: In 1935 , the government formally requested the international community use the name "Iran". Following the 1979 Revolution , the monarchy was overthrown, and Iran became an Islamic Republic under clerical rule. Culture and Society
Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with a history of urban settlement dating back to the . Traditionally known to the West as Persia —a name derived from the southern region of Persis or Pars —the country's native name, Iran , means "Land of the Aryans". Historical Legacy : In 1935 , the government formally requested
: The territory was first unified under the Medes in the 7th century BC and reached its peak in the 6th century BC under Cyrus the Great , founder of the Achaemenid Empire . Traditionally known to the West as Persia —a
: The Sasanian Empire (3rd–7th century AD) oversaw a cultural golden age before the Muslim conquest led to the region's Islamization. Later, the Safavid era (1501–1736) established a distinct national identity and recognized the importance of Shia Islam. Later, the Safavid era (1501–1736) established a distinct