Exploring Azerbaijan's Place In Anatolia

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and West Asia, with its capital in Baku. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia's republic of Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south.

Anatolia, on the other hand, is a peninsula in Asia Minor, surrounded by the Black Sea in the north, the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara in the west, and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. It was once part of the Roman Empire's eastern region, Byzantium, and later became the easternmost region of the Byzantine Empire.

Therefore, Azerbaijan is not part of Anatolia.

Azerbaijan's location and borders

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia's republic of Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. The country also possesses the autonomous Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a landlocked exclave which lies on the southern edge of Armenia, with Iran to its south and Turkey to the west.

Azerbaijan has a varied landscape, with three physical features dominating the country: the Caspian Sea, whose shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east; the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north; and extensive flatlands at the country's centre. There are three mountain ranges: the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Talysh Mountains, together covering approximately 40% of the country. The highest peak is Mount Bazardüzü, at 4,466 m (14,652 ft). Nearly half of all the mud volcanoes on Earth are concentrated in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's perimeter of land borders is 2,648 km (1,645 mi), with Armenia, Iran, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey as its neighbours. The coastline stretches for 800 km (497 mi), and the length of the widest area of the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea is 456 km (283 mi).

Azerbaijan's history

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich history, nestled in the South Caucasus region between Eastern Europe and West Asia. While the name "Azerbaijan" was first adopted in 1918, the region has a long history of human settlement, dating back to the first millennium AD. Here is an overview of Azerbaijan's history:

Early History

The territory of modern-day Azerbaijan was once ruled by the Caucasian Albanians, an ancient Caucasian tribe. Later, it was occupied by the Medes and Persians, with the region forming part of the eastern division of the Persian satrapy of Armina. The Greek Seleucids also had a presence in the area. During this time, Zoroastrianism spread in the region, and it remained dominant until the arrival of Islam in the 7th century AD.

Turkic Influence

Starting around the 11th century AD, waves of Turkic Oghuz tribes from Central Asia began to settle in the region. This migration would have a lasting impact on the culture and language of Azerbaijan. The first Turkic dynasty to establish control was the Ghaznavids, who entered the area around 1030 AD. Over time, a layer of Turkic culture and language was overlaid onto the region, although the ancient customs and cultures of the Caucasian Albanians remained influential.

Safavid Dynasty and Iranian Influence

In the 16th century, the Safavid dynasty rose to power in Iran and expanded their influence into the Caucasus region, including Azerbaijan. They imposed the Shiite interpretation of Islam on the region during their wars with the Ottomans. The Safavid dynasty also included Azerbaijani speakers such as Shah Ismail I, who wrote poetry under the pen name Khatā'ī. The Safavid period saw the further development of Azerbaijani literature and the arts.

Russian Rule and Soviet Period

In the 19th century, the region that is now Azerbaijan became part of the Russian Empire after the Russo-Persian Wars. This marked a significant shift, as the Tsarist administration encouraged the spread of Azerbaijani in the region and worked to reduce Persian influence. During the Soviet period, an Azerbaijani national identity was constructed and encouraged, often at the expense of the histories and cultures of other ethnic groups in the region.

Independence and Recent History

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991 as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. However, this was soon followed by the Nagorno-Karabakh War, a conflict with neighbouring Armenia over the ethnic Armenian-majority region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This conflict has flared up repeatedly over the years, with the most recent major escalation occurring in 2020. Despite these challenges, Azerbaijan has made strides in economic development, particularly in the oil industry.

Azerbaijan's population and demographics

Azerbaijan is not part of Anatolia. Anatolia refers to the peninsula of Asia Minor, which is a landmass surrounded by the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Mediterranean Sea. It does not include the Armenian Highlands, where historic Greater Armenia was located, or the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has a population of around 10.2 million people as of July 2024. It is a transcontinental country at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia, with a land area of 82,658 square kilometres. The country's population density is 125 people per square kilometre, with 57.6% to 58.3% of the population living in urban areas. The median age in Azerbaijan is 33.1 years, and the literacy rate is estimated to be 99.5% to 99.8%.

Azerbaijan is a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population. The official language is Azerbaijani, a Turkic language spoken natively by approximately 92% of the population. Russian and Armenian are also spoken, each by around 1.5% of the population.

The country has a high crude birth rate of 12.2 per 1,000 people, with rural areas having higher birth rates than urban areas (13.8 vs 10.8). The total fertility rate is 1.69 children per woman, and the population is growing but ageing. The declining fertility rate, combined with increasing life expectancy, has resulted in a larger proportion of elderly residents.

Azerbaijan has a high infant mortality rate of 10.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, with male infants having a higher mortality rate than female infants. The country's life expectancy at birth is 75.9 years, with females having a higher life expectancy than males (78.6 vs 73.5 years).

Azerbaijan has a diverse ethnic composition, with the largest ethnic group being Azerbaijanis, who comprise over 90% of the population. Other ethnic groups include Lezgins (2%), Russians (1.3%), Armenians (1.3%), Talysh (1.3%), and others (2.4%).

