to 529 BC) - Under the rule of Cyrus II the Great, the Cyrus Cylinder was issued. The Cyrus cylinder, also known as the Cyrus the Great cylinder, is a document issued by the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great in the form of a clay This is considered to be the first universal declaration of human rights,[17] predating the Magna Carta by one millennium[18] It was discovered in 1879 in Babylon and today is kept in the British Museum. Magna Carta ( Latin for Great Charter, literally " Great Paper " also called Magna Carta Libertatum ( Great Charter of Freedoms The British Museum is a Museum of human history and culture in London.
- (576 BC to 529 BC) - Under the rule of Cyrus II the Great, Cyrus frees the Jews from Babylonian captivity. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Babylonia was an Amorite state in lower Mesopotamia (modern southern Iraq) with Babylon as its capital See Cyrus in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Cyrus the Great figures in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament as the patron and deliverer of the Jews He is mentioned twenty-three times by name and alluded
- (521 BC) - The game Polo. Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team [19]
- (500 BC) World's oldest Staple (fastener).
- (500 BC) The first Taxation system (under the Achaemenid Empire). The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of
- (500 BC) The first courier post. Also called the "Royal Road". The Persian Royal Road was an ancient highway reorganized and rebuilt by the Persian king Darius I of Achaemenid Empire in the 5th Century BC [20]
- (500 BC) - Source for introduction of the domesticated chicken into Europe. The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from
- (500 BC) - First cultivation of spinach
 An ancient ice house, called a yakhchal, built in ancient times for storing ice during summers. Spinach ( Spinacia oleracea) is a Flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. yakh-chāl (meaning "ice pit" ( Persian Language:یخچال is an ancient type of refrigerator |
 Iranian chess (shatranj) set, glazed fritware, 12th century. Shatranj is an old form of Chess, which has been popular in Persia and the Middle East for almost 1000 years Fritware is a type of Pottery in which Frit is added to Clay to reduce its fusion temperature New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an art museum located on the eastern edge of Central Park, along what is known as Museum Mile in New York City, |
 Figurines playing the ancestor of the Guitar. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Excavated in Susa, Iran. Susa ( Biblical שושן ( Shushan) also Greek: Σοῦσα Transliterated as Sousa; Latin Susa) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Dated 2000-1500 B. C. National Museum of Iran. The National Museum of Iran (in Persian: موزه ملي ايران Mūze-ye Millī-ye Irān, or موزه ایران باستان Muze-ye Irân-e Bâstân |
- (400 BC) - Yakhchals , ancient refrigerators. yakh-chāl (meaning "ice pit" ( Persian Language:یخچال is an ancient type of refrigerator (See picture above)
- (400 BC) - Ice Cream. Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined [21]
- (250 BC) - According to archaeological digs, the Parthians created the world's first batteries. In electronics a battery is a combination of two or more Electrochemical cells which store chemical Energy which can be converted into electrical energy Their original use is still uncertain, though it is suspected that they were used for electroplating. Electroplating is the process of using electrical current to reduce Cations of a desired material from a solution and coat a conductive object
- (250 BC) Original excavation of a Suez Canal. [22]
- (271 AD) - The teaching hospital
- (700 AD) - The Cookie. The Academy of Gundishapur (in دانشگاه گنديشاپور Dânešgâh Gondišâpur was a renowned academy of learning in the city of Gundeshapur during Late antiquity In the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small flat-baked treat usually round containing milk flour eggs and sugar etc
- (700 AD) - The windmill. A windmill is a machine that is powered by the energy of the wind [23]
- (864 AD-930 AD) - First systematic use of alcohol in Medicine: Rhazes. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon [24]
- (1000 AD) - Introduction of paper to the west. [25]
