In the middle of the 6th century. BC e. The Persians entered the arena of world history - a mysterious tribe that the previously civilized peoples of the Middle East knew only from hearsay.

About morals and customs ancient Persians known from the writings of the peoples who lived next to them. In addition to their powerful growth and physical development, the Persians had a will, hardened in the fight against the harsh climate and the dangers of nomadic life in the mountains and steppes. At that time they were famous for their moderate lifestyle, temperance, strength, courage and unity.

According to Herodotus, the Persians wore clothes made from animal skins and felt tiaras (caps), did not drink wine, ate not as much as they wanted, but as much as they had. They were indifferent to silver and gold.

Simplicity and modesty in food and clothing remained one of the main virtues even during the period of Persian rule over, when they began to dress in luxurious Median outfits, wear gold necklaces and bracelets, when fresh fish from distant seas was brought to the table of the Persian kings and nobility, fruits from Babylonia and Syria. Even then, during the coronation rites of the Persian kings, the Achaemenid who ascended the throne had to put on the clothes that he had not worn as king, eat some dried figs and drink a cup of sour milk.

The ancient Persians were allowed to have many wives, as well as concubines, and to marry close relatives, such as nieces and half-sisters. Ancient Persian customs forbade women to show themselves to strangers (among the numerous reliefs in Persepolis there is not a single image of a woman). The ancient historian Plutarch wrote that the Persians are characterized by wild jealousy not only towards their wives. They even kept slaves and concubines locked up so that outsiders could not see them, and they transported them in closed carts.

History of ancient Persia

The Persian king Cyrus II from the Achaemenid clan conquered Media and many other countries in a short time and had a huge and well-armed army, which began to prepare for a campaign against Babylonia. A new force appeared in Western Asia, which in a short time managed to - in just a few decades- completely change the political map of the Middle East.

Babylonia and Egypt abandoned many years of hostile policies towards each other, for the rulers of both countries were well aware of the need to prepare for war with the Persian Empire. The outbreak of war was only a matter of time.

The campaign against the Persians began in 539 BC. e. Decisive battle between the Persians and Babylonians occurred near the city of Opis on the Tigris River. Cyrus won a complete victory here, soon his troops took the well-fortified city of Sippar, and the Persians captured Babylon without a fight.

After this, the Persian ruler's gaze turned to the East, where for several years he waged a grueling war with nomadic tribes and where he eventually died in 530 BC. e.

Cyrus's successors, Cambyses and Darius, completed the work he had begun. in 524-523 BC e. Cambyses' campaign against Egypt took place, as a result of which Achaemenid power was established on the banks of the Nile. turned into one of the satrapies of the new empire. Darius continued to strengthen the eastern and western borders of the empire. Towards the end of the reign of Darius, who died in 485 BC. e., the Persian power dominated over a vast territory from Aegean Sea in the west to India in the east and from the deserts of Central Asia in the north to the rapids of the Nile in the south. The Achaemenids (Persians) united almost the entire civilized world known to them and ruled it until the 4th century. BC e., when their power was broken and conquered by the military genius of Alexander the Great.

Chronology of the rulers of the Achaemenid dynasty:

• Achaemen, 600s. BC.
• Theispes, 600s BC.
• Cyrus I, 640 - 580 BC.
• Cambyses I, 580 - 559 BC.
• Cyrus II the Great, 559 - 530 BC.
• Cambyses II, 530 - 522 BC.
• Bardia, 522 BC
• Darius I, 522 - 486 BC.
• Xerxes I, 485 - 465 BC.
• Artaxerxes I, 465 - 424 BC.
• Xerxes II, 424 BC
• Secudian, 424 - 423 BC.
• Darius II, 423 - 404 BC.
• Artaxerxes II, 404 - 358 BC.
• Artaxerxes III, 358 - 338 BC.
• Artaxerxes IV Arses, 338 - 336 BC.
• Darius III, 336 - 330 BC.
• Artaxerxes V Bessus, 330 - 329 BC.

Map of the Persian Empire

The Aryan tribes - the eastern branch of the Indo-Europeans - by the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. inhabited almost the entire territory of present-day Iran. Self the word "Iran" is the modern form of the name "Ariana", i.e. country of the Aryans. Initially, these were warlike tribes of semi-nomadic cattle breeders who fought on war chariots. Some of the Aryans migrated even earlier and captured it, giving rise to the Indo-Aryan culture. Other Aryan tribes, closer to the Iranians, remained nomadic in Central Asia and the northern steppes - the Sakas, Sarmatians, etc. The Iranians themselves, having settled on the fertile lands of the Iranian Plateau, gradually abandoned their nomadic life and took up farming, adopting the skills of the Iranians. High level reached already in the XI-VIII centuries. BC e. Iranian craft. His monument is the famous “Luristan bronzes” - skillfully made weapons and household items with images of mythical and real-life animals.

