Formation of the Azerbaijani

Nation
What is NATION?
• Community of people that are characterized by common historical
tradition and affiliation of one or several ethnicities, as well as
common
• Culture
• Language
• Religion
• Territory
Factors for the formation of the Nation
• 1) single economic space
• 2) single political power
• 3) existence of the society, based on the respect for human rights
• Formation of:
• National bourgeoisie
• Working class
• Kasbkars - immigrants from Southern Azerbaijan
• National Awakening - 1875-1904 – movement for freedom
• 1883 “Kashkul” – phrase ‘the Azerbaijani nation’
• H.Zardabi
• M.Akhundov
• A.Aghayev
• A.Huseynzade
• A.Topchubashov
3 main directions of patriotic activities:
• 1) enlightenment of the people
• 2) national consciousness
• 3) national language
The definition of nation
• Features of the formation of our nation. In the second half of the 19th century, capitalist relations took an
important place in the socio-economic life of Northern Azerbaijan. These changes created conditions for the
formation of the Azerbaijani nation. A nation is a community of people who are carriers of common historical
traditions, united by a common language, territory of residence, culture and economic relations. The
existence of an independent state and a society with respect for human rights plays an important role in the
formation of a nation.

• The rapid development of capitalist relations has expanded economic ties between individual regions of
Northern Azerbaijan. The necessary prerequisites for the unity of economic life were created. And this, in turn,
served as an incentive to overcome the closed way of life, to turn the Azerbaijani people into a nation. The
formation of the Azerbaijani nation had some peculiar features. First, our homeland was divided into two parts,
and its territorial integrity was violated. Secondly, the lands of Northern Azerbaijan were also divided between
different provinces. Thirdly, Northern Azerbaijan was a colony of the Russian Empire.

• The formation of a nation in Northern Azerbaijan took place in the 2nd half of the 19th century. New social
groups were formed - the bourgeoisie and the workers.
 Nagiyev, Assadullayev
• Musa Nagiyev erected the majestic Ismailiyya building for the
Muslim Benevolent Society in the center of Baku. This building
was erected in honor of his untimely deceased young son. Public
events and charity events were held here. Nagiyev also built
about 100 monumental buildings in the city of Baku, including a
large hospital (the current clinical hospital No. 1). He also
contributed a large sum for the construction of the Baku water
pipeline.
• Sh. Asadullayev sponsored the construction of the Baku Real
School (now the building of the State Economic University). He
took under his tutelage the Tiflis Institute of Teachers and
established at his own expense a scholarship for the Azerbaijanis
studying here. At the expense of Asadullaev, a number of
monumental buildings were also built in St. Petersburg, Moscow,
Bakhchisarai and the cities of the Volga region.
 Strive for Turkisation, Democratisation
and İslamization! Ali bek Huseynzadeh
• Where this slogan of Alibek Huseynzadeh was embodied later?
• Awakening of national identity. In the last quarter of the 19th century, a
national liberation movement began in Northern Azerbaijan against Russian
colonial oppression.

• The first phase of the national movement (1875-1904) is considered a

period of national awakening. During this period, three areas of activity
occupied the main place in the activities of Azerbaijani patriots-
enlighteners: enlightenment of the people, awakening of national self-
awareness and development of the national language.

• Patriotic intellectuals such as Mirza Fatali Akhundzade, Hasan-bey Zardabi,

Akhmed-bek Agayev, Ali-bek Huseynzade, Apimardan-bek Topchibashev,
Mamed aga Shahtakhtinsky began to widely promote ideas such as
"Azerbaijan" and "Azerbaijani nation." For the first time the concept of
"nation" was introduced by MF Akhundzade, the expression "Azerbaijani
nation" began to be used in the press and public consciousness.
 I’m proud to be
Azerbaijanian!
• In November 16, 1891 in the newspaper
"Keshkul" in an article signed "Azerbaijanian"
the question was raised: in which one are you?
" and the answer was given: “You are
Azerbaijanis”. Thus, the expression
“Azerbaijani nation” was added to the agenda.
Following this, the outstanding publicist
Mammadaga Shahtakhtinsky, in his article in
the "Caspian" newspaper, finally clarified the
situation, calling the Turkic-Muslim population
of the South Caucasus Azerbaijanis and their
language Azeri.
The First Newspaper
• And then came the long-awaited day - July 22, 1875, the day the first
issue of "Ekinchi" was published.

• “When a tiny, clean newspaper came out, Hasanbek shed tears of

joy,” recalls his wife Hanifa-khanum, “he came home in a very excited
joyful mood, with a newspaper in his hands. This day was a happy
day in his life. "
• One of the main tasks of "Ekinchi" from the first day was the
dissemination of knowledge in the field of agriculture, various
information about the latest methods of soil fertilization and the use
of improved agricultural tools. In addition, the publication gave a lot
of advice on medicine, hygiene, physiology. But most importantly,
serious articles were published about the reasons for the
backwardness, "darkness" of the population. The newspaper
received a great response: in a matter of days its first issue was
distributed not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Russia. The "Ekinchi"
language, which was simple and understandable to everyone, set in
motion the Muslim society, which has hitherto been dormant.
 The First Magazine
• Jalil Mammadguluzade graduated from the Transcaucasian
Teachers' Seminary in 1887 and for the next ten years taught
in the schools of Bash-Norashen, Ulukhanli, Negram and other
settlements in the Erivan province. He was a supporter of the
unification of the literary Azerbaijani language.
Mammadguluzadeh criticized his contemporaries, who, in his
opinion, littered the Azerbaijani language with unnecessary
borrowings from the Russian, Persian and Turkish languages,
which misled the common reader ("Book of my mother",
1920). Subsequently, he became one of the activists of the
process of romanization of the Azerbaijani alphabet.

• In 1898 he moved to Erivan, in 1903 - to Tiflis, where he began

to work in the editorial office of the local Azeri-language
newspaper Shargi-Rus. In 1906 he founded the satirical
magazine Molla Nasreddin, of which he was editor for 25 years