National character of Azerbaijanis and the peoples of Southern Europe: similarities and differences. Where did Azerbaijanis come from? Who are Azerbaijanis?
Azerbaijanis have conquered the world with their singing, the art of carpet weaving and tambour embroidery. The people, who combine Persian and Turkic characteristics, considered themselves united for many years, although they did not have their own name. Today Azerbaijan, more than 90% of whose population consists of ancient “Muslims,” is a vibrant, distinctive and modern state in which the narrow cobbled streets of the old city of Icheri Sheher coexist with the skyscrapers of the center of Baku.
Name
The toponym “Azerbaijan”, a derivative of which is the name of the “Azerbaijani” people, has ancient roots and comes from the name of the state of Media Atropatena. It existed from the 3rd century BC and was located on the territory of modern Iran and southeast Azerbaijan. In a distorted form, it represented the Middle Persian word “Aderbadgan”, from which the modern name of the state and people was derived.
A number of researchers have discovered a connection with the personal name Adarbador, meaning “keeper of fire” or “temple of fire” in Media. This version is confirmed by the fact that Zoroastrianism was developed in the region, the cult of which presupposed the presence of temples with undying lights.
It is noteworthy that the Azerbaijanis themselves never called themselves that. Moreover, they united not along national lines, but along religious lines, calling themselves in general terms"Muslims". Due to the heterogeneous, multinational composition of the nationality living on the same territory, its representatives could call themselves Turks, Tatars, Caucasians or Turks.
For a more accurate self-name, the people used clan or tribal affiliation, for example, Avshars or Ayrums: this was common among nomads. Sedentary city residents used territorial affiliation for these purposes, calling themselves, for example, Karabakh or Baku residents.
Even more surprising is that the nation never had a single name on the world map. Other peoples also called them differently:
- Kizilbashi - in XVI-XVII centuries All nomadic tribes called it that way.
- Busurmane is a common name in Russian Empire all Muslims, including Azerbaijanis.
- Adzhemi - this is how the people are designated in the manifesto of Peter I before the Persian campaign.
- Ajam - this is how the Ottoman Turks called the Persians and Azerbaijanis. In Iran, this word is still considered a disparaging name for the people.
- Tatars are the name of all Turkic tribes that assimilated indigenous Azerbaijanis from the 11th-13th centuries. Later in Russia the name Azerbaijani Tatars or Transcaucasian Tatars took root.
- Persians are one of the names of the people in Turkey and pre-revolutionary Russia.
- Kajarly, kajar, padar, gamshari, mugals, azerbezhano - a variety of names for Azerbaijanis among the peoples of the North Caucasus.
Where live
Most of the nation lives in Azerbaijan, making up 91.6% of the country's population. A significant part of the ethnic group occupies the territory of northwestern Iran: according to some sources, the number of Azerbaijanis is one third of the state's population.
In Russia, Azerbaijanis live mainly in Southern Dagestan, but representatives of the nation who have migrated or come to work can be found in any region of the country. In addition, there are significant Azerbaijani diasporas in Georgia (south and southeast), Turkey, and Turkmenistan. After the collapse of the USSR, many migrated to the CIS countries, America, and Europe.
More than 180,000 Azerbaijanis lived in Armenia in the 70s of the last century. After the interethnic clashes that resulted in the Karabakh conflict, the vast majority of them left the country. It is believed that only a few hundred of them live here permanently now.
Number
The approximate number of Azerbaijanis who live around the world today is 50 million people. Surprisingly, most of them live in Iran - according to some sources, about 30 million. Next on the list is, in fact, Azerbaijan - 8.2 million.
According to the 2010 census, the number of Azerbaijanis in Russia is 603,000. Experts believe that in fact there are three times more of them - about 2 million. The following states became the homeland for representatives of the nation:
- Türkiye - 3 million;
- USA - 1 million;
- Egypt - 850 thousand;
- Iraq - 800 thousand;
- Georgia - 600 thousand;
- Ukraine - 500 thousand;
- Afghanistan - 430 thousand;
- Kingdom of Jordan - 410 thousand;
- Pakistan - 350 thousand;
- Germany - 300 thousand;
- India - 300 thousand
Language
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The Azerbaijani language belongs to a large group of Turkic languages, representing its southwestern or Oghuz group. It also includes Turkmen, Uzbek, Turkish languages, and Kumyk is phonetically close. The language was formed after the seizure of Persian territories by Oghuz tribes in the early Middle Ages. One can feel the great influence of Arabic and Persian languages, native to the indigenous population of this area.
