History of Greater Iran
Empires of Persia · Kings of Persia
Pre-modern
Before Islam  BCE Zayandeh River Civilization prehistoric–? Sialk civilization 7500–1000 Jiroft civilization (Aratta) 3000–? Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 Bactria-Margiana Complex 2200–1700 Elamite dynasties 2800–550 Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th cent. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The following is a comprehensive list of kings of Persia, which includes all of the empires ruling over geographical Iran The Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656 led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual extirpation of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia 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 The Proto-Elamite period is the time of ca 3200 BC to 2700 BC when Susa, the later capital of the Elamites began to receive influence from the The Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (or BMAC, also known as the Oxus civilization) is the modern archaeological designation for a Bronze Age Elam is the name of an ancient civilization located in what is now southwest Iran. The Mannaeans (country name usually Mannea; Akkadian: Mannai, possibly Biblical Minni, מנּי were an ancient people of unknown origin Median Empire 728–550 Achaemenid Empire 550–330 Seleucid Empire 330–150 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250-125 Parthian Empire 248–CE 224 CE Kushan Empire 30–275 Sassanid Empire 224–651 Hephthalite Empire 425–557 Kabul-Shahi dynasty 565–670
After Islamic Conquest  Patriarchal Caliphate 637–651 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Alavid dynasty 864–928 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Samanid dynasty 819–999 Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043 Buyid Dynasty 934–1055 Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 Ghori dynasty 1149–1212 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarezmid dynasty 1077–1231 Kartids dynasty 1231-1389 Ilkhanate 1256–1353 Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393 Chupanid dynasty 1337–1357 Jalayerid dynasty 1339–1432 Timurid Empire 1370–1506 Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468 Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508 Safavid Empire 1501–1722* Mughal Empire 1526–1857 Hotaki dynasty 1722–1729 Afsharid dynasty 1736–1802 * or 1736
Modern SSR = Soviet Socialist Republic
Afghanistan  Durrani Empire 1748–1823 British and Russian influence 1826–1919 Independence and civil war 1919–1929 Mohammedzai rule 1929–1973 Republic of Afghanistan 1973–1978 Communist rule 1978–1992 Recent history of Afghanistan since 1992 Timeline
Azerbaijan  Khanates of the Caucasus 1722–1828 Russian Rule 1828–1917 Democratic Republic 1918–1920 Azerbaijan SSR 1920–1991 Republic of Azerbaijan since 1991
Bahrain  Portuguese rule 1521–1602 British Treaty 1820–1971 Kingdom of Bahrain since 1971
Iran  Zand dynasty 1750–1794 Qajar dynasty 1781–1925 Pahlavi dynasty 1925–1979 Iranian Revolution 1979 Provisional Government 1979 Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979
Iraq  Ottoman Empire 1632–1919 Hashimite monarchy 1920–1958 Coup and Republic 1958–2003 Republic of Iraq since 2004
Tajikistan  Emirate of Bukhara 1785–1920 Bukharan / Uzbek SSR 1920–1929 Tajik Autonomous SSR 1929 Tajik SSR 1929–1991 Republic of Tajikistan since 1991
Uzbekistan  Emirate of Bukhara 1785–1920 Uzbek SSR 1924–1991 Independence 1991 Republic of Uzbekistan since 1991

