1/30/2020 History of Azerbaijan: from the earliest times to the present day

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History of Azerbaijan
The history of Azerbaijan as a state is approximately 5 thousand years old. The rst state bodies on the
territory of Azerbaijan appeared in late 4,000 - early 3,000 BC. In 1,000 BC there existed Manna, Iskim, Skit,
Scyth and such strong states as the Caucasian Albania and Atropatena. These states played a big role in
strengthening the culture of government, in the history of economic culture of the country as well as in the
uniform nation formation.

In the 3rd century AD Azerbaijan was occupied by the empire of Iranian Sasanids and in the 7th century by
Arabian Khalifat. The invaders populated the country with numerous Iranians and Arabs. With the
introduction of Islamic religion in the 7th century there occurred the important breakthrough in the history
of Azerbaijan . Islam greatly facilitated the formation of uniform nation, language, customs and etc. among
Turkic and not Turkic peoples on the territory of Azerbaijan .

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Azerbaijan witnessed new political development: on Azerbaijan lands united by Islam the states of Sadzhids,
Shirvanshahs, Salarids, Ravvadidso and Sheddadids were established. It was the beginning of the
Renaissance of Azerbaijan history. Late 15th - early 16th might be considered as the new milestone in the
history of Azerbaijan . An outstanding statesman Shakh Ismail Hatai managed to unite all northern and
southern Azerbaijani lands under hi rule. As result Sefevid state with capital in the city of Tabriz was created
which later turned into one of the most powerful empires in the Middle East.

Nadir-shakh, an outstanding Azerbaijani commander who came to power after the fall of Sefevid state even
more expanded the boundaries of the former empire. This Azerbaijani ruler in 1739 conquered Northern
India, including Delhi. However, after the death of Nadir-shakh the empire collapsed. Thus, in the second half
of the 18th century Azerbaijan broke up into smaller states - khanates and sultanates. In the end of the 18th
century Iran was under the rule of Gadzhars, an Azerbaijani dynasty. They began to pursue the policy of
placing all territories of the former Nadir-shakh empire and Azerbaijan khanates under centralized rule.

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That was how the epoch of long wars between Gadzhars and Russia, which strived to conquer the southern
Caucasus, began. As a result, on the basis of Gjuljustan (1813) and Turkmenchaj (1828) traeties Azerbaijan
was divided between the two empires: Northern Azerbaijan was attached to Russia, and its southern part - to
Iran.

This period marks the start of the genocide of Azerbaijanians from the part of Armenian neighbors. The ght
for freedom in Northern Azerbaijan was very intense. Due to the assistance from Turkey the liberation
movement won, and in 1918 the rst democratic republic in the Orient right in Northern Azerbaijan - the
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was founded . 

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Its existence was brief, though. On April 28, 1920 it was announced about the creation of the Azerbaijan
Soviet Socialist Republic (Azerbaijan SSR) on the territory of the ADR. In December 1922 Azerbaijan , Georgia
and Armenia formed the Transcaucasian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic . In 1922 it became a part of the
USSR , and in 1936 the TSFSR was dismissed, and Azerbaijan SSR joined the USSR as an independent republic
which existed until 1991.

However, the modern history of Azerbaijan contains one more signi cant page - Armenia - Azerbaijan
con ict over annexation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic . Having declared itself (on October
8th, 1991 ) an independent democratic state, Azerbaijan after the erce military combat actions lost its 6
areas, including Nagorno-Karabah Autonomous Region. In 1994 the countries signed the cease- re treaty.

On August 30th, 1991 Azerbaijan became an independent state.

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