The origin of the emergence of national identity in Iran

This article tries to answer the question, which historical period is the origin of national identity in Iran? In response, the article believes that the origin of national identity in Iran should be sought in the ancient period. In fact, due to the historical antiquity of Iran, signs of the existence of national identity can be sought from ancient period. Unlike many European and non-European countries that were found after the 15th century, the country of Iran had its own political existence and coherence, borders, history and culture, as well as the institution of the government and the phenomenon of the nation, since ancient period. At this historical moment, apart from the Seleucids who had Greek-Macedonian roots, the Medes, Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids ruled, and one of the important things inherited from their governance was the sense of national identity among the members of Iranian society. In general, it can be said that the people of Iran had a historical, cultural and territorial awareness of their country in ancient period. In other words, the inhabitants of Iran in ancient era considered themselves Iranians and belonging to the geography of the land called Iran or Iranshahr, and they had knowledge about its formative elements, and this knowledge had created a national identity among them. The important point is that this national consciousness was transferred from the ancient period to the next period of Iranian history.