Greater Iran (in Persian: ایران بزرگ Irān-e Bozorg, or ایران‌زمین Irān-zamīn; the Encyclopedia Iranica uses the term Iranian Cultural Continent^[1]) refers to the regions that have significant Iranian cultural influence. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i The Gr(aeco-Bactrian Kingdom was the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world covering Bactria and Sogdiana in Central Asia from 250 Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire The Hephthalites or White Huns were a Central Asian Nomadic confederation whose precise origins and composition remain obscure The Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656 led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual extirpation of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia The Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656 led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual extirpation of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia The Tahirid dynasty, (سلسله طاهریان Persian: ( 821 - 873) ruled the northeastern Persian Empire region The Saffarid dynasty ( Persian: سلسله صفاریان ruled a empire in Sistan, which is a historical region now in southeastern Iran and southwestern The Samanids (819–999 ( Sāmāniyān) were a Persian dynasty in Central Asia and Greater Khorasan, named after its founder Saman The Ziyarids, also spelled Zeyarids (زیاریان or آل زیار were an Iranian dynasty that ruled in the Caspian sea provinces of Gorgan The Buyids (آل بویه Āl-e Buye, Caspian: Bowyiyün also known as Buwaihids or Buyyids, were a Shī‘ah Iranian The Ghaznavid Empire was a Khorāṣānian Sunni Muslim state founded by a dynasty of Turkic Mamluk. The Ghurids (or Ghorids; self-designation Shansabānī) ( were a Persian Sunni - Ismaili Muslim dynasty in Khorasan The Great Seljuq Empire was a Medieval Sunni Muslim empire established by the Qynyq branch of Oghuz Turks that once controlled The Khwarezmian Empire, more commonly known as the empire of the Khwarezm Shahs ( Khwārezmšhāḥīān, "Kings of Khwarezmia " The Kartid Dynasty ( Karts, also known as Kurts) was a Persian dynasty that ruled over a large part of Khorassan during the 13th The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate or Il Khanate (Ил Хан улс Il Khan uls;) was a Mongol Khanate established in The Muzaffarids (آل مظفر in Persian were a Sunni family that came to power in Iran following the breakup of the Ilkhanate in the 14th century The Chupanids, also known as the Süldüz or the Chobanids (سلسله امرای چوپانی Amir Chupani) were descendants of a Mongol family The Jalayirids (آل جلایر were a Mongol dynasty which ruled over Iraq and western Persia after the breakup of the Mongol Khanate of Persia The Timurids, self-designated Gurkānī ( were a Persianate Central Asian Sunni Muslim dynasty The Kara Koyunlu or Qara Qoyunlu, also called the Black Sheep Turkomans ( Turkmen: Garagoýunly; Azeri: Qaraqoyunlu The Ak Koyunlu or Aq Qoyunlu, also called the White Sheep Turkomans ( Turkmen: Akgoýunly, Azeri: Ağqoyunlu, The Safavids ( صفوی) were an Iranian ref>Helen Chapin Metz The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most The Hotaki dynasty (1709-1738 was founded in 1709 by Mirwais Khan Hotak, an ethnic Pashtun ( Afghan) from the Ghilzai clan of Kandahar province The Afsharids (سلسله افشار were an Iranian dynasty of Turkic descent from Khorasan that ruled the Persian Empire in the 18th century The Republics of the Soviet Union were according to the Article 76 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution, Sovereign Soviet Socialist states that had united with other Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, The Durrani Empire (also referred to as the Afghan Empire) was a large state based in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan and later included northeastern The European influence in Afghanistan refers to political social and sometimes Imperialistic influence various European nations have had on this historical development of the Amanullah Khan reigned in Afghanistan from 1919 achieving full independence from the British Empire shortly afterwards Reign of Mohammed Nadir Shah 1929-1933 Mohammed Nadir Shah quickly abolished most of Amanullah Khan 's reforms but despite his efforts to rebuild an army Mohammed Daoud Khan ( July 18, 1909 – April 28, 1978) was a politician in Afghanistan who overthrew the monarchy of Zahir Shah The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was a Soviet -backed government in Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. See also Civil war in Afghanistan This article on the History of Afghanistan since 1992 covers the time period from the fall of the Najibullah government in 1992 This is a timeline of Afghanistan. To read about the background to these events see History of Afghanistan. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South This article is about the history of Azerbaijan. For the history of Iranian Azerbaijan, please see the History of Iran Azerbaijan or This article is about the history of Azerbaijan. For the history of Iranian Azerbaijan, please see the History of Iran Azerbaijan or The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic ( ADR; Azərbaycan Xalq Cümhuriyyəti was the first Democratic and Secular Republic in the Muslim world This article is about the former Soviet republic for other similar uses see Azerbaijan (disambiguation. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf Bahrain is a borderless Island country in the Persian Gulf. Although Bahrain became an independent country in 1971 the history of these islands starts Bahrain is a borderless Island country in the Persian Gulf. Although Bahrain became an independent country in 1971 the history of these islands starts The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Zand dynasty ( (سلسله زندیه ruled southern and central Iran ( 1750 &ndash 1794) in the eighteenth century The Qajar dynasty (also known as Ghajar or Kadjar ( ( - or دودمان قاجار) is a common term to describe Iran (then known as Persia) under The Iranian Revolution' (mostly known as the Islamic Revolution, Persian: انقلاب اسلامی Enghelābe Eslāmi was the Revolution that transformed The Interim Government of Iran ( 1979 - 1980) was the first government established in Iran after the Islamic Revolution. One of the most dramatic changes in government in Iran's history was seen with the 1979 Iranian Revolution where Shah ( king) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish This article includes an overview from prehistory to the present in the region of the current state of Iraq in Mesopotamia. This article includes an overview from prehistory to the present in the region of the current state of Iraq in Mesopotamia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان‎ taajikestaan officially the Republic of The Emirate of Bukhara ( Buxoro Amirligi; Аморати Бухоро was a Central Asian state that existed from 1785 to 1920 The Bukharan People's Soviet Republic (Бухарская Народная Советская Республика was the name of Uzbekistan from 1920 to 1925 The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Ўзбекистон Совет Социалистик Республикаси O`zbekiston Sovet Sotsialistik Respublikasi; Узбекская The Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (Республикаи Советии Социалистии Тоҷикистон Respublikai Sovetii Sotsialistii Tocikiston; Таджикская 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 The Emirate of Bukhara ( Buxoro Amirligi; Аморати Бухоро was a Central Asian state that existed from 1785 to 1920 The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Ўзбекистон Совет Социалистик Республикаси O`zbekiston Sovet Sotsialistik Respublikasi; Узбекская Located in the heart of Central Asia between the Amu Darya (Oxus and Syr Darya (Jaxartes Rivers Uzbekistan has a long and interesting heritage Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi or Ўзбекистон Республикаси is a doubly Encyclopædia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English language Encyclopedia about the history culture and It roughly corresponds to the territory surrounding the Iranian plateau, stretching from the Caucasus to the Indus River, or that of the two Persian Empires (Achaemenid and Sassanid), and conform to the historical understanding of the full territory of "Iran. The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East The Indus River { Sanskrit: सिन्धु Sindhu; Urdu: urd {{Nastaliq سندھ}} Sindh; Sindhi: snd The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire "

Definition

Geographically, Greater Iran includes all of the Persian plateau, stretching to Central Asia (Bactria) and the Hindukush to the northeast and Afghanistan and Pakistan in the southeast and into eastern Syria and the Caucasus to the northwest. The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern 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 "Bactrian" redirects here For the camel see Bactrian camel. The Hindu Kush is a Mountain range located between Afghanistan and Pakistan. 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 Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East

Traditionally, and until recent times, ethnicity has never been a defining separating criteria in these regions. In the words of Richard Nelson Frye:

Only in modern times did western colonial intervention and ethnicity tend to become a dividing force between the provinces of Greater Iran. As Patrick Clawson states, "ethnic nationalism is largely a nineteenth century phenomenon, even if it is fashionable to retroactively extend it. Patrick Lyell Clawson (born 1951-03-30) is an American Economist and Middle East scholar "^[2] "Greater Iran" however has been more of a cultural super-state, rather than a political one to begin with.

