Why do Iranian people call themselves Persian? Persians don't exist anymore!?

Answer 1

Persia was the old name of present day Iran. the language they speak is known as Farsi or Persian.there is no big demographic change in old Persians and present day Irani people. there is no such thing as extinction of Persian people.Iran is the name of the present day country.It used to be a big empire in history known as Persian empire.the big change was the conversion of Persians into Islam. they used to worship the fire.the word Persia and Persian language is mainly used in western history.

Answer 2

Persian is an ethnic group. Celtic same way. There was also a Celtic empire, it was actually bigger than Rome. Stretched from Ireland all the way into Russia. Persia in it's heyday was the superpower of the time just like the Celts, Romans, Carthage the Greeks and so on. Just like Persians people of Celtic descent consider themselves Celts even though the Celtic empire fell thousands of years ago. The Persian empire was a huge empire that arose from the Persian people. They have distinct customs and I believe a distinct language still. So when Persians call themselves Persian it's no different than Norse, Celts, Greeks or other European ethnic groups calling themselves by their ethnic name despite the empires of that name long ago ceasing to exist.

Answer 3

Iranians are Persian....its just that the name of the country has changed to Iran which dosnot change the fact that ppl are Persians

Answer 4

I would think that the Remnant of the Persian People would know who they are. There for, apparently they do still exist!

Answer 5

I would like to think persians still exist. Sounds much nicer too

Answer 6

Who says?...Persia as a country was overthrown, but the Persian people still exist...they are descendants...