- (935 - 1020) - Ferdowsi writes the Shahnama (Book of Kings) that resulted in the revival of Iranian culture and the expansion of the Iranian cultural sphere. Hakīm Abū l-Qāsim Firdawsī Tūsī ( more commonly transliterated as Ferdowsi, (935&ndash1020 was a highly revered Persian Poet. Shāhnāmé, or Shāhnāma ((alternative spellings are Shahnama Shahnameh Shahname Shah-Nama, etc
- (980 - 1037) - Avicenna, a physician, writes The Canon of Medicine one of the foundational manuals in the history of modern medicine. TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> ( Persian /ابو علی الحسین ابن عبدالله ابن سینا (born The Canon of Medicine ( Arabic: القانون في الطب Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb " The Law of Medicine " Persian
- (1207 AD - 1273 AD) - Rumi writes poetry and in 1997, the translations were best-sellers in the United States. [26]
- Algebra and Trigonometry: Numerous Iranians were directly responsible for the establishment of Algebra, the advancement of Medicine and Chemistry, and the discovery of Trigonometry. Algebra is a branch of Mathematics concerning the study of structure, relation, and Quantity. Circle-trig6svg|300px|thumb|right|All of the Trigonometric functions of an angle θ can be constructed geometrically in terms of a unit circle centered at O. Classical (pre-modern Era The following is a non-comprehensive list of Iranian scientists and engineers that lived from antiquity up until the beginning of the modern [27]
- Qanat , subterranean aqueducts. A qanat (from قناة) or kareez (from كاريز) is a Water management system used to provide a reliable supply of water to human settlements
- Wind Catchers , ancient air residential conditioning. A windcatcher ( Persian: بادگیر Bâdgir, Arabic: بارجيل Baarjiil) is a traditional Persian architectural device
- "Virtually all European scholars claim Arabic music has Persian origins". Arabic music or Arab music ( Arabic: موسيقى عربية;) includes several genres and styles of Music ranging from Arabic classical [28]
Culture of Iran under threat
In history
Current
References
- ^ Greater Iran, Mazda Publishers, 2005. Chicago's Persian heritage crisis (تاراج سرمايه باستانی ايران در شيکاگو in Persian) refers to a threat to seize invaluable Persian ISBN 1568591772 xi
- ^ Milani, A. Lost Wisdom. 2004. ISBN 0934211906 p. 15
- ^ See article on Iranian.com located at: http://www.iranian.com/Music/2002/November/Guitar
- ^ Edmund Herzing, Iran and the former Soviet South, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1995, ISBN 1899658041 p. Iraniancom, also known as The Iranian and The Iranian Times, is an online English language magazine 48
- ^ Iranica.com - GEORGIA
- ^ Iran's contribution to the world civilization. A. H. Nayer-Nouri. 1969. Tehran, General Dept. of Publications, Ministry of Culture and Arts. OCLC number: 29858074 Perry-Castañeda Library Reprinted in 1996 under the title: سهم ارزشمند ایران در فرهنگ جهان
- ^ "The effect of Iran's culture and civilization on the world" (Taʼ̲sīr-i farhang va tamaddun-i Īrān dar jahān). The Perry-Castañeda Library ( PCL) is the main central Library of the University of Texas at Austin library system in Austin Texas. Abbās Qadiyānī (عباس قدياني). Tehran. 2005. Intishārāt-i Farhang-i Maktūb. ISBN 9649422447 OCLC 70237532
- ^ Link: http://web.utk.edu/~persian/goat.htm
- ^ Arthur Upham Pope, Persian Architecture, 1965, New York, p. Arthur Upham Pope (1881-1969 was an American archaeologist and historian of Persian art 15
- ^ Link: University of Pennsylvania http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/research/Exp_Rese_Disc/NearEast/wine.shtml
- ^ Link: Iranian.com http://www.iranian.com/Music/2002/November/Guitar/index.html
- ^ Link: http://www.birdnature.com/nov1899/peach.html
- ^ Links:
- ^ Abbas Milani. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Iraniancom, also known as The Iranian and The Iranian Times, is an online English language magazine Abbas Milani (born 1949 ( is an Iranian-American Historian, Iranologist, and Author. Lost Wisdom. 2004. Mage Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 0934211906
- ^ Mary Boyce, "Zoroastrians", London, 1979, 1. Nora Elisabeth Mary Boyce ( &ndash) was a British scholar of Iranian languages, and a recognized authority on Zoroastrianism.
- ^ Notes:
- Zoroastrianism had an important impact on Judaism, and thus indirectly, on Christianity and Islam. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.
