Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a landlocked country located where Western Asia meets Eastern Europe. It lies in the South Caucasus region and has the Caspian Sea on its eastern side. To the north is Russia's Dagestan, to the northwest is Georgia, to the west are Turkey and Armenia, and to the south is Iran. The capital city, Baku, is a busy place along the Caspian coast.

Historically, the land now known as Azerbaijan was ruled first by Caucasian Albania and later by Persian empires. In the 1800s, after wars between Russia and Persia, the area became part of the Russian Empire. By the late 1800s, a sense of Azerbaijani identity grew, leading to the creation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918. This was the first democratic state where most people were Muslim. In 1920, Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union. The modern Republic of Azerbaijan became independent on August 30, 1991, just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Today, Azerbaijan is a semi-presidential republic and one of six independent Turkic states. It belongs to many international groups, such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Most people in Azerbaijan practice Islam, but the country’s constitution does not name an official religion. Azerbaijan continues to grow and face challenges in areas like human rights and media freedom.

Etymology

The name Azerbaijan comes from an ancient Persian ruler named Atropates. He served under a big empire called the Achaemenid Empire and later worked with a famous leader named Alexander the Great. The name Atropates means "Protected by the (Holy) Fire," a idea from an old religion called Zoroastrianism.

In 1918, Azerbaijan became its own country after the collapse of the Russian Empire. Before that, this area was known by different names, like Arran and Shirvan. The nearby part of Iran still uses a similar name today.

History

Main article: History of Azerbaijan

The history of Azerbaijan starts in ancient times, with people living there as far back as the Stone Age. The land was ruled by many empires, such as the Medes, the Achaemenids, and the Sasanians. In the 7th century, it became part of the Muslim world, and many local rulers rose to power.

In more recent times, Azerbaijan was part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. It became independent in 1991. Since then, it has faced some problems, especially with the area called Nagorno-Karabakh. Today, Azerbaijan is led by the Aliyev family, and it is working to solve old disagreements with its neighbor, Armenia.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Azerbaijan, State reserves of Azerbaijan, and National parks of Azerbaijan

See also: Extreme points of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a country in the South Caucasus area. It sits between West Asia and Eastern Europe. The country is bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Turkey and Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. It also has a small piece of land called an exclave, named the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Azerbaijan has many different landscapes. Most of the land is made up of mountains, like the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus. The highest point is Mount Bazardüzü, which is 4,466 meters tall. There are also flat areas and lowlands. The weather changes a lot, with some parts being very warm and others getting a lot of rain. Important rivers, such as the Kur, flow into the Caspian Sea. The country has many plants and animals, including the national animal, the Karabakh horse.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Azerbaijan

See also: Elections in Azerbaijan and Human rights in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is led by President Ilham Aliyev. The country uses a presidential republic system. The government has been led by the Aliyev family and the New Azerbaijan Party since 1993.

The government has a president, a prime minister, and a National Assembly with 125 members. The president has a lot of power, such as forming the Cabinet and vetoing laws. The judicial system has a Constitutional Court, a Supreme Court, and an Economic Court. Judges are chosen by the president.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Azerbaijan

After Azerbaijan became independent in 1991, it joined important groups like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The country created a banking system with a central bank that controls its money, called the Azerbaijani manat. Azerbaijan’s economy grew quickly because of its oil and gas.

Energy and natural resources

Main article: Energy in Azerbaijan

Further information: Petroleum industry in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has lots of oil and natural gas, which makes it important for energy around the world. The country has many pipelines that move oil and gas to other places. It also has valuable metals like gold, silver, and iron. In 1994, Azerbaijan made a big agreement with many international companies to use its oil resources better.

Agriculture

Main article: Agriculture in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has big areas for farming. It grows crops like grains, cotton, and vegetables. It also raises animals and fishes in the Caspian Sea. The country is working on making more of its own products.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan used to be a popular place for tourists, but it faced challenges during some difficult years. Recently, tourism has been growing again, with more visitors coming to enjoy its scenery, culture, and winter sports.

Transportation

Main articles: Transportation in Azerbaijan and Rail transport in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s location makes it a key point for travel and trade between Europe and Asia. The country has roads, railways, airports, and special pipelines for oil and gas. It is improving its transportation systems to help its economy grow.

