<p>The <i>Shahnameh</i> of Ferdowsi is an essential historical text in Iran. Abul-Qâsem Ferdowsi authored this work in the late 10th and early eleventh centuries as part of the cultural movement to preserve Iranian culture during the Arab-dominated Abbasid dynasty. This paper discusses how this book holds considerable importance in Iranian geography due to Ferdowsi’s imaginative geographies that encouraged Iranians to recognize themselves as part of a collective national identity. Our exploration of Ferdowsi’s writings and influence broadens the discussion of geographical imaginations to ancient times, demonstrating its role in shaping identity, especially given the prevailing belief that geographical imaginations are rooted in the West and primarily concerned with Others. Therefore, examining the <i>Shahnameh</i> reveals that the history of geographical imaginations extends back to ancient times and can create a form of imaginative geography that fosters a sense of national identity. Our discussion illustrates how Ferdowsi’s imaginative geographies became a source of territorial awareness, laying the groundwork for the establishment of the first pre-modern nation-state in Iran during the thirteenth century, and highlighting its significance as one of the earliest examples of geographical imaginations in history.</p>