Although there are several references in the holy books and ancient manuscripts to the first efforts of mankind at weaving, there is no evidence that such references apply to the pile rug. What little is known of the origins of the pile rug is based on suppositions, nevertheless according to scientific and historical studies, we can assume that pile weaving had a nomadic origin.

Early European researchers believed that the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Assyria were the cradles of rug weaving in the ancient world. Evidence to support this conclusion was found in the Torah in the chapter of Hegira (Emigration of Israel). In a description of tent decoration there is mention of a rug, and also in the stone columns remaining from Shina Nazares the second, in which the patterns of two rugs are engraved.

These theories are disputed by the discoveries of the well-known Russian archaeologist Professor S.J. Rudenko. In 1949, Professor Rudenko began an excavation in Pazyryk (in the Altai Mountains of Siberia). Amidst the frozen tombs, he discovered a piece of pile rug. This rug, which was thought to be the oldest pile-knotted rug, was woven probably at least five centuries BC. The size of the rug is 200 x 183 cm. In the center, there are a few rows of stars with four points, which relates it to various objects excavated in Lorestan (east of Persia).

According to historical references and similarities of design woven into this rug, which resemble those seen in Persepolis, one can relate the weaving to the Achaemenian dynasty. At present this rug is kept in the Leningrad Museum. There are several different suppositions about the origin of this rug.

Professor Rudenko himself believed that the rug was made by the Medes (170 BC - 226 AC) or possibly ancient Parthians. Schurman, a respected researcher of rug art, believes that the Pazyryk rug was woven in Azarbaijan (in the North West of Persia). Another researcher, Dimond, believes that the Pazyryk contains figures of Assyrian and Achaemenian (330-553 BC) culture, that its origin is Persia. Other respected experts have different opinions on Pazyryk's origin.

Ian Bennet believes that with more than 3500 kilometers distance between the Altai Mountain and the borders of Persia, the probability that this rug was the work of Persian weavers is very remote. Ian Bennet, in his book entitled Rugs and Carpets of the World, stresses that the art and technique of rug weaving originated in East Asia among the Mongol tribes. He believes that from there it migrated to Eastern Asia and Persia. An important period in the history of rug weaving came during the reign of the Sassanid dynasty in Persia (224-641 AD). Magnificent Persian rugs won international acclaim and were exported to distant lands. One such splendor was a large-sized rug in the audience hall of the palace of King Khosrow of the Sassanid dynasty at Ctesiphon, depicting a formal garden. The brocaded rug with silver and gold threads with jewels was named "Spring of Khosrow''.

In 641 AD, the Sassanian dynasty was overthrown by the Arabs, and the country was conquered for Islam. During the campaign for the restoration of Persian independence, fine arts especially rug weaving revived. Azarbaijan, Fars, and Khorasan were developed as main centers for rug weaving.

The Seljuk Turks invaded Persia in 1037 and took possession of a large area in the northwest of Persia. They brought their own culture into this area, adding it to that already existing in Persia. The mixture of Turkish and Persian cultures had a great impact on the rug-weaving of that era. No rugs of this area are known to have survived. There is believed to be some similarity between the rugs woven in Persia in that era and those woven in south Asia and Turkey. Some samples of these have been discovered in the Ala-ed-din mosque in Konya (Turkey) which at the time was the capital of the Seljuk Empire.

The Mongol armies of Ghengis Khan occupied Persia in 1220. According to some historical evidence, the summer residence of Ghengis Khan was decorated with valuable rugs made in Fars. Timur (Tamerlaine) occupied Persia in 1380; Timur was himself a Mongol and descendent of Ghenghis Khan. During the period of Timur and his son Shah- Rokh (1408-1446), Chinese art influenced Persian's fine arts and many basic changes occurred in that period.

Many different motifs such as leaves, ivy blossom, and different kinds of mushrooms, mythical birds, and palm trees were introduced. Dragons and animals such as deer, wild cats, and other mythical creatures were inserted into the Persian designs.

This period was the beginning of the classic arts in Persia. This transformation in Persian rug design can be seen and classified. Luckily, miniature drawings of those rugs exist in the poetry books, which remain from that period. The miniatures confirm these changes in pattern and design.