Changes

=== Persia ===

=== Persia ===

Persia was the “Land of the Aryans,” and in 1935 the name Persia was changed simply to Iran.  To this day oriental rugs from Iran are called “Persian rugs.” They are considered the best in the world and were banned as imports for a long time after Iranian students took Americans hostage in 1980.

Persia was the "Land of the Aryans," and in 1935 the name Persia was changed simply to Iran.  To this day oriental rugs from Iran are called "Persian rugs." These rugs are considered the best in the world and were banned as imports for a long time after Iranian students took Americans hostage in 1980.

The Aryans were nomadic people who migrated into India through the Kyber Pass around 1500 B.C.  The language in ancient Persia was Avestan and in Northern India it was Sanskrit.  All major European and Indian languages are considered related to it.  Hebrew and Arabic are not.

The Aryans were nomadic people who migrated into India through the Kyber Pass around 1500 B.C.  The language in ancient Persia was Avestan and in Northern India it was Sanskrit.  All major European and Indian languages are considered related to it.  Hebrew and Arabic are not.

After Alexander the Great died, Parthians (based in modern-day Iran) tried unsuccessfully to reestablish the Persian empire.  But their past greatness was not achieved again.  They could not withstand the Roman army, which conquered it in A.D. 226.   

After Alexander the Great died, Parthians (based in modern-day Iran) tried unsuccessfully to reestablish the Persian empire.  But their past greatness was not achieved again.  They could not withstand the Roman army, which conquered it in A.D. 226.   

Afterwards, a Persian noble named Ardashir seized power by killing the Parthian king, and established the Sassanid empire along with the official state religion of Zoroastrianism, a polytheistic religion that had a creator (Ahuramazda) and a sun-god (Mithra).  This religion was essentially limited to Persians.  It made no attempt to convert others and it tolerated other religions in the region like Judaism.  Its greatest king was Shapure II (A.D. 309-379), who beat back the weakening Romans and also extended Persian power towards China.  This empire remained in control of Persia until Muslims took control of the region in A.D. 651.

Afterward, a Persian noble named Ardashir seized power by killing the Parthian king, and established the Sassanid empire along with the official state religion of Zoroastrianism, a polytheistic religion that had a creator (Ahuramazda) and a sun-god (Mithra).  This religion was essentially limited to Persians.  It made no attempt to convert others and it tolerated other religions in the region like Judaism.  Its greatest king was Shapure II (A.D. 309-379), who beat back the weakening Romans and also extended Persian power towards China.  This empire remained in control of Persia until Muslims took control of the region in A.D. 651.

=== The Celts ===

=== The Celts ===