The terms “Persian” and “Iranian” are sometimes used interchangeably, but being Persian refers to ethnicity while being Iranian refers to nationality. The modern country of Iran was once the ancient kingdom of Persia, but it is now home to many different ethnic groups. The country’s official language is Persian, and the distinction between the two terms is mostly cultural. The country’s official name was changed to Iran in 1935, but the Persian name persisted. The term “Persian” is less commonly used after the 1979 revolution, but it still has cultural relevance.
The terms “Persian” and “Iranian” are often used interchangeably and many people argue that they are synonymous; others, however, make a distinction in the sense that being Persian is a claim to a certain ethnicity, while being Iranian is a claim to a particular nationality. As such a person could be one without necessarily also being the other, although this is a matter of some debate. The modern country of Iran lies within the borders of what was once the ancient kingdom of Persia. That realm also extended into what are now other countries as well, including Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Most people who consider themselves Persian use the term as a description of their ethnic background and most of these people are also Iranian, but not always.
Difference between ethnicity and nationality
In most cases the word “Persia” today means Iran, because the country of Iran was formed in the heart of the ancient Persian empire and most of its original citizens were inhabitants of that kingdom. Somewhat confusingly, however, the designations “Persian” and “Iranian” do not necessarily mean the same thing. Modern Iran is a country of many different ethnic and tribal groups. People who identify as Persians make up the majority, but they are also joined by significant numbers of Azeris, Gilaks and Kurds. All are citizens of Iran and therefore Iranians, but only a few can trace their lineage to Persia.
Much of this depends, at least in part, on perception. People who think of Iran as essentially modern Persia tend to think of all residents as Persians, regardless of their ethnic affiliations. The country’s official language is Persian, sometimes also called Farsi. In most cases the distinction is cultural.
Former Kingdom of Persia
Understanding the distinction is sometimes easier with a review of the region’s history. Beginning in 600 BC, Greek politicians called the land within Cyrus the Great’s empire “Persis.” This name derives from the word “Pars”, which was the name of the people over which Cyrus the Great reigned. This group of people lived in the land that now exists as Fars Province in Iran.
Over many hundreds of years, Persis was transformed into “Persia”. This remained the country’s official name until 1935. Many people within the country, however, have called it Iran and have referred to its people as “Iranians” since the period of Sasanian rule, which lasted from AD 226 to 651. During that time, many individuals with Aryan characteristics lived within the area. Indeed, “Iran” means “land of the Aryans” and many of the original settlers had Indo-European roots. People who consider themselves ethnically Persian typically share this background.
Government reappointment and reform
Government leaders changed the country’s “official” name to Iran in 1935, though this move was protested by many. After this point all citizens were told to consider themselves Iranians and to incorporate the new name into their common and official speeches and documents. Politically this move was largely a success, although culturally the Persian name persisted.
Many scholars also protested deeply against these changes, and a group of them convinced the government in 1959 that the terms “Persia” and “Iran” should be used interchangeably. Books printed between 1935 and 1959 are unlikely to include the term “Persian”, as “Iranian” was the only accepted term for the country’s residents in those years. Texts printed before 1935, however, usually only use the term “Persian”.
Post-revolution controversy
Residents are less likely to be called Persians after the 1979 revolution, which deposed the country’s monarchy and established an Islamic Republic government. The last king, considered by many to be the last Persian monarch, fled the country into exile. Some people today consider the term “Persian” an anachronism reminiscent of the past days of the monarchy, and from a purely political point of view this is often accepted. Looking at the question culturally, however, the term often still has a relevant value and meaning.
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