Persia (1501–1935)

Imperial State of Persia

For centuries the West called the Iranian state 'Persia', after one province the ancient Greeks knew best. In 1935 Reza Shah asked foreign governments to use the name locals had always used: Iran.

Persians never called their country Persia — 'Iran' has been the endonym for well over a millennium; only the outside world needed the memo.