"Luristan Bronzes"- a cultural monument of Western Iran. It was here, in close proximity and confrontation, that the most powerful Iranian kingdoms arose. The first of them Media has strengthened(in northwestern Iran). The Median kings took part in the destruction of Assyria. The history of their state is well known from written monuments. But Median monuments of the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. very poorly studied. Even the capital of the country, the city of Ecbatana, has not yet been found. What is known is that it was located in the vicinity of the modern city of Hamadan. Nevertheless, two Median fortresses already studied by archaeologists from the times of the fight against Assyria speak of a fairly high culture of the Medes.

In 553 BC. e. Cyrus (Kurush) II, the king of the subordinate Persian tribe from the Achaemenid clan, rebelled against the Medes. In 550 BC. e. Cyrus united the Iranians under his rule and led them to conquer the world. In 546 BC. e. he conquered Asia Minor, and in 538 BC. e. fell The son of Cyrus, Cambyses, conquered, and under King Darius I at the turn of the 6th-5th centuries. before. n. e. Persian power reached its greatest expansion and prosperity.

Monuments of its greatness are the royal capitals excavated by archaeologists - the most famous and best researched monuments of Persian culture. The oldest of them is Pasargadae, the capital of Cyrus.

Sasanian revival - Sasanian power

In 331-330. BC e. The famous conqueror Alexander the Great destroyed the Persian Empire. In retaliation for Athens, once devastated by the Persians, Greek Macedonian soldiers brutally plundered and burned Persepolis. The Achaemenid dynasty came to an end. The period of Greco-Macedonian rule over the East began, which is usually called the Hellenistic era.

For the Iranians, the conquest was a disaster. Power over all neighbors was replaced by humiliated submission to long-time enemies - the Greeks. The traditions of Iranian culture, already shaken by the desire of kings and nobles to imitate the vanquished in luxury, were now completely trampled upon. Little changed after the liberation of the country by the nomadic Iranian tribe of the Parthians. The Parthians expelled the Greeks from Iran in the 2nd century. BC e., but they themselves borrowed a lot from Greek culture. The Greek language is still used on the coins and inscriptions of their kings. Temples are still being built with numerous statues, according to Greek models, which seemed blasphemous to many Iranians. In ancient times, Zarathushtra forbade the worship of idols, commanding that an unquenchable flame be venerated as a symbol of deity and sacrifices made to it. It was the religious humiliation that was greatest, and it was not for nothing that the cities built by the Greek conquerors were later called “Dragon buildings” in Iran.

In 226 AD e. The rebel ruler of Pars, who bore the ancient royal name Ardashir (Artaxerxes), overthrew the Parthian dynasty. The second story has begun Persian Empire - Sassanid Empire, the dynasty to which the winner belonged.

The Sassanians sought to revive the culture of ancient Iran. The very history of the Achaemenid state had by that time become a vague legend. So, the society that was described in the legends of the Zoroastrian Mobed priests was put forward as an ideal. The Sassanians built, in fact, a culture that had never existed in the past, thoroughly imbued with a religious idea. This had little in common with the era of the Achaemenids, who willingly adopted the customs of the conquered tribes.

Under the Sassanids, the Iranian decisively triumphed over the Hellenic. Greek temples completely disappear, the Greek language goes out of official use. The broken statues of Zeus (who was identified with Ahura Mazda under the Parthians) are replaced by faceless altars of fire. Naqsh-i-Rustem is decorated with new reliefs and inscriptions. In the 3rd century. The second Sasanian king Shapur I ordered his victory over the Roman emperor Valerian to be carved on the rocks. On the reliefs of the kings, a bird-shaped farn is overshadowed - a sign of divine protection.

Capital of Persia became the city of Ctesiphon, built by the Parthians next to the emptying Babylon. Under the Sassanids, new palace complexes were built in Ctesiphon and huge (up to 120 hectares) royal parks were laid out. The most famous of the Sasanian palaces is Tak-i-Kisra, the palace of King Khosrow I, who ruled in the 6th century. Along with monumental reliefs, palaces were now decorated with delicate carved ornaments in lime mixture.

Under the Sassanids, the irrigation system of Iranian and Mesopotamian lands was improved. In the VI century. The country was covered by a network of kariz (underground water pipelines with clay pipes), stretching up to 40 km. The cleaning of the carises was carried out through special wells dug every 10 m. The carises served for a long time and ensured the rapid development of agriculture in Iran during the Sasanian era. It was then that cotton and sugar cane began to be grown in Iran, and gardening and winemaking developed. At the same time, Iran became one of the suppliers of its own fabrics - both woolen, linen and silk.