Richard Nelson Frye defines Greater Iran as including "much of the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, with cultural influences extending to China, western India, and the Semitic speaking world. Richard Nelson Frye (born c 1920 is an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian Studies, and Aga Khan Professor Emeritus " According to Frye, "Iran means all lands and peoples where Iranian languages were and are spoken, and where in the past, multi-faceted Iranian cultures existed. "^[3]

In the work Nuzhat al-Qolub (نزهه القلوب), the medieval geographer Hamdollah Mostowfi writes:

چند شهر است اندر ایران مرتفع تر از همه
Some cities of Iran are better than the rest,
بهتر و سازنده تر از خوشی آب و هوا
these have pleasant and compromising weather,
گنجه پر گنج در اران صفاهان در عراق
The wealthy Ganjeh of Arran, and Isfahan as well,
در خراسان مرو و طوس در روم باشد اقسرا
Merv and Tus in Khorasan, and Konya (Aqsara) too. Hamdollah Mostowfi ( 1281 – 1349 was an Iranian Historian, Geographer and epic poet Arran ( also known as Aran, Ardhan (in Parthian) Al-Ran (in Arabic) including the highland and lowland Karabakh) Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān Merv ( Russian: Мерв from Persian: مرو Marv, sometimes transliterated Marw or Mary; cf Toos (توس or طوس in Persian) also known as Tous or Tus, is an ancient city in the Iranian province of Razavi Khorasan Konya ( قونیه; also Koniah, Konieh, Konia, and Qunia; historically also known as Iconium ( Latin

The Cambridge History of Iran takes a geographical approach in referring to the "historical and cultural" entity of "Greater Iran" as "areas of Iran, parts of Afghanistan, and Chinese and Soviet Central Asia". ^[4] A detailed list of these territories follows in this article.

Background

In Persian, Greater Iran is called Iranzamin (ایران‌زمین) which means "The Land of Iran". Iranzamin was in the mythical times opposed to the Turanzamin the Land of Turan, which was located in the upper part of Central Asia. Tūrān ( is the ancient Iranian name for Central Asia, literally meaning "the land of the Tur" 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 ^[5]

In the pre-Islamic period, Iranians distinguished two main regions in the territory they ruled, one Iran and the other Aniran. By Iran they meant all the regions inhabited by ancient Iranian peoples. Ancient Iranian peoples who settled Greater Iran in the 2nd millennium BC first appear in Assyrian records in the 9th century BC. That region was much vaster than it is today. This notion of Iran as a territory (opposed to Aniran) can be seen as the core of early Greater Iran. Later many changes occurred in the boundaries and areas where Iranians lived but the languages and culture remained the dominant medium in many parts of the Greater Iran.

As an example, the Persian language was the main literary language and the language of correspondence in Central Asia and Caucasus prior to the Russian occupation, Central Asia being the birthplace of modern Persian language. 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 Furthermore, according to the British government, Persian language was also used in Iraqi Kurdistan, prior to the British Occupation and Mandate in 1918-1932 [3]. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

With Imperial Russia continuously advancing south in the course of two wars against Persia, and the treaties of Turkmenchay and Gulistan in the western frontiers, plus the unexpected death of Abbas Mirza in 1823, and the murdering of Persia's Grand Vizier (Mirza AbolQasem Qa'im Maqām), many Central Asian khanates began losing hope for any support from Persia against the Tsarist armies. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya The Treaty of Turkmenchay (Туркманчайский договор Persian: عهدنامه ترکمنچای was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which The Treaty of Gulistan (Гюлистанский договор Persian: عهدنامه گلستان was a Peace treaty concluded between Imperial Russia Field-Marshal Abbas Mirza (عباس میرزا in Persian) ( August 26 1789 - October 25, 1833) was a Qajar A Vizier ( - wazīr) (sometimes also spelled Vazir Vizir Vasir Wazir Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many western Asian Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. ^[6] The Russian armies occupied the Aral coast in 1849, Tashkent in 1864, Bukhara in 1867, Samarkand in 1868, and Khiva and Amudarya in 1873. Aral, also known as Aralsk or Aral'sk, ( Kazakh: Арал, Russian: Аральск) is a small city in south-western Bukhara (Buxoro Бухоро بُخارا Бухара also spelled as Bukhoro and Bokhara, from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky Samarkand (Samarqand Самарқанд سمرقند UniPers: "Samarqand" is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Khiva ( Uzbek: Xiva, Хива; Хива Khiva; Persian: خیوه Khiveh) Alternative or historical names include The Amu Darya (formerly Oxus River the Greeks (Ptolemeus called it Oxiana palus) is the longest river in Central Asia.

"Many Iranians consider their natural sphere of influence to extend beyond Iran's present borders. After all, Iran was once much larger. Portuguese forces seized islands and ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 19th century, the Russian Empire wrested from Tehran's control what is today Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, and part of Georgia. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Iranian elementary school texts teach about the Iranian roots not only of cities like Baku, but also cities further north like Derbent in southern Russia. Baku (Bakı sometimes known as Baqy, Baky, Baki or Bakü, is the capital the largest city and the largest port of Azerbaijan Derbent (Дербе́нт Azeri: Dərbənd; Lezgian: Дербент Avar: Дербенд; Persian: دربند Darband Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The Shah lost much of his claim to western Afghanistan following the Anglo-Iranian war of 1856-1857. Shah is an Iranian term for a Monarch (leader that has been adopted in many other languages Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Only in 1970 did a UN sponsored consultation end Iranian claims to suzerainty over the Persian Gulf island nation of Bahrain. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Suzerainty (ˈsjuːzərənti RP or /ˈsjuːzəreɪnti/ RP) (/ˈsuːzərənti/ GA) is a situation in which a Region or people is a The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf In centuries past, Iranian rule once stretched westward into modern Iraq and beyond. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. When the western world complains of Iranian interference beyond its borders, the Iranian government often convinced itself that it is merely exerting its influence in lands that were once its own. Simultaneously, Iran's losses at the hands of outside powers have contributed to a sense of grievance that continues to the present day. " -Patrick Clawson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy^[7]

"Iran today is just a rump of what it once was. Patrick Lyell Clawson (born 1951-03-30) is an American Economist and Middle East scholar The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (TWI known informally as WINEP is a Washington DC-based Think tank which concerns itself with U At its height, Iranian rulers controlled Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, much of Central Asia, and the Caucasus. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. 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 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 The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Many Iranians today consider these areas part of a greater Iranian sphere of influence. " -Patrick Clawson^[8]

