Persian Iraq
Encyclopedia
Persian Iraq also spelled Persian Irak, is an obsolete term for the central region of Iran
, including cities such as Isfahan, Ray
, Qazvin
, and Kashan
. From the 11th to 16th centuries, the term Iraq referred to two distinct regions: Arabian Iraq (''ʿIrāq-i ʿArab) and Persian Iraq (''ʿIrāq-i ʿAjam). Arabian Iraq corresponded with ancient Mesopotamia
(roughly the current nation of Iraq
), while Persian Iraq corresponded with ancient Media
. The two regions were separated by the Zagros Mountains
.
Later, until the beginning of the 20th century, the term Iraq in Iran was used to refer to a much smaller region south of Saveh
and West of Qom
. This region was centered by Sultanabad, which was renamed later as Arāk
.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, including cities such as Isfahan, Ray
Ray, Iran
Rey or Ray , also known as Rhages and formerly as Arsacia, is the capital of Rey County, Tehran Province, Iran, and is the oldest existing city in the province....
, Qazvin
Qazvin
Qazvin is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin in Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families....
, and Kashan
Kashan
Kashan is a city in and the capital of Kashan County, in the province of Isfahan, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 248,789, in 67,464 families....
. From the 11th to 16th centuries, the term Iraq referred to two distinct regions: Arabian Iraq (''ʿIrāq-i ʿArab) and Persian Iraq (''ʿIrāq-i ʿAjam). Arabian Iraq corresponded with ancient Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
(roughly the current nation of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
), while Persian Iraq corresponded with ancient Media
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
. The two regions were separated by the Zagros Mountains
Zagros Mountains
The Zagros Mountains are the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq. With a total length of 1,500 km , from northwestern Iran, and roughly correlating with Iran's western border, the Zagros range spans the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian plateau and ends at the Strait of...
.
Later, until the beginning of the 20th century, the term Iraq in Iran was used to refer to a much smaller region south of Saveh
Saveh
Sāveh is a city in the Markazi Province of Iran. It is located around 100 km southwest of Tehran. As of 2006, the city had a population of 179,009 people.-History:In the 7th century BC it was as stronghold of the Medes...
and West of Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
. This region was centered by Sultanabad, which was renamed later as Arāk
Arak
Arak may refer to:* Arak, Iran, a city in Markazi Province, Iran* Arak County, an administrative subdivision of Markazi Province Iran* Arak, Russia, a village in the Tabasaran rayon of Dagestan, Russia...
.