Those unfamiliar with Ferdowsi's aims & circumstances, may note that he wrote the Shah-Nameh very much under duress. He labored for some 30 years just to complete the Shah-Nameh - finally, without any personal reward, recognition, or fame, while he was alive.
Prior to his work, Arabic was enforced on Iranians (Persians) for 2 centuries, as the official language in & of Iran. Any one caught speaking their native tongue "Persian" (or its various dialects), had his/her tongue, literally, severed by Arab-Moslem rulers.
Shah-Nameh was, eventually, accepted. The main purposes being to revive the Persian language & have it officially reinstated, were achieved.
Thereafter, his work set the scene for understanding the lost Persian (Aryan) history, legends, culture, and traditions of Iran & Aryans in the Greater Iran. The Tajiks adore him too.
I can comfortably say that most, even poorer Iranians & "Aryans" can still recite verses from the Shah-Nameh & actually understand it. -- The same can not be said about the Quran, or as many have in recent years been calling the Quran in Iran i.e. "Taazi-Nameh" meaning the "Arab-Book".
Below are his own original words written in the 10th century AD, taking a futuristic view of his work for future generations, as part of his legacy.
His words in Persian are more meaningful, and eloquent (in rhythmic poetic verse) than the (rough) English translation - somewhat "lost in translation", but there you have it. Those who can read Persian, may appreciate it more....
بناهاى آباد گردد خراب
ز باران و از تابش آفتاب
پى افكندم از نظم كاخي بلند
كه از باد و باران نيابد گزند
از آن پس نميرم كه من زندهام
كه تخم سخن را پراكندهام
هر آنكس كه دارد هش و راى و دين
پس از مرگ بر من كند آفرين
Translation:
“Buildings of the city suffer deterioration
From the raindrop and the ray of sunlight.”
“I founded a great palace of verse [The Shahnameh]
That is impervious to the wind and the rain”
“I shall not die, these seeds [of discourse] I’ve sown will save
My name and reputation from the grave,”
“And men of sense and wisdom will proclaim,
When I have gone, my praises and my fame.”
Do Persian-Americans have Persian culture/history schools for their children—on the idea of a sunday school, a couple of hours on the weekend? Persian Americans could be a great inspiration for reviving the Persian identity which could spread into Iran itself. It is all about the cultural identity as the Muslims well know since they do everything in their power to squash every vestige of the original culture and history of their captive nations.