- Zoroaster himself was not an ethnic Persian, but (possibly) an ethnic Bactrian who were closely related to Persians. Zoroaster ( Latinized from Greek variants) or Zarathushtra (from Avestan Zaraθuštra) also referred to as Zartosht (زرتشت "Bactrian" redirects here For the camel see Bactrian camel.
- ^ Links:
- ^ Abbas Milani. Abbas Milani (born 1949 ( is an Iranian-American Historian, Iranologist, and Author. Lost Wisdom. 2004. Mage Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 0934211906
- ^ Link: BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4272210.stm
- ^ Links:
- ^ Links:
- ^ Links:
- ^ Links:
- ^ Link: http://www.free-definition.com/Abu-Bakr-Mohammad-Ibn-Zakariya-al-Razi.html
- ^ Link: http://web.utk.edu/~persian/paper.htm
- ^ Refer to article by the Christian Science Monitor - http://www.csmonitor.com/1997/1125/112597.us.us.3.html. The Christian Science Monitor (CSM is an international Newspaper published daily Monday through Friday
- ^ See:
- Hill, Donald. Islamic Science and Engineering. May 1994. Edinburgh University Press. p. 10
- Sardar, Ziauddin. Introducing Mathematics. Totem Books. 1999.
- ^ The Golden Age of the Moor. By Ivan Van Sertima. 1992. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 1560005815. p. 17
 Persian history and culture as depicted by Japanese Anime. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. (anime in Japanese, An illustration from "The Heroic Legend of Arsalān". The Heroic Legend of Arslan is the title of a Japanese Fantasy Novel, which is known in Japan as. |
 Iran is filled with tombs of poets and musicians, such as this one belonging to Rahi Mo'ayeri. Rahi moayeri tombjpg|right|thumb|Rahi Mo'ayeri's tomb is enclosed by a glass case at Darband, Shemiran, Tehran. An illustration of Iran's deep artistic heritage. |
 Craftsmanship in Iranian Architecture. Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria An excellent animation depicting the intricate details of the traditional interior design: (click). |
Further reading
- Michael C. Hillman. Iranian Culture. 1990. University Press of America. ISBN 081917694X
- George Ghevarghese Joseph. The Crest of the Peacock: The Non-European Roots of Mathematics. July 2000. Princeton U Press.
See also
- Media of Iran
- Persian empire
- List of Persia-related topics
- Iranian cultural continent
- History of Iran
- Higher education in Iran
- List of Iranian scientists and engineers of the pre-modern age. The Media of Iran are privately and publicly owned but subject to the control of the government which engages in one of the world's largest and most strict censorship programs The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Persian culture and history Persian architecture Persian art Persian Bayán Persian calendar Greater Iran (in Irān-e Bozorg, or fa ایرانزمین Irān-zamīn; the Encyclopedia Iranica uses the term See Also Persian Empire History of Iran and Greater Iran (also referred to as the " Iranian Cultural Continent Iran has a large network of private, public, and state affiliated universities offering degrees in higher education Classical (pre-modern Era The following is a non-comprehensive list of Iranian scientists and engineers that lived from antiquity up until the beginning of the modern
- List of Iranian scientists and engineers of the modern age. The following is a non-exhaustive list of highly-respected Iranian scholars scientists and engineers around the world from the modern era
- Taarof
- Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
- Iranology
- Ghelyan
- Persianate
- Persianization
- Demography of Iran
- Persian women
- Magus
- Flying Carpets
- Cup of Jamshid
- Golha Radio Program
- Persian names
- Iranian calendar
- Afsaneh Art and Culture Society
- Encyclopaedia Iranica (Definitive scholary 30-volume encyclopaedia of Iran's culture; edited and published by Columbia University & funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities)
External links
- Iran Online, Iran portal site
- Secretariat of The High Council of The Cultural Revolution
- Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
- Islamic Republic of Iran Physical Education Organization
- Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of Sciences
- Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of The Arts
- "Persian undercurrent in Islamic civilization"
- Islamic Republic of Iran International Center for Diologue Among Civilizations
- Culture of Iran
- Cultural Research Bureau of Iran
- Iran Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies
- Iran a cultural profile
- Forough Farrokhzad Poetry in English
- Underground Art Studio in Tehran
- The Culture of Iran
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