Exploring Azerbaijan's Turkic Heritage And Cultural Identity

Azerbaijanis, or Azeris, are a Turkic ethnic group living mainly 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. They speak the Azerbaijani language, which belongs to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic language family. The Azerbaijanis 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. This population was Persianised during the Sasanian dynasty of Iran (3rd-7th century CE). The Turkification of the Azerbaijanis can be dated to the 11th century and the continued influx of Turkic populations in subsequent centuries, including those groups that migrated during the Mongol conquests in the 13th century.

Azerbaijanis are a Turkic ethnic group

Azerbaijanis, or Azeris, are a Turkic ethnic group. They are 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 belongs to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages. Azerbaijani is mutually intelligible with Turkish, and native speakers of the two languages can understand each other.

The Azerbaijanis 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. This population was Persianised during the Sasanian dynasty of Iran (3rd–7th century CE). The Turkification of the Azerbaijanis can be dated to the 11th century and the region's conquest by the Seljuq Turks, with further influxes of Turkic peoples in subsequent centuries, including during the Mongol conquests of the 13th century.

The Azerbaijanis are predominantly Shia Muslims and comprise the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan. They are mainly sedentary farmers and herders, though some have found employment in various industries.

They speak the Azerbaijani language

Azerbaijanis, or Azeris, are a Turkic ethnic group living mainly in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. They speak the Azerbaijani language, which belongs to the Oghuz branch of the Turkic language family. Azerbaijani is closely related to Turkish, Qashqai, Turkmen, and Crimean Tatar, and native speakers of these languages can often understand each other.

Azerbaijani has a strong literary tradition, with early literature being based on oral tradition, and later written literature emerging after the Mongol invasion in the 11th and 12th centuries CE. Notable early Azerbaijani writers include the poet Nasimi, who died in 1417, and Fuzûlî, who lived from 1483 to 1556. Modern Azerbaijani literature continues to emphasise humanism, as seen in the works of writers such as Samad Vurgun and Shahriar.

Today, the majority of Azerbaijanis are bilingual, often speaking Russian or Persian as a second language, depending on whether they live in the Republic of Azerbaijan or Iran, respectively. Despite this, over 98% of Azerbaijanis claim Azerbaijani as their first language.

The Azerbaijani language is an important marker of ethnic identity, and efforts have been made to preserve and promote it. In the Republic of Azerbaijan, the language has been officially recognised since 1937, and the government plans to reinstate the Latin orthography in 1993, replacing the Cyrillic script that has been used since the late 1930s. In Iran, however, Azerbaijani has faced suppression and restrictions, particularly during the Pahlavi dynasty, when the use of the language in schools, the press, and local government was banned. Despite these challenges, the Azerbaijani language remains a vital part of the cultural identity of the Azerbaijani people.

They are mainly Shia Muslims

Azerbaijan is a secular country and is often considered the most secularised Muslim-majority nation. However, the majority religion in Azerbaijan is Islam, with various reports estimating that 97.3% (according to the CIA in 2020) or 99.2% (Pew Research Center, 2006) of the population identify as Muslim. Of these, a majority belong to the Shia branch (55-65%), while a significant minority (35-45%) are Sunni.

Shia Muslims are the predominant group in the western, central, and southern regions of the country, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered Shia strongholds. In contrast, Sunni Islam is dominant in the northern regions. Most Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam, while Sunni Muslims typically adhere to the Hanafi or Shafi'i school.

Due to decades of Soviet atheist policy, religious affiliation in Azerbaijan is often nominal and based more on culture and ethnicity than on religion. The importance of religion in everyday life remains low, and a 1998 poll estimated the proportion of ardent believers in Azerbaijan at only 20%.

The Azerbaijani government maintains a secular position, and Article 7 of the Azerbaijani constitution officially declares Azerbaijan a secular state. The constitution also stipulates the separation of religion and state and the equality of all religions and individuals, regardless of belief. It protects the freedom of religion, including the right of individuals to express and spread their religious beliefs and to carry out religious rituals, provided they do not violate public order or morality.

The role of Islam in politics and everyday life in Azerbaijan remains relatively small. While the majority of Azerbaijan's population still identifies nominally with Islam, studies show that Azerbaijani society has remained relatively secular in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

They are the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijanis, or Azeris, are a Turkic ethnic group that make up the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan. They also constitute the second-largest ethnic group in neighbouring Iran and Georgia. The Azerbaijani language is part of the Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages and is closely related to Turkish, Qashqai, Turkmen, and Crimean Tatar.

The Azerbaijanis are believed to be of mixed ethnic origin, with the oldest element deriving from the indigenous population of eastern Transcaucasia and possibly from the Medians of northern Persia. This population was Persianized during the Sasanian dynasty of Iran (3rd-7th century CE). The Turkification of the Azerbaijanis can be traced back to the 11th century and the continued influx of Turkic populations in subsequent centuries, including those groups that migrated during the Mongol conquests in the 13th century.

In the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijanis account for over 90% of the population. They have a high literacy rate, estimated at 99.5%. While the country has benefited economically from the oil industry, high levels of corruption have prevented greater prosperity for the population. Despite these challenges, there is a positive outlook for the future, with a determined political opposition seeking to improve the lives of average Azerbaijanis.

The exact number of Azerbaijanis in Iran is a subject of debate, with unofficial estimates ranging from 12 to 23 million. They primarily live in the northwestern provinces and constitute the second-largest ethnic group in the country. Azerbaijanis in Iran are well-integrated and are represented in various sectors, including politics, the military, and the intellectual and religious hierarchies. However, there has been some resentment due to policies that suppressed the use of the Azerbaijani language in certain contexts.

Overall, the Azerbaijanis are the largest ethnic group in the Republic of Azerbaijan, with a significant presence in neighbouring countries, particularly Iran. They have a rich cultural heritage, including their Turkic language, literature, music, and traditions that reflect the diverse influences of their historical development.

The modern ethnonym Azerbaijani 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" was first used in the 20th century after the formation of the short-lived Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918. Prior to this, Azerbaijanis were referred to as Tatars.

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. 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).

The 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 Persianization 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 the continued influx of Turkic peoples over subsequent centuries, including those groups that migrated during the Mongol conquests in the 13th century.

The Caucasian origin of the Azerbaijanis 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 Iranian origin of the Azerbaijanis defines a link between present-day Azerbaijanis and their pre-Turkification Iranian past and mostly applies to Iranian Azerbaijanis. Although the Azeri people are known to be 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 ethnical evidence.

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