The culture of Azerbaijan can be traced back to its earliest history. Supposedly, the name 'Azerbaijan' comes from Persia and means “the land of fire” which could either be a reference to the burning of surface oil deposits or the oil-fueled fires in the temples of the once-dominant Zoroastrian religion. In the first through third centuries AD, the Romans conquered Azerbaijan, but between the seventh and 11th centuries, Arabs controlled Azerbaijan and, during that time, introduced several Islamic concepts. In mid-11th century Turkic groups ended the Arab control and asserted their own political dominance in Azerbaijan, bringing with them the Turkish language and customs. By the 13th century, the basic characteristics of the Azerbaijani nation largely resembled those of the Arab and Turkic peoples. These characteristics continue to exist today in Azerbaijan, which is a nation consisting mostly of Turkic Muslims. There were some smaller invasions after the Turks but the Azerbaijan Safavid Dynasty emerged and safely kept out all invaders until the Russians advanced, to whom it conceded.
In 1924, the Soviet Union created the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan, during which time, Armenians populated 94% of the region of Azerbaijan. The hostilities between the Karabakh Armenians and the Azerbaijanis began in the 1960’s, in result to the ever-growing Azerbaijani population, which ruled discriminatorily over the Karabakh Armenians. In 1991, the Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet abolished the Nagorno-Karabakh region’s autonomy. Although declaring a cease-fire in 1994, to this day the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave has yet to be resolved and Azerbaijan has lost almost 20% of it’s territory and supports some 750,000 refugees as a result of the conflict.
In an area slightly smaller than Maine, Azerbaijan consists of a population more than 7.5 million, of which, 90% are Azerbaijani’s belonging to the Caspian type of southern Europoid race. Azerbaijan has had the formation and development of urban life from the beginning of their feudal relations. Towns that appeared were either the centers of feudal states or fortresses. Later, trade and handicraft developed in those towns. Tradeways for those handicrafts prompted the emergence of small towns but wars and separation of Azerbaijan into small states prevented those small towns from growing into cities. Although there is much potential for Azerbaijan’s petroleum resources, it remains unfulfilled and underdeveloped. Much of this potential comes from 60% of the population able to labor and 100% of the peoples form age 9-49 being literate, and 86% of the workers have and education to the level of higher, secondary, or incomplete secondary education. Recently, the unfulfilling of the petroleum resources is due to the declining incomes forcing young peoples out into the work force to support themselves and their families. In a country with a long history and tradition of learning one of the most difficult problem of education is the severely underpayment of the teachers in public and higher schools. The Academy of Sciences, in Azerbaijan is focusing on ways to exploit the oil deposits at sea but in the face of the collapsing economy and budget deficit there are no resources in which to purchase important equipment for these programs or to the salaries of researchers.
In Azerbaijan, national traditions are well preserved, the most ancient and elaborate of which is their New Year and spring holiday, celebrated around the vernal equinox. Another of the oldest traditions in Azerbaijan is the carpet industry. Carpet weavers derive patterns from modern life and also works of classics of Azerbaijan literature. This leads to the fine and applied arts, in which the Azerbaijani’s have always taken pride of being masters of. Azerbaijan has been the home to many architects who have created masterpieces of architecture in many countries of the Moslem East.
In conclusion, Azerbaijan is a country that well preserves its classics and is deeply inundated into preserving national traditions. Which perhaps is a reason it has had such a hard time giving up the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Azerbaijan nation has great potential of wealth from their petroleum resources if it can get out from under the collapse of its economy.
References:
“Azerbaijan.” Azerbaijan; People. (March 1994) http://www.countryreports.org//content/azerbaijan.htm. 8 Dec. 2000.
“Culture, Education, Science.” http://www.president.az/azerbaijan/az13.htm. 8 Dec.2000.
“People and Traditions.” http://www.president.az/azerbaijan/az7.htm. 8 Dec. 2000.
Michelle Morris