Azerbaijan: A Rich Cultural History And A Bright Future

The name Azerbaijan is derived from the Persian satrap, or governor, Atropates, who ruled in Atropatene (modern Iranian Azerbaijan) around 321 BC. The name Atropates is the Hellenistic form of Old Persian Aturpat, which means 'guardian of fire'. The name Azerbaijan is the Arabicized form of Āzarpāyegān, meaning 'the guardians of fire'.

Azerbaijan's etymology and history

The name Azerbaijan is thought to derive from the Persian satrap, or governor, Atropates, who ruled the region under Alexander the Great. The name Atropates is a Greek transliteration of an Old Iranian name, likely of Median origin, meaning "Protected by the (Holy) Fire" or "The Land of the (Holy) Fire". The name evolved over millennia, from Āturpātākān (Middle Persian), to Ādharbādhagān, Ādhorbāygān, Āzarbāydjān (New Persian) and, finally, to Azerbaijan.

The country of Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country 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. Baku is the capital and largest city.

The territory of what is now Azerbaijan was first ruled by Caucasian Albania and later various Persian empires. Until the 19th century, it remained part of Qajar Iran, but the Russo-Persian wars of the 19th century forced the Qajar Empire to cede its Caucasian territories to the Russian Empire. By the late 19th century, an Azerbaijani national identity emerged when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic in 1918, a year after the Russian Empire collapsed. In 1920, the country was conquered and incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan SSR. The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic and is one of six independent Turkic states. The vast majority of the country's population (97%) is nominally Muslim, but the Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion, and all major political forces in the country are secular.

The earliest evidence of human settlement in the territory of Azerbaijan dates back to the late Stone Age and is related to the Guruchay culture of Azykh Cave. Early settlements included the Scythians during the 9th century BC. Following the Scythians, Iranian Medes came to dominate the area to the south of the Aras river. The Medes forged a vast empire between 900 and 700 BC, which was integrated into the Achaemenid Empire around 550 BC. The area was conquered by the Achaemenids leading to the spread of Zoroastrianism.

Azerbaijan's location and geography

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is 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 has a landlocked exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory.

Azerbaijan's landscape is characterised by three physical features: the Caspian Sea, the Greater Caucasus mountain range, and the extensive flatlands at the country's centre. The country's terrain varies from subtropical and humid in the southeast to subtropical and dry in central and eastern Azerbaijan, continental and humid in the mountains, and continental and dry in Nakhchivan.

Azerbaijan's elevation changes from lowlands to highlands over a relatively short distance, with nearly half the country considered mountainous. The highest peak is Mount Bazarduzu, which rises to 4,466 metres above sea level in the Greater Caucasus range. The country's landscape also includes gently undulating hills in the subtropical southeast, numerous mud volcanoes and mineral springs in the ravines of Kobustan Mountain, and coastal terrain that lies as much as 28 metres below sea level.

The Kura and Aras are the major rivers in Azerbaijan, running through the Kura-Aras lowland. The Kura is the longest river in the Caucasus region, and the country's largest lake is Sarysu, at 67 square kilometres.

Azerbaijan's climate is influenced by cold arctic air masses from Scandinavia, temperate air masses from Siberia, and Central Asian anticyclones. The Greater Caucasus mountain range protects the country from the direct influence of cold air masses from the north, leading to the formation of a subtropical climate on most foothills and plains.

The country's environmental issues include air and water pollution, particularly due to oil refineries and chemical and metallurgical industries. The Caspian Sea has been polluted by oil leakages and sewage dumping, threatening fish and caviar yields.

Azerbaijan's government and politics

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a president and a prime minister. The president is the head of state and is elected for a seven-year term by direct elections. The president has the power to form the Cabinet, a collective executive body accountable to both the president and the National Assembly. The president does not have the right to dissolve the National Assembly but has the right to veto its decisions. The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government, consisting of 125 deputies elected in single-member constituencies. The ruling New Azerbaijan Party, headed by President Ilham Aliyev, controls all the electoral commissions in Azerbaijan.

The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since been criticised for its human rights record, with Freedom House ranking it as "not free" and calling its regime authoritarian. Elections in Azerbaijan are often marred by electoral fraud and other unfair election practices, with international observers never deeming an election in the country to be free and fair. The government has also been accused of worsening the country's human rights record, including increasing restrictions on civil liberties and press freedom.

Azerbaijan's system of governance can nominally be called two-tiered, with the top or highest tier being the executive power headed by the president. The local executive authority is a continuation of this executive power. The constitution states that the state power is limited by law for internal issues and by international agreements for external issues.

Azerbaijan's economy

Azerbaijan has the largest agricultural basin in the region, with about 54.9% of the country being agricultural land. The country's other natural resources include gold, silver, iron, copper, titanium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, complex ore, and antimony.

The country's economy is also characterised by corruption and inequality, with the oil wealth concentrating power in the hands of the ruling regime and elites. The private sector is weak, with more than half of the formal labour force working for the government.

Azerbaijan has been taking steps to diversify its economy, with efforts being made to develop the non-oil sector and attract foreign investment. The country has also been trying to establish itself as a regional and global transportation hub, connecting intercontinental trade routes.

The national currency is the Azerbaijani manat, and the country is a member of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

Azerbaijan's culture and society

Azerbaijan's culture combines a diverse and heterogeneous set of elements influenced by Iranic, Turkic, and Caucasian cultures. It includes its cuisine, literature, folk art, and music.

Food

Azerbaijani recipes typically use fresh, local produce, meaning ingredients can vary from region to region and season to season. Traditional meals include Plov (saffron-flavoured rice cooked with aromatic herbs, fried meat and vegetables), Dolma (spiced minced lamb meat and rice wrapped in cabbage or vine leaves), and Dushbara (stuffed dumplings served in a lamb broth).

Music and Dance

Music, dancing, poetry, and colourful storytelling are embedded in the local culture. The best-known type of music is Mugham, which features a male or female singer accompanied by musicians playing local instruments, such as the tar (a long-neck lute), kamancha (a four-string spiked fiddle), and the daf (a type of large tambourine).

Dancing generally goes hand-in-hand with music in Azerbaijan, with much of the choreography telling stories from the country's history.

Textiles

Azerbaijan has a long history of creating beautiful textiles, with particular strengths in the production of headscarves and carpets. The practice of making and wearing headscarves (known as Kelaghayi) is an expression of cultural identity, with each family producing its own styles and patterns of decoration.

Likewise, carpet and rug making is a family tradition in Azerbaijan, with skills and techniques passed down orally and through practice.

Religion

Azerbaijan is predominantly Muslim, with approximately 70% of the population being Shia and 30% Sunni. However, the Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion, and all major political forces in the country are secular.

History

The territory of what is now Azerbaijan was first ruled by Caucasian Albania and later various Persian empires. Until the 19th century, it remained part of Qajar Iran, but the Russo-Persian wars of 1804–1813 and 1826–1828 forced the Qajar Empire to cede its Caucasian territories to the Russian Empire.

In 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, becoming the first secular democratic Muslim-majority state. In 1920, the country was conquered and incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan SSR. The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Frequently asked questions