Sasanian power was much smaller Achaemenid, covered only Iran itself, part of the lands of Central Asia, the territories of present-day Iraq, Armenia and Azerbaijan. She had to fight for a long time, first with Rome, then with Byzantine Empire. Despite all this, the Sassanids lasted longer than the Achaemenids - more than four centuries. Ultimately, the state, exhausted by continuous wars in the West, was engulfed in a struggle for power. The Arabs took advantage of this, bringing a new faith - Islam - by force of arms. In 633-651. after a fierce war they conquered Persia. So it was over with the ancient Persian state and ancient Iranian culture.

Persian system of government

The ancient Greeks, who became acquainted with the organization of government in the Achaemenid Empire, admired the wisdom and foresight of the Persian kings. In their opinion, this organization was the pinnacle of development of the monarchical form of government.

The Persian kingdom was divided into large provinces, called satrapies by the title of their rulers - satraps (Persian, “kshatra-pavan” - “guardian of the region”). Usually there were 20 of them, but this number fluctuated, since sometimes the management of two or more satrapies was entrusted to one person and, conversely, one region was divided into several. This pursued mainly taxation purposes, but sometimes the characteristics of the peoples inhabiting them and historical characteristics were also taken into account. Satraps and rulers of smaller regions were not the only representatives of local government. In addition to them, in many provinces there were hereditary local kings or ruling priests, as well as free cities and, finally, “benefactors” who received cities and districts for life, or even hereditary possession. These kings, rulers and high priests differed in position from satraps only in that they were hereditary and had a historical and national connection with the population, who saw them as bearers of ancient traditions. They independently carried out internal management, retained local law, a system of measures, language, imposed taxes and duties, but were under the constant control of satraps, who could often intervene in the affairs of the regions, especially during unrest and unrest. Satraps also resolved border disputes between cities and regions, litigation in cases where the participants were citizens of various urban communities or various vassal regions, and regulated political relations. Local rulers, like satraps, had the right to communicate directly with the central government, and some of them, such as the kings of the Phoenician cities, Cilicia, and Greek tyrants, maintained their own army and fleet, which they personally commanded, accompanying the Persian army on large campaigns or performing military duties. orders from the king. However, the satrap could at any time demand these troops for the royal service and place his own garrison in the possessions of local rulers. The main command over the provincial troops also belonged to him. The satrap was even allowed to recruit soldiers and mercenaries independently and at his own expense. He was, as they would call him in a more recent era, the governor-general of his satrapy, ensuring its internal and external security.

The highest command of the troops was carried out by the commanders of four or, as during the subjugation of Egypt, five military districts into which the kingdom was divided.

Persian system of government provides an example of the victors’ amazing respect for local customs and the rights of conquered peoples. In Babylonia, for example, all documents from the times of Persian rule are legally no different from those dating back to the period of independence. The same thing happened in Egypt and Judea. In Egypt, the Persians left the same not only the division into nomes, but also the sovereign surnames, the location of troops and garrisons, as well as the tax immunity of temples and priesthood. Of course, the central government and the satrap could intervene at any time and decide matters at their own discretion, but for the most part it was enough for them if the country was calm, taxes were received regularly, and the troops were in order.

Such a management system did not emerge in the Middle East right away. For example, initially in the conquered territories it relied only on the force of arms and intimidation. The areas taken “by battle” were included directly in the House of Ashur - the central region. Those who surrendered to the mercy of the winner often preserved their local dynasty. But over time, this system turned out to be poorly suited for managing the expanding state. Reorganization of management carried out by King Tiglath-pileser III in the UNT century. BC e., in addition to the policy of forced relocations, it also changed the system of governing the regions of the empire. The kings tried to prevent the emergence of overly powerful clans. To prevent the creation of hereditary possessions and new dynasties among the governors of the regions, the most important posts eunuchs were often appointed. In addition, although major officials received huge land holdings, they did not constitute a single tract, but were scattered throughout the country.

But still, the main support of Assyrian rule, as well as Babylonian rule later, was the army. Military garrisons literally surrounded the entire country. Taking into account the experience of their predecessors, the Achaemenids added to the force of arms the idea of ​​a “kingdom of countries,” that is, a reasonable combination of local characteristics with the interests of the central government.

The vast state needed the means of communication necessary to control the central government over local officials and rulers. The language of the Persian office, in which even royal decrees were issued, was Aramaic. This is explained by the fact that it was actually in common use in Assyria and Babylonia back in Assyrian times. The conquests of the western regions, Syria and Palestine, by the Assyrian and Babylonian kings further contributed to its spread. This language gradually took the place of ancient Akkadian cuneiform in international relations; it was even used on the coins of the Asia Minor satraps of the Persian king.

