Persian Iraq

Persian Iraq (Arabic: عراق العجم‎; Persian: عراق عجم), 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.^[1][2]

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.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Iraq". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved January 30, 2006.
2. ^ ʿERĀQ-EʿAJAM(Ī) "Persian Iraq", Encyclopedia Iranica Online.
3. ^ ARĀK, Encyclopedia Iranica Online.

See also

• Jibal