Science and technology

Azerbaijan has been improving its science and technology, especially in oil and gas. The country is also growing its internet and phone services. In 2013, Azerbaijan launched its first satellite into space, which helps with television, radio, and internet services across many parts of the world.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Azerbaijan and List of cities in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has about 10 million people. Half live in cities and half in the countryside. Many different ethnic groups live there. Most are Azerbaijanis. Others include Lezgins, Talysh, Russians, and Avars.

The official language is Azerbaijani, part of the Turkic language family. Most people speak it at home. Some also speak Russian, and there are other minority languages. The country is mostly Muslim, with both Shia and Sunni traditions. It is a secular nation where people of many faiths live together. Education is important, and Azerbaijan works hard to make sure everyone can read and write.

Culture

The culture of Azerbaijan comes from many different places. People in Azerbaijan follow their traditions but also enjoy things from around the world. For example, Novruz Bayram is a happy family holiday that welcomes the New Year, and it started long ago with Zoroastrianism.

People in Azerbaijan wear special clothes like the chokha and papakhi. You can hear radio in many languages such as Russian, Georgian, Kurdish, Lezgian, and Talysh. Some local stations in Balakan and Khachmaz also play in Avar and Tat languages. Newspapers in Baku are printed in Russian, Kurdish (Dengi Kurd), Lezgian (Samur), and Talysh.

Architecture

Azerbaijani architecture mixes ideas from both East and West, with strong influences from Persian architecture. Famous buildings include the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Baku’s Walled City. Other important places on the UNESCO World Heritage list include the Ateshgah of Baku, Momine Khatun Mausoleum, and Palace of Shaki Khans.

Today, Azerbaijan builds modern structures that mix new styles with old ideas. Places like the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, Flame Towers, and Baku White City show the country’s modern look.

Music and dance

Music of Azerbaijan comes from old folk traditions, with many different rhythms and tunes. Traditional instruments include strings, drums, and wind instruments. Mugham is a special kind of music that mixes poetry and instruments, and it’s often compared to jazz. UNESCO named Azerbaijani mugham a important part of world culture.

The Ashiq tradition is a way to share stories, poems, and music, and it is very important to Azerbaijani culture. Since the 1960s, people have also enjoyed Western-style Azerbaijani pop music, rock, and hip hop. Azerbaijan takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest and won first place in 2011.

Traditional Azerbaijani folk dances are danced at parties, often in special clothes. Most of these dances have quick beats.

Art

Azerbaijani art includes many crafts like making carpets, working with metal, and carving wood. The Azerbaijani carpet is very famous and was named an important part of world culture by UNESCO in 2010. People have been making beautiful crafts since the second millennium BC.

Painters in Azerbaijan use warm colors and show ideas from their culture. Famous artists include Azim Azimzade, Bahruz Kangarli, and Sattar Bahlulzade.

Literature

Early Azerbaijani literature includes works by Izzeddin Hasanoghlu and the well-known poet Nizami, called Ganjavi. Classical literature grew in the 14th century with poets like Gazi Burhanaddin and Imadaddin Nasimi. The Book of Dede Korkut is a collection of old stories from Oghuz nomads.

The poet Fuzuli from the 16th century is one of Azerbaijan’s greatest writers, known for his thoughtful and beautiful poems. Azerbaijani literature kept growing in the 17th and 18th centuries with poets such as Qovsi of Tabriz and Molla Panah Vagif.

Media and cinema

The first Azerbaijani newspaper, Akinchi, started in 1875. Today, there are both government and private TV channels, such as AzTV, Idman TV, and İctimai Television.

Azerbaijan’s film industry began in 1898. After becoming independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan held the Baku International Film Festival. Recently, Azerbaijani TV shows have become more popular.

Cuisine

Azerbaijani cuisine uses many fresh vegetables and herbs. Popular foods include saffron-rice plov, bozbash (lamb soup), qutab (fried turnovers), and dushbara (dumplings). Black tea is the favorite drink.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Azerbaijan

Freestyle wrestling is a traditional national sport in Azerbaijan. Football is also very popular, with top teams like Neftçi, Qarabağ, and Gabala. Azerbaijan has done well in chess, with players like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Teimour Radjabov.

Azerbaijan holds many international sports events, such as the 2015 European Games and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The country has a Formula One racetrack and hosts events like the Baku Cup tennis tournament.