Another feature of the Persian Empire that delighted the Greeks was there were beautiful roads, described by Herodotus and Xenophon in stories about the campaigns of King Cyrus. The most famous were the so-called Royal, which went from Ephesus in Asia Minor, off the coast of the Aegean Sea, east to Susa, one of the capitals of the Persian state, through the Euphrates, Armenia and Assyria along the Tigris River; the road leading from Babylonia through the Zagros mountains to the east to another capital of Persia - Ecbatana, and from here to the Bactrian and Indian border; road from Issky Bay Mediterranean Sea to Sinop on the Black Sea, crossing Asia Minor, etc.

These roads were not only built by the Persians. Most of them existed in the Assyrian and even more early time. The beginning of the construction of the Royal Road, which was the main artery of the Persian monarchy, probably dates back to the era of the Hittite kingdom, which was located in Asia Minor on the way from Mesopotamia and Syria to Europe. Sardis, the capital of Lydia conquered by the Medes, was connected by a road to another big city- Pteria. From there the road went to the Euphrates. Herodotus, speaking about the Lydians, calls them the first shopkeepers, which was natural for the owners of the road between Europe and Babylon. The Persians continued this route from Babylonia further east, to their capitals, improved it and adapted it not only for trade purposes, but also for state needs - mail.

The Persian kingdom also took advantage of another invention of the Lydians - coins. Until the 7th century. BC e. Subsistence farming dominated throughout the East, monetary circulation was just beginning to emerge: the role of money was played by metal ingots of a certain weight and shape. These could be rings, plates, mugs without embossing or images. The weight was different everywhere, and therefore, outside the place of origin, the ingot simply lost the value of a coin and had to be weighed again each time, i.e., it became an ordinary commodity. On the border between Europe and Asia, the Lydian kings were the first to begin minting state coins of clearly defined weight and denomination. From here the use of such coins spread throughout Asia Minor, Cyprus and Palestine. The ancient trading countries -, and - retained the old system for a very long time. They began minting coins after the campaigns of Alexander the Great, and before that they used coins made in Asia Minor.

Establishing a single tax system, the Persian kings could not do without minting coins; In addition, the needs of the state, which kept mercenaries, as well as the unprecedented growth of international trade, necessitated the need for a single coin. And a gold coin was introduced into the kingdom, and only the government had the right to mint it; local rulers, cities and satraps received the right to mint only silver and copper coins for payment to mercenaries, which remained an ordinary commodity outside their region.

So, by the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. In the Middle East, through the efforts of many generations and many peoples, a civilization arose that even the freedom-loving Greeks was considered ideal. Here is what the ancient Greek historian Xenophon wrote: “Wherever the king lives, wherever he goes, he makes sure that everywhere there are gardens, called paradises, full of everything beautiful and good that the earth can produce. He spends most of his time in them, unless the time of year prevents this... Some say that when the king gives gifts, those who distinguished themselves in war are called first, because it is useless to plow a lot if there is no one to protect, and then those who cultivate the land in the best way, for the strong could not exist if there were no workers...".

It is not surprising that this civilization developed in Western Asia. It not only arose earlier than others, but also developed faster and more energetically, had the most favorable conditions for its development thanks to constant contacts with neighbors and the exchange of innovations. Here, more often than in other ancient centers of world culture, new ideas arose and important discoveries were made in almost all areas of production and culture. Potter's wheel and wheel, bronze and iron making, war chariot as a fundamentally new means of warfare, various forms of writing from pictograms to the alphabet - all this and much more genetically goes back to Western Asia, from where these innovations spread throughout the rest of the world, including other centers of primary civilization.

Persians, Indo-European. people living in the southeast. Elama. The founder of the Persian kingdom (dependent on the Medes) in Anshan is considered to be Chishpish, the son of Achaemen, therefore for another Persian. king The name of the Achaemenids was established by the dynasty. see Cyrus II the Great (559 530 BC ... Bible Encyclopedia Brockhaus

Modern encyclopedia

PERSIANS, Persians, units. persian, persian, husband The people who make up the main population of Iran (formerly known as Persia). Dictionary Ushakova. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

PERSIANS, ov, units. Persian, a, husband. and (obsolete) Persian, ah, husband. Former name for Iranians; now the name of the Farsi nation, which makes up about half of Iran's population. | wives Persian, I. | adj. Persian, aya, oh. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Population of Persia. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Noun, number of synonyms: 1 Persians (1) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Persians- (self-names Farsi, Irani) people with a total number of 28,750 thousand people, living mainly in the territory of Iran (28,000 thousand people). Other countries of settlement: Iraq 150 thousand people, USA 130 thousand people, Saudi Arabia 100 thousand people, Kuwait 85 thousand... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Farsi (self-called Irani, plural Iranian), a nation constituting approx. half of the population of Iran (according to the 1st general population census of the country at the end of 1956, the population was about 9 million people; according to an estimate for 1963, 10.5 million people). They speak Persian (Farsi) language... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