"Since the days of the Achaemenids, the Iranians had the protection of geography. Patrick Lyell Clawson (born 1951-03-30) is an American Economist and Middle East scholar The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of But high mountains and vast emptiness of the Iranian plateau were no longer enough to shield Iran from the Russian army or British navy. The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern Both literally, and figuratively, Iran shrank. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Azerbaijan, Armenia, much of Georgia, and Afghanistan were Iranian, but by the end of the century, all this territory had been lost as a result of European military action. "^[9]

Provinces

In the Middle Ages, the territory of Greater Iran was known to be composed of two portions: Persian Iraq (western portion) and Khorasan (eastern portion). Persian Iraq or Iraq-i Ajam ( is an obsolete term for the central region of Iran, including cities such as Isfahan, Ray, Qazvin, Greater Khorasan (خراسان بزرگ (also written Khorasaan, Khurasan and Khurasaan) is a modern term for eastern territories of ancient Persia The dividing region was mostly along with Gurgan and Damaghan cities. Gorgan ( Persian: گرگان Caspian: Vergen is the capital of the Golestan Province, Iran. Dāmghān (Persian دامغان is a city in Semnan Province, Iran, from Tehran on the high-road to Meshed, at an elevation of. Especially the Ghaznavids, Seljuqs and Timurids divided their Empire to Iraqi and Khorasani regions. The Ghaznavid Empire was a Khorāṣānian Sunni Muslim state founded by a dynasty of Turkic Mamluk. The Seljuq (also Seljuq Turks, Seldjuks, Seldjuqs, Seljuks; in Turkish Selçuklular; in Ṣaljūqīyān; in The Timurids, self-designated Gurkānī ( were a Persianate Central Asian Sunni Muslim dynasty An empire (from the Latin " Imperium " denoting military Command within the ancient Roman government) is a State that This point can be observed in many books such as "Tārīkhi Baïhaqī" of Abul Fazl Bayhqi, Faza'ilul al-anam min rasa'ili hujjat al-Islam (a collection of letters of Al-Ghazali) and other books. TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> Abolfazl Beyhaghi (995-1077 Ibn Zeyd ibn Muhammad Abul-Fazl Mohammad ibn Hossein Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazālī (1058-1111 ( ابو حامد محمد ابن محمد الغزالی or امام محمد غزالی was born and died Transoxiana and Chorasmia were mostly included in the Khorasanian region. Transoxiana (sometimes spelled Transoxania "河中“Chinese / Ma Wara'un-Nahr ( Arabic: ما وراء النهر / Farārood (فرارود Khwarezm were a series of States centered on the Amu Darya River delta of the

Central Asia

See also: Mount Imeon and Kingdom of Balhara

Gerard Mercator's map of 1595 showing the Central Asian region. Mount Imeon is an ancient name for the Central Asian complex of mountain ranges comprising the present Hindu Kush, Pamir and Tian Shan, extending Kingdom of Balhara was a state situated in the upper course of Oxus River (present

"Khwarazm is one of the regions of Iran-zameen, and is the home of the ancient Iranians, Airyanem Vaejah, according to the ancient book of the Avesta. Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans," is a reference in the Zoroastrian Avesta ( Vendidad, Farg The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. "^[10] Modern scholars believe Khwarazm to be what ancient Avestic texts refer to as "Ariyaneh Waeje" or "Iran vij". The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans," is a reference in the Zoroastrian Avesta ( Vendidad, Farg ^[11] These sources claim that Urgandj, which was the capital of ancient Khwarazm for many years, was actually "Ourva": the eighth land of Ahura Mazda mentioned in the Pahlavi text of Vendidad. Kunya Urgench (Turkmen Köneürgenç, from Persian Kuhna Gurgānj (کهنه گرگانج, "old Urgench") also known as Konya-Urgench Ahura Mazda ( ae Ahura Mazdā) is the Avestan language name for a divinity exalted by Zoroaster as the one uncreated Creator The Vendidad or Videvdat is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. ^[12] Michael Witzel, a researcher in early Indo-European history, believes that Iran vig was located in what is now Afghanistan [4], the northern areas of which were a part of Ancient Khwarezm and Greater Khorasan. Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans," is a reference in the Zoroastrian Avesta ( Vendidad, Farg Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Greater Khorasan (خراسان بزرگ (also written Khorasaan, Khurasan and Khurasaan) is a modern term for eastern territories of ancient Persia Others such as University of Hawaii historian Elton L. Daniel believe Khwarazm to be the "most likely locale" corresponding to the original home of the Avestan people,^[13] while Dehkhoda calls Khwarazm "the cradle of the Aryan tribe" (مهد قوم آریا). The University of Hawaii, formally the University of Hawaii System and popularly known as UH, is a public co-educational college and university system that confers Elton L Daniel, PhD is a historian and Iranologist. A professor at the University of Hawaii, he received his PhD from UT Austin, and is an associate The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Note In some Wikipedia articles the word "Dehkhoda" can refer to "Dehkhoda's Dictionary" or Dehkhoda himself Ārya ( Sanskrit: (आर्य, ( Old Persian Ariya and Avestan Airya) is an ancient Sanskrit term for Hindus, Today Khwarazm is split between several central Asian republics.

Superimposed on and overlapping with Chorasmia was Khorasan which roughly covered nearly the same geographical areas in Central Asia (starting from Semnan eastward through northern Afghanistan roughly until the foothills of Pamir, ancient Mount Imeon). Khwarezm were a series of States centered on the Amu Darya River delta of the Greater Khorasan (خراسان بزرگ (also written Khorasaan, Khurasan and Khurasaan) is a modern term for eastern territories of ancient Persia Semnan (Native NameSeman,) is a city in Semnan Province, northern Iran with a population estimated at 119778 inhabitants (2005 It is the provincial capital Mount Imeon is an ancient name for the Central Asian complex of mountain ranges comprising the present Hindu Kush, Pamir and Tian Shan, extending Current day provinces such as Sanjan in Turkmenia, Razavi Khorasan Province, North Khorasan Province, and Southern Khorasan Province in Iran are all remnants of the old Khorasan. Sanjan is an ancient city on the southern edge of the Kara-kum Desert, in the vicinity of the historically eminent oasis-city of Merv. Turkmenistan ( Türkmenistan; also known as Turkmenia) is a Turkic country in Central Asia. Razavi Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان رضوی) is a province located in northeastern Iran. North Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان شمالی is a province located in northeastern Iran. South Khorasan ( Kurdish / Persian: خراسان جنوبی is a province located in eastern Iran. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Greater Khorasan (خراسان بزرگ (also written Khorasaan, Khurasan and Khurasaan) is a modern term for eastern territories of ancient Persia Until the 13th century and the devastating Mongol invasion of the region, Khorasan was considered the cultural capital of Greater Iran. ^[14]

