My mom seems to be under the opinion that Hitler and Nazi Germany were 'fans' of Persia/Iran, and that one of the reasons the Shah at the time changed the name of the country from Persia to Iran (meaning "Land of the Aryans"), was to appease Hitler. I can't find any evidence to support this claim. Can someone clear this up for me?
posted by tumbleweedjack on Dec 11, 2009 - 11 answers

I'm going to Iran in a couple of weeks and I need some help with my planning. [more inside]
posted by number9dream on Apr 5, 2009 - 5 answers

Persian music aficionados, tell me what you know about Golhaye Rangarang. [more inside]
posted by mykescipark on Nov 9, 2008 - 4 answers

How much would it cost to translate a large, highly technical computer book into Farsi (Persian)? What method would be best to accomplish this? [more inside]
posted by thewalrus on Mar 8, 2008 - 7 answers

Why do Iranian people consider themselves as "Persians?" [more inside]
posted by apple on Oct 26, 2006 - 35 answers

What are good resources for teaching myself to play the santur? I'm an American composer with no training in Persian music -- just a deep love for it and a gradually improving (self-taught) structural understanding of it. My "more inside" lists some ideas I've had so far, but I would love to hear any suggestions of CDs, websites, books, etc., on Persian music and/or the santur. [more inside]
posted by allterrainbrain on Jul 24, 2006 - 7 answers