Ov; pl. Nation, main population of Iran (Persia); representatives of this nation. ◁ Persian, a; m. Persianka, and; pl. genus. nok, dat. nkam; and. Persian (see). * * * Persians (Farsi, self-name of Iran), people in Iran (about 21.3 million people). General... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Persians- PERSIANS, ov, plural (singular Persian, a and Old Persian, a, m). The people, the main population of the central and eastern part of Iran (before 1935, Persia), states in the South-West. Asia; the people belonging to this nation are farces; Persian Farsi, Iranian group... ... Explanatory dictionary of Russian nouns

Books

• Persians. Book one of the historical novel “Scythians”, Nikolai Vasilyevich Sokolov. The first book of the historical novel "Scythians" tells about the coup d'etat of 522 BC in Persia. After the murder of King Bardiya, riots and uprisings began in the country, and... eBook
• Wild Persians, Panov Vadim. Mysterious disappearances, strange deaths, cruel revenge on criminals... St. Petersburg was overwhelmed by a wave of high-profile, seemingly unrelated crimes, the traces of which...

Persia (which country is now, you can find out from the article) existed more than two thousand years ago. It is known for its conquests and culture. In the territory ancient state ruled by many nations. But they could not eradicate the culture and traditions of the Aryans.

From the middle of the sixth century BC, the Persians appeared on the stage of world history. Until this time, residents of the Middle East had heard very little about this mysterious tribe. They became known only after they began to seize lands.

Cyrus II, king of the Persians from the Achaemenid dynasty, was able to short time capture Media and other states. His well-armed army began preparations to march against Babylon.

At this time, Babylon and Egypt were at enmity with each other, but when a strong enemy appeared, they decided to forget about the conflict. Babylon's preparation for war did not save it from defeat. The Persians captured the cities of Opis and Sippar, and then took control of Babylon without a fight. Cyrus the Second decided to further advance to the East. In a war with nomadic tribes, he died in 530 BC.

The successors of the deceased king, Cambyses the Second and Darius the First, managed to capture Egypt. Darius was able not only to strengthen the eastern and western borders of the power, but also to expand them from the Aegean Sea to India, as well as from the lands of Central Asia to the banks of the Nile. Persia has absorbed famous world civilizations ancient world and owned them until the fourth century BC. Alexander the Great was able to conquer the empire.

Second Persian Empire

The Macedonian soldiers took revenge on the Persians for the destruction of Athens by burning Persepolis to ashes. At this point, the Achaemenid dynasty ceased to exist. Ancient Persia fell under the humiliating power of the Greeks.

It was only in the second century BC that the Greeks were expelled. The Parthians did this. But they were not allowed to rule for long; Artaxerxes overthrew them. The history of the second Persian power began with him. In another way, it is usually called the power of the Sassanid dynasty. Under their rule, the Achaemenid Empire is revived, albeit in a different form. Greek culture is being replaced by Iranian culture.

In the seventh century, Persia lost its power and was incorporated into the Arab Caliphate.

Life in Ancient Persia through the eyes of other peoples

The life of the Persians is known from works that have survived to this day. These are mainly the works of the Greeks. It is known that Persia (what the country is now can be found out below) very quickly conquered the territories of ancient civilizations. What were the Persians like?

They were tall and physically strong. Life in the mountains and steppes made them hardened and resilient. They were famous for their courage and unity. In everyday life, the Persians ate moderately, did not drink wine, and were indifferent to precious metals. They wore clothes made from animal skins and covered their heads with felt caps (tiaras).

During the coronation, the ruler had to put on the clothes that he wore before becoming king. He was also supposed to eat dried figs and drink sour milk.

The Persians had the right to live with several wives, not counting concubines. Closely related ties were acceptable, for example, between an uncle and a niece. Women were not supposed to show themselves to strangers. This applied to both wives and concubines. Proof of this is the surviving reliefs of Persepolis, which do not contain images of the fair sex.

Persian achievements:

• good roads;
• minting your own coins;
• creation of gardens (paradises);
• The cylinder of Cyrus the Great is a prototype of the first charter of human rights.

Previously Persia, but now?

It is not always possible to say exactly which state is located ancient civilization. The world map has changed hundreds of times. Changes are happening even today. How to understand where Persia was? What is the country in its place now?

Modern states on whose territory there was an empire:

• Egypt.
• Lebanon.
• Iraq.
• Pakistan.
• Georgia.
• Bulgaria.
• Türkiye.
• Parts of Greece and Romania.

