Iran's old name is PERSIA, which was used to refer to the region from around 550 BCE to 1935 CE. It was derived from the ancient kingdom of Parsa, which was located in modern-day Iran. PERSIA was a major power in the Middle East and Central Asia for centuries, and its influence extended to parts of Europe and Africa. The country was officially renamed Iran in 1935, but the term PERSIA is still used today to refer to the culture and people of the region.