Arya (Iran)

Arya airiia, ariyaʰ, er, ary, aria
People
Achaemenid Empire period relief showing a Median soldier standing behind a Persian soldier
Ethnicity	Iranian
Location	Greater Iran
Language	Arya
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Imperial period

Median Empire	678–550 BC
Scythian Kingdom	652–625 BC
Anshanite Kingdom	635 BC–550 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire	626 BC–539 BC
Sogdia	c. 6th century BC–11th century AD
Achaemenid Empire	550 BC–330 BC
Kingdom of Armenia	331 BC–428 AD
Atropatene	c. 323 BC–226 AD
Kingdom of Cappadocia	320s BC–17 AD
Seleucid Empire	312 BC–63 BC
Kingdom of Pontus	281 BC–62 BC
Fratarakas	3rd-century BC–132 BC
Parthian Empire	247 BC–224 AD
Elymais	147 BC–224 AD
Characene	141 BC–222 AD
Kings of Persis	132 BC–224 AD
Indo-Parthian Kingdom	19 AD–224/5
Paratarajas	125–300
Sasanian Empire	224–651
Zarmihrids	6th century–785
Qarinvandids	550s–11th century

Medieval period

CE / AD

Rashidun Caliphate	632–661
Umayyad Caliphate	661–750
Abbasid Caliphate	750–1258
Dabuyids	642–760
Bavandids	651–1349
Masmughans of Damavand	651–760
Baduspanids	665–1598
Justanids	791 – 11th century
Alid dynasties	864 – 14th century
Tahirid dynasty	821–873
Samanid Empire	819–999
Saffarid dynasty	861–1003
Ghurid dynasty	pre-879 – 1215
Sajid dynasty	889–929
Sallarid dynasty	919–1062
Ziyarid dynasty	930–1090
Ilyasids	932–968
Buyid dynasty	934–1062
Rawadid dynasty	955–1070
Hasanwayhids	959–1095
Ghaznavid dynasty	977–1186
Annazids	990/1–1117
Kakuyids	1008–1141
Nasrid dynasty	1029–1236
Shabankara	1030–1355
Seljuk Empire	1037–1194
Khwarazmian dynasty	1077–1231
Nizari Ismaili state	1090–1257
Eldiguzids	1135–1225
Atabegs of Yazd	1141–1319
Salghurids	1148–1282
Hazaraspids	1155–1424
Pishkinid dynasty	1155–1231
Khorshidi dynasty	1184–1597
Qutlugh-Khanids	1223–1306
Eshaqvand Dynasty	c. mid-13th century–1592
Mihrabanids	1236–1537
Kurt dynasty	1244–1396
Ilkhanate Empire	1256–1335
Chobanid dynasty	1335–1357
Muzaffarid dynasty	1335–1393
Jalayirid Sultanate	1337–1376
Sarbadars	1337–1376
Injuids	1335–1357
Afrasiyab dynasty	1349–1504
Mar'ashis	1359–1596
Timurid Empire	1370–1507
Kar-Kiya dynasty	1370s–1592
Qara Qoyunlu	1406–1468
Aq Qoyunlu	1468–1508

Arya was the ethnonym used by Iranians during the pre-Islamic history of Iran. In contrast to cognates of Arya used by the Vedic people and Iranic steppe nomads, the term is commonly translated using the modern ethnonym Iranian.

During Old Iranian times, the term was connected with one's lineage, with speaking an Iranian language and with the worship of Ahura Mazda. Being an Arya, therefore, had ethnic, linguistic and religious aspects. During the Middle Iranian period, it acquired a distinct political aspect through the concept of Eran Shahr (Aryas' dominion). Arya was also contrasted with Anarya (Avestan: 𐬀𐬥𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀, anairiia; Middle Persian: 𐭠𐭭𐭩𐭥‎, aner), denoting non-Iranian lands and peoples.

After the Islamic conquest of Iran, the ethnonym fell out of use, but the term Eran experienced a revival during the Iranian Renaissance, now as a toponym for Greater Iran. The modern ethnonym Iranian is a back-formation from the toponym Eran, itself a back-formation from the older Arya.