These are not all the countries that are related to Persia. However, with ancient empire Iran is most often associated. What is this country and its people like?

Iran's mysterious past

The name of the country is the modern form of the word "Ariana", which translates as "land of the Aryans". Indeed, from the first millennium BC, Aryan tribes inhabited almost all the lands of modern Iran. Part of this tribe moved to Northern India, and part went to the northern steppes, calling themselves Scythians and Sarmatians.

Later, strong kingdoms emerged in Western Iran. One of these Iranian formations was Media. It was subsequently captured by the army of Cyrus the Second. It was he who united the Iranians in his empire and led them to conquer the world.

How does modern Persia live (what country is it now, it became clear)?

Life in modern Iran through the eyes of foreigners

For many ordinary people, Iran is associated with revolution and nuclear program. However, the history of this country spans more than two thousand years. She absorbed different cultures: Persian, Islamic, Western.

Iranians have elevated pretense to a true art of communication. They are very courteous and sincere, but this is only the outer side. In fact, behind their obsequiousness lies the intention to find out all the plans of their interlocutor.

Former Persia (now Iran) was captured by the Greeks, Turks, and Mongols. At the same time, the Persians were able to preserve their traditions. They know how to get along with strangers, their culture is characterized by a certain flexibility - taking the best from the traditions of strangers without abandoning their own.

Iran (Persia) was under Arab rule for centuries. At the same time, its inhabitants were able to preserve their language. Poetry helped them with this. Most of all they honor the poet Ferdowsi, and Europeans remember Omar Khayyam. The preservation of culture was facilitated by the teachings of Zarathustra, which appeared long before the Arab invasion.

Although Islam now plays a leading role in the country, Iranians have not lost their national identity. They remember well their centuries-old history.

Who are the ancient Persians?

Origin of the people and location.

The first mention of the Persians came from Assyrian sources. The Persians are descended from Indo-Europeans (in particular, from the Aryans), who arrived in the territory of what is now Iran in the 2nd millennium BC. e. In 550 BC e. Persians from the Achaemenid dynasty captured Media and created a vast Persian Empire on its territories.
The Persian Empire is the name of a series of dynasties centered in modern Iran that spanned several centuries (from the 6th century BC to the 20th century CE). First Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. e., became one of largest empires in a history stretching from the Balkan Peninsula in the west to India in the east. The empire began with the unification of semi-nomadic tribes who raised sheep. Cyrus the Great, the leader of one such tribe, began to conquer nearby kingdoms, including Lydia and Babylon. It soon became the world's first superpower. United under one government three important sites of early human civilization: Mesopotamia, the Egyptian Nile Valley and the Indus Valley. At its height, the Persian Empire stretched from the Balkan Peninsula of Europe, parts of modern Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine - to the Indus River Valley in northwest India, and in the south to Egypt. The Persians were the first to establish regular communication routes between three continents - Africa, Asia and Europe. They built many new roads and developed the world's first postal service. This Iron Age dynasty, sometimes called the Achaemenid Empire, was a world center of culture, religion, science, art and technology for more than 200 years before it fell to the invading army of Alexander the Great. This was the beginning of the period of Greco-Macedonian domination over the Persians.
Persia regained its independence in the first half of the 3rd century AD. e. rulers from the Sassanid dynasty. They waged endless wars with the Roman Empire, and later with Russia. In the middle of the 7th century, as a result of the weakening of the state by their wars, the Persians were quickly conquered by the Arabs and gradually converted to Islam, without, however, giving in to Arabization.

Persian culture.

The ancient Persians created art in many forms, including metalworking, rock carving, weaving and architecture. As the Persian Empire expanded to include other artistic centers early civilization, a new style was formed with the influence of these sources. Early Persian art included large rock carved reliefs such as those found at Naqsh Rustam, an ancient cemetery filled with the tombs of Achaemenid kings. Intricate rock murals depict equestrian scenes and battle victories.
The ancient Persians were also famous for their metalwork. In the 1870s, smugglers discovered gold and silver artifacts among ruins near the Oxus (Amu Darya) River in modern-day Tajikistan. Artifacts included a small golden chariot, coins and bracelets decorated with griffin designs.
The history of carpet weaving in Persia dates back to nomadic tribes. The ancient Greeks appreciated the artistry of these carpets self made, known for their intricate designs and vibrant colors.
The low-water rivers of the highlands could not deliver the required amount of water to the canals, and in the summer they completely dried up. Therefore, the Persians developed a unique system of underground canals.
The original beliefs of the Iranian peoples were to worship four basic elements: light, water, earth and air. The cult of the Sun, which was credited with life-giving power, was widespread among both Iranians and Indians. This is where the sign representing the sun comes from - a cross with broken arms, that is, a swastika.
The first Persian religion, which emerged from ancient Aryan cults, was Mazdaism. During the Achamenid era, most of the inhabitants and kings of Iran professed Zoroastrianism. It was the official religion at that time. In the 7th century AD After the arrival of Muslims in Iran, most Iranians converted to Islam. In the 9th century. a group of Zoroastrians migrated to India, where they became known as the Indian Persians. The other group remained in Iran.
Now in Iran the majority of the population professes Islam. The official language is Persian. The second most commonly used language in Iran is Arabic. Children in schools are taught Arabic, mainly to read the holy book - the Koran.

