Abstract: The aim of this dissertation is to explore how Iranian identity maintains its continuity throughout its history. Despite changes in sovereignty and in religious thought, certain aspects of Iranian cultural identity have persisted from ancient times until now. The spheres of religion, literature and culture in particular have carried this identity over time. In this dissertation I will show how the three of them meet in both the pre-Islamic Iranian Andarz (i.e., Advice) literature and the Adab (i.e., Counsel) genre that arose during the Islamic era. This exploration includes the following components: a history of Iran, from its ancient roots to the Sasanian period; a detailed summary of Iranian religion, from Old Iranian Religion to the beginning of Islam; the impact of Islam on Iran; and a comparison of Andarz and Adab literatures. The historical material, and in particular the pre-Islamic religious material, is presented in order to contextualize the study of Andarz and Adab. Likewise, the study of the Islamic era will illuminate the continuity of Iranian thought in the face of the Arab conquest of Persia, the conversion of Iranians to Islam, and the influence of Iranian heritage upon Islamic civilization. The Andarz and Adab genres themselves demonstrate the link between a consistent pre-Islamic Iranian identity and a unique post-Islamic Iranian identity incorporating many of the former elements. With respect to Andarz and Adab, I examine the sphere of ethical codes as manifest in beliefs, behaviors, and gestures. These ethical expressions remain cultural undercurrents, rather than surfacing in the mainstream. Andarz and Adab belong somewhere between the realms of literature and of rules of conduct, and a great deal of evidence suggests that the Adab texts were very much influenced and shaped by those of Andarz. Furthermore, I investigate the interdependencies of Andarz and Adab as the representatives of Iranian pre-Islamic heritage and of Iranian Islamic culture, respectively, and their subsequent influence upon certain aspects of Iranian cultural history.