Tajikistan

The national anthem in Tajikistan, "Surudi Milli", attests to the Perso-Tajik identity, which has seen a large revival, after the breakup of the USSR. " Surudi milli " is the National anthem of Tajikistan, officially adopted in 1991. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Their language is almost identical to that spoken in Afghanistan and Iran, and their cities have Persian names, e. The Tajik language, or Tajik Persian, or Tajiki, (sometimes written Tadjik or Tadzhik; тоҷикӣ, tg-Latn ''tojikí'') is a modern g. Dushanbe, Isfara (Esfarayen), Rasht Valley, Garm, Murghab, Vahdat, Zar-afshan river, Shurab, and Kolyab ([5]). Dushanbe (Душанбе Dushanbe; formerly Dyushambe or Stalinabad) population 661100 people (2006 census is the Capital and largest city Isfara (Исфара is a city in the Sughd province in northern Tajikistan. The Rasht Valley (Водии Рашт is an administrative and geographic unit of Tajikistan comprising the six districts of Jirgital, Garm, Ragoun Garm, ( Tajik: Ғарм, alternative spellings Harm and Gharm) is a district in the Rasht Valley area of central Tajikistan For the other river of the same name see Murgab River (Afghanistan. Vahdat (also Vakhdat, meaning unity in Persian is a city in western Tajikistan just 10 km east of Dushanbe Zeravshan River (also Zarafshan or Zarafshon, Дарёи Зарафшон Zarafshon from the Persian word زر افشان zar afshān, meaning Shurab may refer to Shurab Afghanistan Shurab Tajikistan Kulob Oblast was an administrative subdivision in Tajikistan until 1992

Turkmenistan

Home of the Parthian Empire (Nysa). Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran Nisa (also Parthaunisa) was an ancient city located near modern-day Bagir village 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Merv is also where the half-Persian caliph al-Mamun moved his capital to, inorder to move the center of the caliphate away from Arab speaking lands. Merv ( Russian: Мерв from Persian: مرو Marv, sometimes transliterated Marw or Mary; cf Abu Jafar al-Ma'mun ibn Harun (also spelled Almamon and el-Mâmoûn) ( September 14, 786 &ndash August 9, 833) (المأمون The city of Eshgh Abad is yet another Persian word meaning "city of love", and like Iran, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, it was once part of Airyanem Vaejah. Ashgabat ( Aşgabat in Turkmen) (or formerly Ashkhabad or Poltoratsk is the Capital and largest city of Turkmenistan, a country in Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans," is a reference in the Zoroastrian Avesta ( Vendidad, Farg

Uzbekistan

The famous cities of Afrasiab, Bukhara, Samarkand, Shahrisabz, Andijan, Khiveh, Navā'i, Shirin, Termez, and Zar-afshan are located here. Afrasiab ( afrāsiyāb) (افراسياب Avestan: Fraŋrasyan; Pahlavi: Frāsiyāv, Frāsiyāk and Freangrāsyāk Bukhara (Buxoro Бухоро بُخارا Бухара also spelled as Bukhoro and Bokhara, from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky Samarkand (Samarqand Самарқанд سمرقند UniPers: "Samarqand" is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Shahrisabz or Shahr-e Sabz (Shahrisabz/Шахрисабз is a city in Uzbekistan located approximately 80 km south of Samarkand with the population of Andijan ( Andijon in Uzbek also Andizhan is the fourth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and the capital of the Andijan Province. Khiva ( Uzbek: Xiva, Хива; Хива Khiva; Persian: خیوه Khiveh) Alternative or historical names include Navoiy is a city (pop 125800 in 2007 and the capital of Navoiy Province in the southwestern part of Uzbekistan. Shirin (? – 628 ad (شيرين was a wife of the Sassanid Persian Shahanshah (king of kings Khosrau II. Termez (Termiz ترمذ UniPers: "Termez" is a city in southern Uzbekistan near the border with Afghanistan. Zeravshan River (also Zarafshan or Zarafshon, Дарёи Зарафшон Zarafshon from the Persian word زر افشان zar afshān, meaning Many experts point to these cities as the birthplace of modern Persian language. The Samanids, who claimed inheritance to the Sassanids, had their capital built here. The Samanids (819–999 ( Sāmāniyān) were a Persian dynasty in Central Asia and Greater Khorasan, named after its founder Saman The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire

ای بخارا شاد باش و دیر زی
Oh Bukhara! Joy to you and live long!
شاه زی تو میهمان آید همی
Your King comes to you in ceremony. Bukhara (Buxoro Бухоро بُخارا Бухара also spelled as Bukhoro and Bokhara, from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky
---Rudaki

Western China

See also: Iran-China relations and Tajiks in China

The Xinjiang regions of China harbored a Persian population and culture. Abdullah Jafar Ibn Mohammad Rudaki, (ابوعبدالله جعفر ابن محمد رودکی entitledآدم الشعرا Ādam ul-Shoara or Adam of Poets also written Tajiks in China ( Chinese: 塔吉克族 Pinyin: Tǎjíkèzú are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the People's Republic of Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National ^[15] Chinese Turkistan & the territory of the Uyghur people was always counted as a part of the Iranian cultural & linguistic continent with Kashgar,Yarkand,Hotan& Turfan bound to the Iranian history. Kashgar or Kashi (officially transliterated as Kaxgar in Uyghur; قەشقەر/K̡ǝxk̡ǝr, is an Oasis Yarkand, Yarkent, and Yarkant are spelling variants and may refer to Yarkent County Yarkand River Turfan or Tulufan (تۇرپان|Turpan|Turpan Modern Chinese: 吐魯番, Pinyin: Tǔlǔfān is an Oasis city in the ^[16]

Kurdish regions

This Sassanid relief is located near Salmas, in the Kurdish region of Iran, and is believed to depict either Ardashir I or Shapur I. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Salmās or Salamas (سلماس also Shahpur, Dīlman, and Dīlmagān, is a city and a district in West Azarbaijan Province of Ardashir I, founder of the Sassanid dynasty, was ruler of Istakhr (206-241 subsequently Persia Shapur I was the second Sassanid King of the Second Persian Empire.