The Persians, or Iranians, are the indigenous inhabitants of Persia (the current official name of the country is the Islamic Republic of Iran), the people of the Iranian group of the Indo-European family. Persians are the ethnic majority in Iran (51% of the country's more than 66 million population); they live mainly in central and southern regions Iran. A significant portion of civil servants are recruited from Persians. Outside Iran, Persians live mainly in neighboring countries - Iraq, western Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. After the political upheavals of the second half of the twentieth century. a large group of Iranians emigrated to Europe and the USA. Today in our country and in the southern CIS countries there are also a large number of immigrants from Iran. Along with Afghans, they trade in markets and enter into small wholesale deals. Many Persians abroad engage in religious propaganda.

Modern Iran is a multinational country. The main national minorities include Azerbaijanis (24% of the country's population), Kurds (7%), Gilans and Mazandarans (in total - 8%), Arabs (3), Lurs (2), Baluchis (2), Turkmens (2), Turks (1), Bakhtiars, Qashqais, Tajiks and other nationalities (in total - about 2% of the population). Formed as the state of the Persians, Iran in ancient times and in the Middle Ages pursued an active policy of conquest; the Persian rulers united multilingual peoples and tribes under their rule. In the 7th century Persia was conquered by the Arabs. They brought with them Islam, which became the dominant religion: now 99% of the inhabitants of Iran are Muslims. At the same time, 89% of Iranians profess Shiite Islam, 10% are Sunni.
The poem “Confession of a Shiite” by the Russian poetess Lyudmila Avdeeva conveys the attitude of an ordinary Iranian:

There is no afterlife there, I know, there are no rich people.
There is justice there, all joys are nearby.
And the beautiful Sheida will be with me.
But here on earth I’m not worth her gaze.

Here our family is the poorest in the quarter.
I don’t dare dream that Shayda would be given to me.
It is hungry to live here; there has been no work for so many years.
And any unemployed person will be happy there.

There are rivers of masta, there are mountains of meat.
Pick fruit for dinner from the Garden of Eden.
Our neighbor Ali is not happy with something.
He wants to study, but the house is not completed...

Shia Islam, practiced by only about one tenth of all Muslims in the world, is the basis of the Persians' philosophy of life.
Since 1979, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the leadership of the state has been in the hands of Shiite theologians. The Islamic regime has created an unprecedented modern history a state in which all aspects of life were subordinated to the ideas of Shiite Islam. The political, legal, moral, aesthetic, ethical, cultural and philosophical views of the vast majority of Persians today are determined by the norms of Islam.
Love of God, clear and firm adherence to the norms and traditions of Islam is the main virtue highlighted by the inhabitants of modern Iran when emphasizing positive traits character of a person. Of course, these qualities are not limited to the set of positive characteristics of the Persian.
Distinctive feature Iranians are hospitable. A polite welcome is the minimum that a foreigner can expect when coming to this country for the first time. The charge of inhospitality is one of the worst in Iran. In any home you will be greeted with the words “Hosh amadid!” ("Welcome!"). The guest will be provided the best place at the table and will be fed with the best and most varied dishes. Even if this is the house of the poorest Persian, his neighbors will help him meet the guest. There is nothing more pleasant for a host than to hear from a guest that his efforts were not in vain, that he was amazed by the reception, the richness of the dishes and their taste.

Women at a demonstration carry a portrait President Khatami

In general, friendliness is one of the calling cards of Iranians. Persian communication with people is imbued with respect for the interlocutor. When addressing each other, Iranians use the words “aha” (lord), “saheb” (lord), “baradar” (brother), adding “aziz” (dear), “mokhtaram” (respected). When people of equal status meet, they hug and shake hands. When meeting elders, Persians bow low. When expressing respect, gratitude, and consideration, Iranians often make right hand to the heart. Sociability, helpfulness and politeness are the most frequently demonstrated communication qualities of Persians.
The highest moral principles of Iranians include honoring deceased ancestors, respect for elders and the elderly. Elders, according to generally accepted opinion, are the personification of the clan, the family. Everyone's well-being depends on everyone's success. Kinship, clan and tribal relations cement a nation. Fellow countrymen who moved from the village to the city earlier than others help the new arrivals in finding employment and arranging their lives. There is a widespread tradition among Iranians that is reminiscent of the Soviet subbotnik. Residents of one block, village or street collectively help their friend build a new house. This event becomes a true labor holiday. Singers and musicians come to support the workers. At the end of the work, everyone is treated to pilaf and sweets.