The people have had writing since ancient times, and the first surviving monuments date back to the 13th century. It acquired its final forms in the period of the XV-XVIII centuries. The works of classical national poets Nasimi, Fuzuli and Khatai date back to this time.
The alphabet changed three times in the 20th century according to a pattern characteristic of the peoples of the USSR: it moved from Arabic to Latin, and then to Cyrillic. The modern alphabet of the Azerbaijani language varies depending on the regions of residence. In Dagestan, Cyrillic remained, in Iran they use Arabic, and in Azerbaijan they created a new version: Latin based on Turkish.
Story
In Antiquity, the territories of modern settlement of the nationality were occupied by nomadic tribes of the Caucasian and Caspian anthropological types. Later they formally united into Caucasian Albania, which was a union of 26 nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes living independently.
In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great came to the region and founded the state of Media Atropatene. From it arose the name of the nation and the territorial boundaries of its main area of location. The state existed until the 8th century AD, when it was conquered by the powerful Arab Caliphate, which brought Islam, which quickly replaced Zoroastrianism, which had dominated here for centuries.
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The next period to which researchers attribute the identification of Azerbaijanis as a nation is the 11th-13th centuries. Oguz tribes who spoke the Turkic language began to actively penetrate the region: the flow increased during the rule of the Tatar-Mongols. The final touch to the formation of the ethnos came from Central Asia Turkmens. By the 15th century, the inhabitants of the territories of modern Iran and Azerbaijan considered themselves one people and spoke the same language.
From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the powerful Safavid dynasty ruled, during which the empire flourished, imposed tribute on neighboring regions and encroached on foreign territories. Then the state fell into decline and was divided into many khanates, for which the Russians, Iranians, Afghans, and the Ottoman Caliphate fought for the next century.
After the revolution, the Azerbaijan SSR was formed, and the country's independence was restored in 1991. In Iran, representatives of the nation have long been subject to discrimination, but today many government posts are occupied by Azerbaijanis.
Appearance
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Azerbaijanis belong to the Caucasian type, representing its Caspian subtype, which includes characteristics of the Indo-Afghan and Mediterranean races. The distinctive features of a nation's appearance include:
- average height: 170-175 cm;
- predominant black eye color;
- blue-black hair;
- medium and high level of vegetation;
- narrow and low face;
- protruding nose;
- Skin pigmentation is darker than that of other Caucasian peoples.
Genetic studies have shown that Azerbaijanis are close to the Persians and the peoples of the Caucasus, and the Turks, people from Asia Minor and representatives of the Indo-European group had a slight influence on the formation of external characteristics.
Cloth
The national women's costume consisted of many components. Underwear included:
- A spacious koynek shirt.
- A skirt that varied in cut depending on the region.
- Wide jutbalag pants or narrow darbalag pants.
Outerwear was even more varied. Required elements- outer shirt and arkhalyg: a short caftan that fits tightly to the body with a high collar. In the regions of Sheki and Ganja it was replaced by lebbade: shoulder-length clothing without a collar and with short flared sleeves, richly decorated with embroidery and braid. Arkhalyg was supplemented with belts made of leather, silver or gold. Multi-colored leg warmers and shoes with curved toes were put on their feet.
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Particular attention was paid to bright accessories made of stones. The head was covered with a small cap, covered on top with a kelagai - a scarf with a traditional printed pattern. This authentic piece of national costume was included in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List in 2014. The final element was the veil, which was used to cover yourself when leaving the house.
The men's suit consisted of an undershirt and long johns, over which they wore wide trousers and an arkhalyg with a belt. They complemented the outfit with a chukha - an analogue of the Circassian coat; in cold regions they wore lamb fur coats or burkas. A common option for winter clothing is a long fur coat with raised sleeves reaching to the floor.
Men
Since ancient times, Islamic norms have determined the dominant role of men. His task was to provide the family with housing and finances. The man did not take part in household chores and raising children. His word was law for his wife and was not disputed; women were treated with disdain. Men were allowed polygamy, levirate and sororate were practiced, and adultery was allowed.
