The Evolution of National Identity of Iran in Ancient Period

The purpose of this article is to study the evolution of national identity of Iran in ancient period. Accordingly, the question of the article is what changes did the national identity of Iran undergo in the process of its evolution in ancient period? The article assumes that national identityof Iran is rooted first and foremost in the foundations created in ancient times. During this period, although the Median were the first to introduce Iranian identity, but it was the Achaemenids who breathed new life into the body of this identity and turned it into a stable element in ancient times. Subsequently, the Parthians upheld the Iranian identity and succeeded in placing it in a new context free of foreign imposed values. During this period, the word Iran was used in connection with the name of this territorial territory, and this issue helped to strengthen the national identity in the country. The Sasanid period is also a period when the concept of national identity was established in Iran. The Sasanid government of the Iranian tribes created a unified state and a common religion and land and gave this land the title of Iranshahr. With the emergence of this title, the concept of country emerged and as a result, the national identity of Iran was strengthened. The main point here is that in ancient times, the two elements of “Kingdom government” and “Zarathust religion” played an important role in the formation of national identity of Iran.