The number of settled communities increased, particularly in the eastern Zagros mountain range, and handmade painted pottery appears. Throughout the prehistoric period, from the middle of the sixth millennium BC to about 3000 BC, painted pottery is a characteristic feature of many sites in Iran. The prehistoric life, ruled much later by the Achaemenids, the Parthians, and the Sassanids, Iran eventually hosted the Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great at the dawn of recorded history. Waves of invaders throughout the country's long history-the Greeks accompanying Alexander, Arab armies, the Turkish tribes that forced their way westward from Central Asia, and finally the Mongols, all left their mark upon the people of Persia.

Iranians were always famous for their innovations, Ancient Iranians built Qanats and Yakhchal to provide and keep water. The first windmill appeared in Iran in the 9th century. They contributed significantly to the current understanding of astronomy, natural science, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. Muhammad- ibn -Khurizmi is widely hailed as the father of algebra. Ethanol (alcohol) was first identified by Persian alchemists such as Muhammad -ibn -Zakariya Razi. Throughout the middle Ages, the natural philosophy and mathematics of the Ancient Greeks and Persians were furthered and preserved within Persia. The Academy of Jondishapur was a renowned centre of learning in the city of Jondeshapur during late antiquity and was the most important medical centre of the ancient world during the sixth and seventh centuries. During this period, Persia became a centre for the manufacture of scientific instruments, retaining its reputation for quality well into the 19th century.

But the first known civilization in Persia was that of the Elamites, who settled in the region sometime before 1200 B.C. Tribes of Medes and Persians wandered into Persia beginning about 900 B.C. The Medes created the first state on the Persian plateau about 700 B.C., and reached the height of their powers in the late 600's B.C. The Persians, led by Cyrus the Great, overthrew the Medes in 549 B.C.

The Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus II, centered on southwest Iran and lower Mesopotamia. Cyrus enlarged the empire by seizing the kingdom of Lydia in 547 BC and gradually adsorbing Greek colonies in Ionia, in western Asia Minor. He called this the Achaemenid Empire, after his ancestor, Achaemenes. Under Darius I (521-486) it reached its greatest extent, stretching from the Aegean Sea to the Indus River, from Egypt to the modern Central Asian Republics. The empire was vast and its people diverse. The twenty-six different subject peoples of the land spoke different languages, worshiped different deities, lived in different environments and had widely differing social customs. The Achaemenid kings had to devise a system of empire strong enough to keep themselves in control and flexible enough to provide for the needs of all their subjects. The art and architecture of the period both reflect the diversity of the empire and proclaim a single central theme: a harmonious world order thanks to a benevolent and beneficent king. After the death of Xerxes (Darius I's son) Persia declined. The empire continued to exist in spite of revolts until 331 BC, when Alexander the Great defeated a huge Persian army at the Battle of Gaugamela. This ended the Achaemenid Empire, and Persia became part of Alexander's empire. Persepolis, the capital of Achaemenid empire is situated 58 Kilometers from Shiraz. A large bare plain, surrounded by mauve cliffs with sharp edges. To Iranians it was the capital of the Achaemenid kings of Iran. Persepolis, the capital of Achaemenid empire is situated 58 Kilometers from Shiraz. A large bare plain, surrounded by mauve cliffs with sharp edges.

To Iranians it was the capital of the Achaemenid kings of Iran. It is there, in the center of the Marv Dasht basin, that Cyrus the Great chose, toward the end of his reign, to build under the shelter of a fold in the mountains, a palace worthy of the Empire. It was named Parsa, but later under subsequent Greek influence became known as Persepolis, "The city of the Persians". The works started in 518 BC by Dariush I. The site consists of the remains of several monumental buildings on a vast stone terrace surrounded by a brick wall.

The splendor of Persepolis, however, lasted only two centuries. Its majestic audience halls and residential palaces perished in flames when Alexander the Great conquered and looted Persepolis not long before the death of the last of the Achaemenians, Dariush III, in 330 BC, and carried away its treasures on 20,000 mules and 5,000 camels. The city gradually declined in the Seleucid period and after, its ruins attesting its ancient glory. In the 3rd century AD the nearby city of Estakhr became the centre of the Sasanian Empire.

The Persians, like other Indo-European groups such as the Medes and Scythians were originally polytheists. They worshipped numerous gods associated with natural phenomena such as the moon and the sun, fire, wind and water. Their religious practices included animal sacrifice, a reverence for fire and the drinking of a natural intoxicant made from the juice of the Haoma plant. Around 600 B.C. the prophet and teacher Zoroasterian, founded a new religion, Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster, also known by the Greek name Zarathrustra, wrote down his beliefs in a sacred book known as the "Zend Avesta". The central theme of the religion is a belief in a struggle between good and evil. Persians had a dual god system with "Ahura Mazda" (light) representing goodness and "Ahriman" (Darkness) representing evil. The concept of heaven and hell also was important to the Persians.

Persian Arts has a very ancient history and tradition. It's attracted not only in Asia and Europe but also around the Globe. Persian Arts spread in different fields like Architecture, Calligraphy, Carpets, Cinema, Music, Painting and Different types of Crafts. In Iran, as in all Islamic societies, art favors the non-representational, the derivative and the stylized rather than the figurative, the innovative and the true-to-life. Accurate representation of the human form has never been a part of traditional Islamic art, and though portraiture is not forbidden by Shiite Islam, it never really caught on in Iran until the introduction of the camera. Many Iranian art forms predate the Arab conquest, but since nearly all of them reached their peak within the Islamic era, religious influences are rarely completely absent. Favorite motifs in Iranian art are geometrical shapes such as medallions and meanders; grapevines and other floral patterns, often very complex; and highly stylized real or imaginary creatures such as lions, elephants, peacocks, phoenixes and griffins. Human figures do turn up, but they tend to be much formalized. Calligraphy is highly prized in Iran and often merges into pictorial art, though modern examples are works of art in their own right.

The role of Persia (Iran) in history is highly significant; In fact, the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel considered the ancient Persians to be the first historic people and stated thus: "In Persia first arises that light which shines itself and illuminates what is around...The principle of development begins with the history of Persia; this constitutes therefore the beginning of history”. Now days, Iran, the land of culture, hospitality and true civilization are proud for its long shining history , for what one only can see in this vast amazing land .