One of the distinctive qualities of most Persians is the desire for beauty and love of art. After the proclamation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, the clergy pursued a policy of subordinating culture and art to the task of Islamization of Iranian society. “Western art” became forbidden. This slowed down the cultural enrichment of the country from the outside, but at the same time stimulated the rise of folk art. Among ordinary Iranians there are many people endowed with the talents of musicians, poets, reciters, and artists. Persians have a great sense of humor. A joke, told at the right time and at the right place, allows you to survive adversity.
Iranians are superstitious. Muslims in Iran live in a world of constant mystical perception of the world. They believe in evil spirits, talismans, witchcraft, fortune-telling, and believe that stones, trees, and buildings can be sacred. Bread, water, crops, roads, sky, and fire are also considered sacred. The spirits of the dead are considered terrible because they “wander in search of the living” and can possess them, especially women. Therefore, the Persians are afraid to appear in those places where, according to their belief, evil spirits live. Amulets designed to protect against the evil eye and damage are widespread among ordinary Iranians. Amulets are hung around the neck of a newborn child, a boy, a beautiful girl and newlyweds, as they believe that these people are the least protected from the “intrigues” evil spirit" In the villages they believe in ghosts and witches. Dream interpreters are very popular.
When communicating with Persians, it is necessary to take into account, first of all, the peculiarities of their cultural and religious development. It is easier to earn the respect of the Persians if you know the names of their great compatriots. Quoting Omar Khayyam, Saadi, Hafiz and other Iranian poets and philosophers will raise your authority in the eyes of your interlocutor. But a nonreligious person should avoid discussing religious topics with an Iranian. An Iranian will never tell you to your face that you have offended him, touching a thin string of his soul. However, in the future, such an insult will not be forgotten by them and may cause a cooling or even termination of the relationship.
During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the way of life in Iranian families changes, it becomes more measured and slower. The working day is shortened. Important things are put off until later. There is no point in expecting a Muslim to quickly fulfill your request. A foreigner staying in Iran during fasting should not smoke, eat or drink in the presence of local residents during the daytime. Irritation can also be caused by the appearance of a European woman who does not cover her legs, arms and face from the views of strangers. The state of inhibition in which Muslims find themselves during fasting continues for some time after its end. The first days after fasting are considered the most dangerous. They account for the peak of traffic accidents in Tehran and other major cities. Drivers simply do not have time to adapt to the sharply increased pace of life and the increasing number of cars on the roads.
Despite the fact that Article 20 of the Iranian Constitution proclaims the equality of all members of society before the law, Iranian women are practically deprived of many rights. Legislatively, a man is considered the head of the family, and the woman in the family is subordinate to the man. Only a man has the right to file for divorce. In the event of the death of a spouse, children are transferred to be raised in the family of the deceased husband, and the woman loses the right to her children. In case of divorce, the children also remain with the father. All women, Iranian and foreign, are required to wear a hijab, a head covering, in public places and institutions. During the Iran-Iraq war 1980-1988. In Iran, the slogan was widespread: “Iranian, the hijab is your trench!” In transport and in public places there are separate seats for men and women. Women are not allowed to engage in many professions (in particular, there cannot be a female singer, a female judge, a female archaeologist or a geologist). The law allows a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman, but prohibits an Iranian woman from marrying a foreigner if he is not a Muslim. Iran's freedom of movement is also limited by a number of Sharia provisions. A trip abroad can only take place if one of two mandatory conditions is met: accompanied by an adult male family member or with the written permission of the husband or father (for an unmarried woman).

Criminal penalties for women are more severe than those provided for in the criminal code for similar crimes for men. In February 2003, two women were hanged for the murder of one man, and two more received life sentences.
Of course, things in Iran are not as bleak as Western media portrays. Life in the country continues. IN last years There has been a certain liberalization in the way of life of Iranians. Of course, “soft porn” is not shown on television, as in our country. But we can say with confidence that the overwhelming majority in Iranian society does not strive for such “freedoms.” The ability of Iranians to easily and philosophically experience life's adversities is the core that allows this nation to develop, moving in the same direction as all humanity. Being different from Europeans or Americans is not a reason to declare people they know little about “outlaws.”
Iran is a multinational state in which religion performs a large number of functions, and the main one is the unification of people.