Throughout its long development, Persian has undergone phonetic, structural, and lexical changes, yet it has preserved its essential identity. The history of the Persian language is generally divided into three main period:
Old Persian, which was used from the sixth to the fourth centuries BCE during the Achaemenid era, served as the official language of the empire. It was written in Old Persian cuneiform script and had a complex grammatical structure with inflected nouns and verbs. One of the most prominent surviving works from this period is the Behistun Inscription. Old Persian represents the earliest recorded form of the Persian language and forms the historical foundation of later Iranian languages.
Middle Persian (Pahlavi) was used roughly from the third century BCE to the seventh century CE, during the Parthian and Sasanian periods. It included both Parthian Pahlavi and Sasanian Pahlavi. Compared to Old Persian, its grammatical structure was simpler. The script used was the Pahlavi script, derived from Aramaic, and it was widely employed in religious, administrative, and literary contexts. Important works of this period include Zoroastrian religious texts such as the Avesta, as well as books like the Denkard, the Bundahishn, and the Karnamag-i Ardashir-i Pabagan. Middle Persian serves as the bridge between Old Persian and New Persian, and many contemporary Persian words and cultural concepts originate from this period. Middle Persian serves as the link between Old Persian and New Persian, and many contemporary Persian words and cultural concepts have been inherited from this period.
New Persian (Dari) has been in use since the third century AH (ninth century CE) and remains the form of the language spoken and written today. Its earliest and most extensive development occurred in Greater Khorasan (covering present-day eastern Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia). The script of New Persian is based on the Arabic alphabet, with the addition of four letters unique to Persian: P(پ), CH (چ), ZH(ژ), and G(گ). Its grammar is simpler than that of earlier stages, and over time it absorbed numerous Arabic words, as well as later Turkish and European loanwords. Beyond Iran, Persian spread to Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Anatolia, and the Caucasus. It served as the official or cultural language at the courts of the Samanids, Ghaznavids, Seljuks, Timurids, and Mughals. One of the most significant literary works of this period is the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, which played a vital role in consolidating and preserving the Persian language. Other major literary figures include Rudaki, Saadi Shirazi, Hafez, Rumi, Nizami Ganjavi, Jami, and many others.
In the modern era, one of the significant developments in Persian has been the movement toward simplification of prose and stylistic reform. Contemporary Persian exists in several varieties, including Iranian Persian, Afghan Dari, and Tajik Persian (written in the Cyrillic script). Despite phonetic and lexical differences, these varieties remain highly similar in structure and mutually intelligible.
In essence, Persian is a language with a uniquely continuous historical tradition, stretching from Achaemenid stone inscriptions to modern poetry and digital media. It has been not only a means of communication but also a bearer of identity, culture, thought, and historical memory for Iranians and many other peoples of the region. Among the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Persian has played, and continues to play, a highly significant historical, cultural, and social role.
Historically, Persian was not merely the language of one nation but a shared civilizational language across much of the eastern Islamic world. From the early Islamic centuries until approximately the nineteenth century, Persian functioned as a language of science, literature, administration, historiography, and culture across vast territories.
In lands that today include ECO member states such as Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and parts of Turkey, Persian served as either an official language or the dominant cultural language. Scholars and literary figures produced works that exerted deep influence not only in Iran but throughout the ECO region. In the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, knowledge of Persian was a sign of education and high social status.
Persian played a crucial role in fostering communication among diverse ethnic groups and nations. People of different languages and backgrounds were able to establish cultural and intellectual connections through Persian.
In the contemporary era, with the emergence of modern nation-states, the role of Persian has diminished in some countries; nevertheless, it remains vibrant and influential. Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan are today the three principal centers of the Persian language.
In countries such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and Turkey, Persian vocabulary still constitutes a significant component of local languages. Classical Persian texts are taught in universities and research centers, and interest in Persian poetry and mysticism, particularly the works of Rumi and Hafez, remains strong.
Persian conveys concepts such as mysticism, ethics, tolerance, love, justice, and rationality, which have been transmitted to regional cultures through literature and poetry. Many customs, proverbs, stories, and social values are rooted in Persian literature. The language has contributed to the formation of a shared cultural identity in the region and has facilitated the transmission of knowledge and social experience across generations. It has played a key role in social cohesion, especially in multiethnic societies.
Today, Persian serves as a bridge between the civilizational past and the contemporary identity of the region’s nations. It is far more than a simple means of communication; it may rightly be described as the backbone of a shared civilization. In the past, it functioned as a unifying force in the cultural and scientific life of the region; today, it continues to play an important role in identity and cultural diplomacy, and in the future, it can further promote convergence among the nations of this sphere. Preserving and promoting the Persian language is, in fact, a way of safeguarding the rich history, culture, and deep social bonds of this region.
Firouzeh Mohammadinia