Exploring Azerbaijani Identity: Turkish Or Not?

Azerbaijanis, or Azeris, are a Turkic ethnic group with mixed ethnic origins. They are predominantly Shia Muslims and speak the Azerbaijani language, which is a member of the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages. While they are genetically and culturally distinct from Turks, they are closely related, and a native speaker of one language is able to understand the other.

Historically, Azerbaijanis were referred to as Turks in Iran and Tatars in Russia/Caucasus. The modern ethnonym Azerbaijani or Azeri was popularised in the 20th century upon the formation of the short-lived Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918.

Some Azerbaijanis consider themselves Turkic rather than Turkish, to distinguish themselves from citizens of Turkey. Others identify as Azerbaijani Turks, acknowledging their Turkic heritage while maintaining a separate ethnic identity.

Genetic testing reveals that Azerbaijanis are genetically more similar to their geographic neighbours in the Caucasus than to their linguistic neighbours.

Azerbaijani people are a Turkic ethnic group of mixed ethnic origins

The Azerbaijani people are a Turkic ethnic group with mixed ethnic origins. They are the second most numerous ethnic group among the Turkic peoples after Anatolian Turks. The Azerbaijani language is a member of the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages and is closely related to Turkish, Qashqai, Turkmen, and Crimean Tatar.

The origins of the Azerbaijani people are primarily the indigenous peoples of eastern Transcaucasia, the Medians (an ancient Iranian people), and the Oghuz Turkic tribes that began migrating to Azerbaijan in the 11th century CE. The Oghuz Turkic tribes spread across the Iranian Plateau and into the Caucasus and Anatolia. Over time, they converted to Shia Islam and gradually absorbed Azerbaijan and Shirvan.

The Azerbaijani people are predominantly Shia Muslims and comprise the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the second-largest ethnic group in neighbouring Iran and Georgia. They speak the Azerbaijani language, which has two main dialects: North Azerbaijani (spoken mainly in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Russia) and South Azerbaijani (spoken in Iran, Iraq, and Syria).

The term "Azerbaijani" or "Azeri" is relatively new, having been coined in the 20th century upon the formation of the short-lived Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918. Prior to this, Azerbaijanis were referred to as Turks in Iran or Tatars in Russia/Caucasus.

While Azerbaijani people consider themselves Turkic, they do not necessarily view themselves as the same ethnicity as Turks from Turkey. They acknowledge their shared Oghuz ancestors but also recognise their distinct history, culture, and heritage.

Azerbaijani is a language belonging to the Turkic language family

The Azerbaijani language, spoken primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran, belongs to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic language family. Azerbaijani is closely related to other Oghuz languages such as Turkish, Qashqai, Turkmen, and Crimean Tatar. While Turkish and Azerbaijani are mutually intelligible to a high degree, it is generally easier for a speaker of Azerbaijani to understand Turkish than the other way around due to the influence of French and Russian on Turkish and Azerbaijani, respectively.

The Azerbaijani people are a Turkic ethnic group of mixed ethnic origins, including the indigenous peoples of eastern Transcaucasia, the Medians (an ancient Iranian people), and the Oghuz Turkic tribes that began migrating to Azerbaijan in the 11th century CE. Modern Azerbaijanis are the second most numerous ethnic group among the Turkic peoples after Anatolian Turks. They speak North Azerbaijani (spoken mainly in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Russia) and/or South Azerbaijani (spoken in Iran, Iraq, and Syria). Both North and South Azerbaijani have dialects, with 21 and 11 dialects, respectively.

The ethnic identity "Azerbaijani" is relatively new, having been created with the State of Azerbaijan in 1918. Prior to this, Azerbaijanis were referred to as "Turks" in Iran or "Tatars" in Russia/Caucasus. The term "Azerbaijani" was also popularized to distinguish Anatolian Turks, who had the same designation of "Turks," likely causing confusion.

While Azerbaijanis are ethnically Turkic, their ancestral roots go back to Indo-Iranian tribes and ethnic groups. This is supported by historical accounts, the existence of the Old Azari language, present-day place names, cultural similarities between Iranian peoples and Azerbaijanis, and archaeological and ethnological evidence. Additionally, genetic testing demonstrates that the genetic heritage of Azerbaijani Turks is mostly from the native populations of the Middle East and the Caucasus, with common genetic markers indicating an autochthonous (indigenous) background.

