Bukhara has been one of the main centres of Persian civilization from its early days in 6th century BCE.

Mr. Clinton responded warmly, saying he would "like nothing better" than to talk to Iran and praised the contributions of Persian civilization and culture.

Artistically, the Sassanid period witnessed some of the highest achievements of Persian civilization.

Various forms of hydrotherapy have been recorded in ancient Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Roman civilizations.

Shiraz lies in Pars Province, a central area for Persian civilisation.

Contemporary Iran, the most important Shiite base today, is still shaped by an ancient Persian civilization that predates Islam.

He also referred to the Iranian people as "a great people" and the said that the "Persian civilization is a great civilization.

Persian civilization, pre-Islamic and otherwise, has not been notably hostile to Jews.

However, the achievements of the previous Persian civilizations were not lost, but were to a great extent absorbed by the new Islamic polity.

Most of the aspects of the previous Persian civilizations were not discarded, but were absorbed by the new Islamic polity.