The Kurdish regions together including those in Iraq, Turkey and Syria, in addition to Iran, constitute what is commonly referred to as the greater Kurdistan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية History See also History of the Kurdish people Ancient period See also Hurrians, Guti, Mannaeans, Medes The Kurdish regions in Iraq, Syria and Turkey are entwined with the culture and history of that of the rest of Greater Iran. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The Kurds and Lurs of Iran are spread out through many provinces, and are thought to also be closely descended from the Aryan tribes of antiquity. Kurdish ancestors are believed to have consisted of the ancient tribes descending from the Caucauses, such as Hurrian tribes, as well as the later Indo-Iranian speaking Medes. The Hurrians (also Khurrites; cuneiform Ḫu-ur-ri 𒄷𒌨𒊑 were a people of the Ancient Near East, who lived in northern Mesopotamia The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. The Medes established the Median Empire in 728 BCE, before forming a union with the Persian tribes in creating the Persian Empire. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who lived in the northwestern portions of present-day Iran.

Pakistan

The western provinces of modern-day Pakistan, which comprise the North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan are predominantly Iranian-speaking regions where Pashtuns and Baluchis comprise the vast majority of the local populations and can be found in all the major urban centres of the country. The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP ( Urdu: śimāl maġribī sarhadī sūba) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. Balochistan, or Baluchistan, Pashto, ( Balochi, Hazara, Brahui, Sindhi, Urdu: بلوچستان Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called The Baloch ( بلوچ; alternative transliterations Baluch Balouch Bloach Balooch Balush Balosh Baloosh Baloush) are an Iranian people inhabiting The Baluch and Pashtun tribes are the easternmost of the Iranic peoples and Baluchistan is the easternmost region of the Iranian plateau. The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern The city of Karachi has an estimated Pashtun population of 4 million, making it the largest urban concentration of Pashtuns in the world. (ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan. It is the world's second largest city proper behind Mumbai in terms of population which exceeds 10 million An estimated 1 million Pashtuns live in Lahore. ( lahor is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. Pakistan is also home to a large Iranian diaspora mainly settled in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

The Caucasus region

See also: Russo-Persian Wars, Treaty of Gulistan, and Treaty of Turkmenchay

Sassanid remains can be seen up far north as "Darband", now in southern Russia (the words Daghestan, Baku, Ganja, Abseron, and Darband, among others, are both Persian). The Treaty of Gulistan (Гюлистанский договор Persian: عهدنامه گلستان was a Peace treaty concluded between Imperial Russia The Treaty of Turkmenchay (Туркманчайский договор Persian: عهدنامه ترکمنچای was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire Derbent (Дербе́нт Azeri: Dərbənd; Lezgian: Дербент Avar: Дербенд; Persian: دربند Darband The Republic of Dagestan dæɡɪˈstɑːn (IntEng ˈdeɪɡəstæn (AmEng (Респу́блика Дагеста́н Дагъистанлъул ДжумхIурият Daɣistanłul Baku (Bakı sometimes known as Baqy, Baky, Baki or Bakü, is the capital the largest city and the largest port of Azerbaijan This article is about the peninsula For the rayon of Azerbaijan see Absheron (Rayon. These parts were mostly annexed by Imperial Russia over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries (See . The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya yet even today, most of these regions continue to retain their Greater Persian identity, as can be seen in their traditions and customs (e. g. Norouz). Nowrūz ( /noruz/ ↔, (English New Day various local pronunciations and spellings) is the traditional Iranian New year Holiday celebrated For a discussion see^[17].

Southern Caucasus

Also by the Treaty of Gulistan, Iran had to cede all the Khanates of the South Caucasus, which included Baku khanate, Shirvan Khanate, Karabakh khanate, Ganja khanate, Shaki Khanate, Quba Khanate, and parts of the Talysh Khanate. The South Caucasus is a mountainous geopolitical area of south-central Eurasia, also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Transcaucasus. Baku Khanate was nominally Persian ruled independent Principality on the territory of modern day Azerbaijan between 1747 and 1806. Shirvan Khanate was a self-governing khanate that existed in what is now Azerbaijan in 1748 — 1805. The Karabakh khanate was a Turkic Muslim khanate founded in 1747, which remained under a nominal Persian suzerainty but was De facto Ganja khanate was a Muslim principality mostly under the dominion of Iran in 1747 - 1805. Shaki khanate (Sheki khanate Shekin khanate Shakki khanate was a Principality on the territory of Azerbaijan between 1743 and 1819 with its capital in the town The Quba Khanate was an independent principality on the territory of modern day Azerbaijan from 1747-1806 The Talysh khanate was one of many semi-independent principalities that existed on the territory of modern Azerbaijan Republic between 1747 and 1813 Derbent (Darband) was also lost to Russia. Derbent (Дербе́нт Azeri: Dərbənd; Lezgian: Дербент Avar: Дербенд; Persian: دربند Darband These Khanates comprise what is today the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South By the treaty of Turkmanchay, Iran was forced to cede Nakhichevan khanate and the Mughan regions to Russia, as well as Erivan Khanate. Nakhchivan khanate (Naxçıvan xanlığı was a feudal state that existed on the territory of the present-day Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The Erivan ( Yerevan) Khanate (ایروان was a Muslim controlled principality under the dominion of the Persian Empire between 1747 and 1828 These territories roughly constitute the modern-day Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Armenia. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani

