Persians

Persians are an Iranian ethnic group native to the Iranian plateau, primarily associated with present-day Iran's region of Fars (Pars). The term Persian historically denotes the people of Persia, and today it is used for both an ethnicity and a language. The language has developed through Old Persian, Middle Persian, and Modern Persian, and is spoken today as Iranian Persian (Farsi) in Iran, Dari in Afghanistan, and Tajik in Tajikistan.

Historically, Persian polities began with the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BCE), founded by Cyrus the Great, which spanned three continents and used advanced administrative systems and roads. Alexander the Great conquered this empire. Successor realms included the Parthian and Sasanian Empires, with Sasanian culture and Zoroastrianism as major pre-Islamic influences.

Following the Arab conquest, Persian language continued to flourish, shaping literature and administration; during the Islamic era Persianate empires emerged, notably the Safavid (1501–1736), which established Twelver Shiismo as the state religion and helped forge a distinct Persianate cultural sphere.

In modern times, Persians form the largest ethnic group in Iran, with smaller Persian-speaking communities in Afghanistan (Dari) and Central Asia. The Persian-speaking diaspora is widespread in Europe and North America.

Key cultural contributions include classical poetry, historiography, and art; prominent figures include Ferdowsi, Hafez, Saadi, and Rumi; architectural traditions such as garden design and mosque architecture; and ongoing linguistic influence via Modern Persian.