Introduction.The question of which nation can claim the title of "oldest country in the world" is complex, depending heavily on how one defines "country" and when "organized government" can be said to have begun. By various metrics—the emergence of state-level societies, the establishment of recognizable governance structures, or the continuity of a distinct cultural identity—Iran consistently ranks among the very top contenders. Recent rankings published by international research organizations have officially recognized Iran as the oldest country in the world based on its earliest known organized government and sovereign identity, dating back to around 3200 BC. This recognition places Iran ahead of other ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Vietnam, Armenia, and North Korea. This article explores the evidence and historical developments that underpin this remarkable distinction. I. The Dawn of Civilization: Elam and the Proto-Elamite Period.Long before the Persian Empire that would later become famous in the Western world, the Iranian plateau was home to the Elamite civilization. Emerging in the southwestern region of modern-day Iran, in the province of Khuzestan, Elam represents one of the earliest known state-level societies. The Proto-Elamite era, also known as Susa III, marks the emergence of Iran's self-sovereignty around 3200 BC. The city of Susa, which would later become the capital of Elam, was founded around 4000 BC, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. Archaeological evidence from this period reveals a sophisticated urban society with advanced metallurgy, intricate pottery, and the development of the Proto-Elamite script, one of the world's earliest writing systems. Though this script remains undeciphered to this day, its very existence testifies to the administrative complexity of early Iranian civilization. The Elamite civilization itself endured for over two millennia, from approximately 2700 BC until its even ... Читать далее