Armenia

See also: Persian Armenia and Iranian Armenians

Armenia was a province of various Persian Empires since the Achaemenid period and was heavily influenced by Persian culture. Persian Armenia corresponds to the Armenian territory controlled by Persia throughout history Armenian Iranians (Armenian "Իրանահայ" translit Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of To best understand Iran and its people one must first attempt to acquire an understanding of its ancient culture Armenia however, has historically been largely populated by a distinct Indo-European-speaking people who merged with local Caucasian peoples, rather than being directly associated with the Iranian peoples. The Caucasian race, sometimes the Caucasoid race, is a term of Racial classification, coined around 1800 by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach for the " Ancient Armenian society was a combination of local cultures, Iranian social and political structures, and Hellenic/Christian traditions. The Armenian Apostolic Church (Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Եկեղեցի Hayasdaneaytz Arakelagan ^[18] Due to centuries of independent indigenous development, conquests by western powers including the Romans and Russians, and its diverse diasporic population that has absorbed many cultural traits, especially those of Europe and Lebanon. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية [6]

Iran continues to have a sizeable Armenian minority that links Armenians to Iranian culture. Armenian Iranians (Armenian "Իրանահայ" translit The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large Many Armenians such as Yeprem Khan were directly involved and remembered in the History of Iran. Yeprem Khan Davidian ( Armenian: Եփրեմ Խան Եփրեմ Դավթյան) also Yefrem Khan, (1868-1912 was an Armenian revolutionary leader See Also Persian Empire History of Iran and Greater Iran (also referred to as the " Iranian Cultural Continent

Nakhichevan

Early in antiquity, Narseh of Persia is known to have had fortifications built here. Narseh (whose name is also sometimes written as Narses or Narseus) was the seventh Sassanid King of Persia (293&ndash302 and son of Shapur In later times, some of Persia's literary and intellectual figures from the Qajar period have hailed from this region. The Qajar dynasty (also known as Ghajar or Kadjar ( ( - or دودمان قاجار) is a common term to describe Iran (then known as Persia) under Also separated from Greater-Iran/Persia in the mid-1800s, by virtue of the Gulistan Treaty and Turkmenchay Treaty. The Treaty of Gulistan (Гюлистанский договор Persian: عهدنامه گلستان was a Peace treaty concluded between Imperial Russia The Treaty of Turkmenchay (Туркманчайский договор Persian: عهدنامه ترکمنچای was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which

که تا جایگه یافتی نخچوان
Oh Nakhchivan, respect you've attained,
بدین شاه شد بخت پیرت جوان
With this King in luck you'll remain.
---Nizami

Georgia

Prince Muhammad-Beik of Georgia, 1620. Nizami may refer to Nizami Nezami Nizami Armenia Nizami raion, Baku Azerbaijan Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Artist is Reza Abbasi. Agha Reza Reza-e Abbasi (also Reza Abbasi) (1565 - 1635 was the most renowned Persian miniaturist, painter and Calligrapher of the Isfahan Painting is located at Berlin's Museum Für Islamische Kunst.

Georgia, or "Gorjestan" was a Persian Province during Sassanid times (particularly starting with Hormozd IV). Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire During the Safavid era, Georgia became so culturally intertwined with Iran that they almost replaced the Qezelbash in the Safavid courts. The Safavids ( صفوی) were an Iranian ref>Helen Chapin Metz Qizilbash or Kizilbash ( Nastaliq: قزلباش - Qizilbāš; Ottoman Turkish for "Red Heads" is a name given to a wide Persian language was even the official administrative language of Georgia in the time of Shah Tahmasb, and Allah-verdi Khan, whom the famous landmark of 33 pol in Isfahan is named after, was among the Georgian elite that were involved in the Safavid government. The Si-o-se Pol (سی وسه پل siː oˈseh pol which means 33 Pol, literally 33 Bridge) or the Bridge of 33 Arches, also called the Allah-Verdi Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān And Amin al-Sultan, Prime Minister of Iran, was the son of a Georgian father. Prime Minister of Iran was a political post in Iran had existed during several different periods of time starting with the Qajar era (when the country was internationally known ^[19] Georgia was again a direct province of Persia from 1629 until 1762 when the Russian influence arrived.

The aforementioned is especially true of "Eastern Georgia". Eastern Georgia historically was attached to the south for support, as opposed to Western Georgia, which looked for help to the North. The city of "Teflis" ( Tbilisi in Georgian) was Persianized for quite some time. Tbilisi (ˌtbiˈliːsi in Georgian: თბილისი is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari The Qajarid heir to the throne prince Abbas Mirza spent much time there. The Qajar dynasty (also known as Ghajar or Kadjar ( ( - or دودمان قاجار) is a common term to describe Iran (then known as Persia) under Field-Marshal Abbas Mirza (عباس میرزا in Persian) ( August 26 1789 - October 25, 1833) was a Qajar

In the end, Persia was unable to challenge Russia in Georgia, and officially gave up claim to Georgia according to the text of the Gulistan Treaty and Turkmenchay Treaty. The Treaty of Gulistan (Гюлистанский договор Persian: عهدنامه گلستان was a Peace treaty concluded between Imperial Russia The Treaty of Turkmenchay (Туркманчайский договор Persian: عهدنامه ترکمنچای was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which

Due to the Treaty of Gulistan, Iran was forced to cede to Russia all the cities, towns, and villages of Georgia, including regions on the Black Sea coast, such as Megrelia, Abkhazia, Imeretia, and Guria. The Treaty of Gulistan (Гюлистанский договор Persian: عهدنامه گلستان was a Peace treaty concluded between Imperial Russia Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Megrelia, Mingrelia or Samegrelo / Samargalo (სამეგრელო Samegrelo; Mingrelian: სამარგალო Samargalo Abkhazia (Аҧсны Apsny აფხაზეთი Apkhazeti or Abkhazeti Абха́зия Abhazia) is a De facto Imereti Province ( Georgian: იმერეთი მხარე Imereti Mxare) is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches For the village in Bangladesh see Guria Bangladesh. Guria (გურია is a region ( Mkhare) in Georgia

For a lengthy discussion, see Gorjestan.