Azerbaijan has a high level of religious adherence, with 97.3% of the population identifying as Muslim (predominantly Shia) and 2.6% as Christian. However, religious affiliation for the majority of Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, and the actual percentage of practising adherents is likely much lower.

The country has a relatively high gender balance, with 1.12 males per female in the total population. This balance varies across different age groups, with a higher ratio of males to females in younger age groups and a higher ratio of females to males in older age groups.

Azerbaijan has a developing economy and ranks 91st on the Human Development Index. The country has benefited from the oil industry, but high levels of corruption have prevented greater prosperity for the population. Despite these challenges, there is a financial rebirth in Azerbaijan, with positive economic predictions and an active political opposition working to improve the lives of its citizens.

Azerbaijan's languages and dialects

Azerbaijan is not part of Anatolia. Anatolia is a Greek name meaning "east" and refers to the easternmost territories of the Byzantine Empire, which was the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

Azerbaijani Languages and Dialects

The sole official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, a Turkic language closely related to and partially mutually intelligible with Modern Turkish. It is spoken by the majority of the country's population, with more than half of these speakers being monolingual. Azerbaijani is also called Azeri and is the most widely spoken language in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani has two main varieties: North Azerbaijani and South Azerbaijani. North Azerbaijani is the official language of the Republic of Azerbaijan and is also spoken in southern Dagestan, along the Caspian coast in the southern Caucasus Mountains, and in scattered regions throughout Central Asia. It is written in the Latin script. South Azerbaijani is spoken in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and uses the Perso-Arabic script. There are 21 North Azerbaijani dialects and 11 South Azerbaijani dialects.

Azerbaijani evolved from the Eastern branch of Oghuz Turkic ("Western Turkic") which spread to the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and northern Iran during the medieval Turkic migrations. Persian and Arabic influenced the language, particularly through literary Persian. Azerbaijani is perhaps the Turkic language upon which Persian and other Iranian languages have exerted the strongest impact, mainly in phonology, syntax, and vocabulary.

Azerbaijani literature is closely associated with Anatolian Turkish, written in Perso-Arabic script. The first written, classical Azerbaijani literature arose after the Mongol invasion, while the first accepted Oghuz Turkic text goes back to the 15th century. Modern Azerbaijani literature continued with a traditional emphasis on humanism.

Azerbaijani is generally bilingual, with speakers also fluent in either Russian (in Azerbaijan) or Persian (in Iran) in addition to their native language.

Azerbaijan's culture and customs

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich and diverse culture, influenced by various civilisations throughout history, including the Persians, Greeks, and various Turkic peoples. Here is an overview of some key aspects of Azerbaijani culture and customs:

Language

The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, a Turkic language closely related to Anatolian Turkish and Turkmen. It is estimated that around 82% of Azerbaijan's citizens speak Azerbaijani as their first language, with Russian being widely spoken as a second language. Azerbaijani has several dialects, with Russian loanwords and grammatical structures entering the language during the period of Russian control, and Persian words in Iranian Azerbaijan.

Religion and Beliefs

Azerbaijan is a secular country, with no official religion. However, the majority of the population (around 93%) are Muslims, with approximately 70% being Shia and 30% Sunni. Other religious minorities include Russian and Georgian Orthodox Christians, as well as Baháʼís. Zoroastrianism, the dominant religion in the region before the arrival of Islam, still has a presence in the country, with some Azerbaijanis retaining pre-Islamic animist or Zoroastrian-influenced beliefs.

Social Etiquette and Customs

The basic social structure in Azerbaijan is the family, with a strong emphasis on interdependence and mutual support. Gender roles remain fairly traditional, with men being the primary breadwinners and women taking care of domestic responsibilities. Azeri society is hierarchical, with culture, traditions, family, and religion often taking precedence over official laws. Superstitions are also common, with beliefs such as a cat crossing your path bringing bad luck in business, or spilling salt leading to a quarrel.

When greeting in Azerbaijan, men usually shake hands, kiss each other on the cheek, and say "salaam" (peace). Women typically hug and kiss each other on the cheek, and they may not shake hands with each other or with men, depending on religious observance. When greeting someone older, it is customary to wait for them to initiate the greeting.

Azeris often exchange gifts for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, with the thought behind the gift being more important than its price. It is customary to refuse a gift a few times before accepting it, as a sign of politeness. When invited to an Azeri home for dinner, it is customary to bring flowers or pastries for the hostess, and reciprocate hospitality with a small gift.

Business Etiquette and Culture

Direct communication is valued in Azerbaijan, but it should be presented diplomatically to avoid causing a loss of face. Politeness and relationship-building are crucial in business interactions, with discussions often starting slowly over tea. Decisions are reached slowly, and bargaining is common during negotiations. Business meetings follow a certain level of formality, with status and titles being important. Maintaining eye contact while speaking is essential, as it signifies sincerity.

Frequently asked questions