Azerbaijani people are the second most numerous ethnic group among the Turkic peoples

The Azerbaijani people are a Turkic ethnic group of mixed ethnic origins, including the indigenous peoples of eastern Transcaucasia, the Medians (an ancient Iranian people), and the Oghuz Turkic tribes that began migrating to Azerbaijan in the 11th century CE.

Azerbaijani people are of mixed ethnic origin, with the oldest element deriving from the indigenous population of eastern Transcaucasia and possibly from the Medians of northern Persia. Between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE, there was a Persianisation of the population during the Sassanian dynasty. A subsequent Turkification of the population occurred after the region's conquest by the Seljuq Turks in the 11th century, and a continued influx of Turkic peoples over subsequent centuries.

The Azerbaijani people's Caucasian origin defines a link between Azerbaijanis and their pre-Turkification Caucasian past and mostly applies to the Azerbaijanis of the Caucasus, most of whom are now inhabitants of the Republic of Azerbaijan. There is evidence that, due to repeated invasions and migrations, aboriginal Caucasians were culturally assimilated, first by Iranians, and later by the Oghuz Turks.

The Azerbaijani language belongs to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic language family and is closely related to Turkish, Qashqai, Turkmen and Crimean Tatar. It is mutually intelligible with Turkish, although it is easier for a speaker of Azerbaijani to understand Turkish than the other way around.

Azerbaijani people are predominantly Shia Muslims

Azerbaijanis are a Turkic ethnic group living predominantly in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. They are the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the second-largest in neighbouring Iran and Georgia.

Azerbaijanis are predominantly Shia Muslims, with 55-65% adhering to the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam. However, a significant minority of 35-45% are Sunni Muslims, typically adhering to the Hanafi or Shafi'i school. Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of Azerbaijan, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered Shia strongholds. In contrast, Sunni Islam is dominant in the northern regions.

Islam arrived in Azerbaijan with the Arabs in the seventh century, gradually supplanting Christianity and pagan cults. In the sixteenth century, the Safavid Dynasty established Shia Islam as the state religion, although a portion of the population remained Sunni.

The differences between the two branches of Islam have not been sharply defined in Azerbaijan, and antagonism between the Sunnis and Shias diminished in the late nineteenth century as Azerbaijani nationalism emphasised a common Turkic heritage and opposition to Iranian religious influences.

Due to decades of Soviet atheist policy, religious affiliation in Azerbaijan is often nominal, and Muslim identity tends to be based more on culture and ethnicity than on religion. Azerbaijan is considered the most secular country in the Muslim world, with secularism promoted during the Soviet era as a substitute for identification with the world Islamic community and Iran.

While the majority of Azerbaijanis identify as Muslim, many describe themselves as non-practising or non-religious, with Islam playing a minimal role in their lives.

The modern ethnonym Azerbaijani or Azeri refers to the Turkic peoples of Iran's northwestern historic region of Azerbaijan

The modern ethnonym "Azerbaijani" or "Azeri" refers to the Turkic peoples of Iran's northwestern historic region of Azerbaijan (also known as Iranian Azerbaijan) and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The term "Azerbaijani" is relatively new, only coming into use in the 20th century with the formation of the short-lived Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918. Prior to this, the peoples of this region were referred to as Turks in Iran or Tatars in Russia/Caucasus.

The Azerbaijani people are a Turkic ethnic group of mixed ethnic origins, primarily the indigenous peoples of eastern Transcaucasia, the Medians (an ancient Iranian people), and the Oghuz Turkic tribes that began migrating to Azerbaijan in the 11th century CE. The Azerbaijani people are the second most numerous ethnic group among the Turkic peoples, after Anatolian Turks, and speak North Azerbaijani (in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Russia) and/or South Azerbaijani (in Iran, Iraq, and Syria).

The Azerbaijani people are predominantly Shia Muslims and comprise the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the second-largest ethnic group in neighbouring Iran and Georgia. They are mainly sedentary farmers and herders, though some have found employment in various industries.

The Caucasian origin of the Azerbaijani people defines a link between Azerbaijanis and their pre-Turkification Caucasian past and mostly applies to the Azerbaijanis of the Caucasus, most of whom are now inhabitants of the Republic of Azerbaijan. There is evidence that, due to repeated invasions and migrations, the aboriginal Caucasians were culturally assimilated, first by Iranians, and later by the Oghuz Turks.

The Turkification of the region began with the influx of Oghuz Turkic tribes in the 11th century CE, which was further accentuated by the Mongol invasion. These tribes settled in smaller groups in the Caucasus and Iran, resulting in the Turkification of the local population. Over time, they converted to Shia Islam and gradually absorbed Azerbaijan and Shirvan.

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