Iraq

At times, Greater Iran also included Iraq, as it is where the Sassanid capital was located (Ctesiphon). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire For the Spanish saint see Ctesiphon of Vergium. Ctesiphon (قطسيفون تیسفون was one of the great cities of the Persian Empire There are still cities and provinces in contemporary Iraq where the Persian names of the city are still retained. e. g. al-Anbar or Baghdad. Al Anbar (الأنبار al-’Anbār or Anbar) is the largest province in Iraq geographically Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous Other cities of Iraq with originally Persian names include Nokard (نوكرد) --> al-Haditha, Suristan (سورستان) --> Kufa, Shahrban (شهربان) --> Miqdadiya, Arvandrud (اروندرود)--> Shatt al-Arab, and Asheb (آشب) --> Imadiyya. Kufa ( Arabic, ar الكوفة) is a city in modern Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. Muqdadiyah (المقدادية (also transliterated Al-Muqdadiyah Muqdadia Miqdadiyah is a city in the Diyala Governorate of Iraq. ^[20]

Patrick Clawson verifies this:

"Arab nationalists may seek retroactively to extend the present into the past, but this skews reality. Patrick Lyell Clawson (born 1951-03-30) is an American Economist and Middle East scholar Iranian domains once extended well into what is now Iraq. The first Sassanian capital was at Ctesiphon, 21 miles southeast of Baghdad. "^[21]

Even after Iraq was Arabized during the Islamic conquests of the 7th century, the Persian presence was still quite recognizeable and dominant at times, as many famous Persian Shia clerics are buried in Najaf and Karbala. Najaf ( BGN: An Najaf) is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Karbala ( BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad at At the latest, the Safavids lost control of these areas to the Ottoman Empire. The Safavids ( صفوی) were an Iranian ref>Helen Chapin Metz

Map gallery

A 1753 map by Robert de Vaugondy titled ESTATS DU GRAND-SEIGNEUR EN ASIE where the color yellow marks the Greater Persian territores. Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688–1766 also known as Le Sieur or Monsieur Robert and his son Didier Robert de Vaugondy (c	Map depiction from 500BC.	19th century British map depicting Greater Persia.	Map depiction of 1719 of Central Asia.
1598 German map of the region. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.	Herman Moll's map of 1720. Note the provincial markings.	1610 Map by Dutch map maker Jodocus Hondius showing Bactria and Georgia among the territories.	1808 British map of Persia.

Treaties

• 1639 Treaty of Zuhab: Iran formally transfers Baghdad and modern Iraq to the Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Zohab (or the Treaty of Qasr-e-Shirin) was an accord signed between Safavid Persia and the Ottoman Empire on May 17, Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish
• 1813 Gulestan Treaty: Iran gives up claims over large areas in the Caucasus. The Treaty of Gulistan (Гюлистанский договор Persian: عهدنامه گلستان was a Peace treaty concluded between Imperial Russia
• 1828 Turkmenchay Treaty: Signed by Fath Ali Shah. The Treaty of Turkmenchay (Туркманчайский договор Persian: عهدنامه ترکمنچای was a treaty negotiated in Turkmenchay by which Fat′h Ali Shah Qajar (var Fathalishah Fathali Shah Fath Ali Shah (‎ ( 5 September 1772 - 23 October 1834) was the second Qajar Russia gains sovereignty over the Caucasus. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya
• 1857 Paris Treaty: Signed by Nasereddin Shah. Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar ( July 16, 1831 - May 1, 1896) () was the King and Shah of Persia from September 17 Iran loses Herat and parts of Afghanistan in exchange for the evacuation of Iran's southern ports by Great Britain. area3018 sq mi Herāt ( classically called the Aria, is a city in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands
• 1881 Akhal Treaty: Signed by Nasereddin Shah. The Treaty of Akhal was a treaty signed by Persia and Imperial Russia on September 21, 1881. Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar ( July 16, 1831 - May 1, 1896) () was the King and Shah of Persia from September 17 Iran loses Merv and parts of Khwarazmia in exchange for security guarantees from Russia. Merv ( Russian: Мерв from Persian: مرو Marv, sometimes transliterated Marw or Mary; cf Khwarezm were a series of States centered on the Amu Darya River delta of the The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya
• 1893: Iran transfers to Russia additional regions near the Atrek River that were Iranian under the Akhal Treaty. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya The Atrek (also Atrak) is a fast-moving River which begins in the mountains of Northeastern Iran ( and flows 563 km (350 miles westward draining This treaty was signed by General Boutsoff and Mirza Ali Asghar Amin al-Sultan on May 27, 1893. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
• 1907: Persia was to be carved up into three regions, according to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907. The Anglo-Russian Entente or the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 was an accord signed on 31 August 1907 in St
• 1970: Iran abandons sovereignty rights over Bahrain to Great Britain in exchange for Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa islands in the Persian Gulf. The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb ( Tonb-e Bozorg and Tonb-e Kuchak; Arabic: ar طنب الكبرى وطنب الصغرى, Tunb This is a geographical article For the Palestinian leader see Said al-Muragha, for the Sahaba, see Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the

References

Further reading

• "Ethnic Identity in Iran" by Richard Nelson Frye, JSAI 26, 2002, see p. Richard Nelson Frye (born c 1920 is an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian Studies, and Aga Khan Professor Emeritus 82 [7]
• Columbia College Today on "Iranian Cultural Continent"

See also

• Iran
• Persianization
• Persian Empire
• Culture of Iran
• History of Iran
• Persian language
• Pan-Iranism
• Iranian Plateau
• Iranology
• Greater Khorasan
• History of Afghanistan
• History of Pakistan
• Persianate cultures
• Iranian peoples
• Iranian languages
• List of Persia-related topics
• List of Irredentist states
• List of Persian Kings
• Capitals of Greater Iran
• Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex
• Yaz culture

• Greater India
• Greater Syria
• Greater Israel

External links

In English

• A map of the treaties affecting Greater Iran
• Article on Iranian.com
• Persians in China
• Pirooz in China

In Persian

• Interview: where "Iran e Bozrorg" is discussed (2) (3)