National identity, an ever-changing and multidimentional phenomenon, is the product of a continuous historical process which has always been influenced by environmental conditions. The study of the comprising elements of national identity is the objective of another project of recognizing nations.
National identity of Iranians is rooted in two sets of beliefs: Zoroastrianism, the ancient native religion of Iran, which was an amalgamation of customs, culture, and literature; and Islam, the new religion, which resulted in radical changes in the culture, thoughts, and identity of the Iranians.
The rise and development of the modern Western civilization, with its scientific, technological and industrial miracle, posed a serious challange to the deeply-rooted Iranian-Islamic nature of the Iranian identity.
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