Azerbaijani men are distinguished by a calm and firm character, maintain a serious expression on their faces, and behave modestly and with dignity. They quickly make decisions and follow them clearly, without allowing doubts. They are sensitive to encroachments on the honor of the family or their own, they keep their word, it is of particular importance public opinion, status, appearance.
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Women
For Azerbaijanis, women have always played a secondary role. Her main task is to look after the household, not go out and raise children. Women did all the housework themselves, including chopping wood and carrying water. After marriage, they had to listen not only to their husband, but also to all his older relatives. In the family of origin, besides the father, the word of the brothers was law.
Modesty, humility, hard work and beauty were valued in a woman. Her honor was of paramount importance: neither before nor after marriage she should be seen in disgraceful relationships with men: this was considered a disgrace.
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Family life
The main people in families and tribal settlements were old people, who were called aksakals. They made all public decisions, people went to them for advice, they were involved in resolving disputes, economic issues, and asked for help in matchmaking. In small families, the head had the final word; children, wife, sisters and brothers could not disobey him.
The marriageable age for girls was 15-17 years old, sometimes they were married off earlier. After the wedding, the bride came to her husband's house. Traditionally, by this time, parents prepared separate housing for their son; in a number of villages it was customary to live with parents. The daughter-in-law was forbidden to speak first with her fathers-in-law, and in case of dialogue she was required to cover her mouth with the corner of a scarf.
The birth of a child, especially a son, was a real holiday. According to tradition, immediately after cutting the umbilical cord, he was bathed in salt water to keep him clean and brave. After this, he was handed over to his mother, with whom he did not part until he was 7-10 years old. The name was usually chosen to be similar to the names of other children; they were often given the names of their grandfather or grandmother.
Housing
In the mountainous regions, Azerbaijanis settled in crowded settlements located on terraces. Houses were built from untreated stone or raw brick, covered with turf or had gable roofs. Often they stood so close to each other that it was difficult for two riders to pass each other.
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On the plains they practiced a chaotic arrangement of houses surrounded by estates or small courtyards. They were built from the same materials, multi-room and two-story. On the first one they housed livestock and utility rooms, on the second one they lived, supplementing it with open terraces. They were used as workshops or for drying fruits.
Later, wooden houses with a gable roof appeared. The attic was used for storing supplies or raising silkworms. They slept on mats right on the floor: during the day they were rolled up and put away. The home was heated by a hearth, such as a fireplace; in the cold season, the stoves were additionally heated.
Life
The main occupations of the Azerbaijanis living in the lowland areas were related to agriculture. They grew wheat, oats, rye, corn, barley, rice, and were engaged in cotton growing, viticulture, and gardening. Cattle breeding and transhumance sheep breeding played an important role.
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Traditional crafts were associated with the processing of metals: copper, gold, silver. Jewelry, blades, and forged chests with exquisite patterns made by local craftsmen were widely famous: brides' dowries were collected in them.
The local carpets with national patterns are still famous throughout the world. Tambour embroidery with silk threads on velvet in black, blue, and red shades was considered a particularly valuable craft. Only the rich could afford it, and Dumas the father noted its standard quality and low price.
Culture
The architecture of Azerbaijan attracts with well-preserved castles-fortresses (for example, on the Absheron peninsula), palaces, among which the Shah's palace in Nukha stands out, creating a unique urban appearance with cobbled streets, mausoleums, caravanserais, and houses made of untreated stone.
At all times, song has played a special role for the people. The art of ashugs: professional singers and storytellers is included in the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage List.
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Boys and girls took part in folk dances. The former were characterized by sharp, emotional movements, while the latter danced smoothly, elegantly, and with restraint. The typical structure of the dance is three-part: at first the participants move slowly in a circle, then freeze in a symbolic position, and then continue the circular movement, but more emotionally and expressively.
Religion
90% of Azerbaijanis living in the Caucasus, Iran and Azerbaijan profess Shiite Islam. A small part of the nation's representatives belongs to the Hanafis, adherents of the Sunni branch. IN last years Conversion to Orthodoxy is gaining popularity: according to 2007 data, the number of representatives of this confession in Azerbaijan numbered 5 thousand people.
Traditions
The tradition of hospitality that has passed through centuries is known throughout the world. Previously, the entire village, led by elders, came out to greet important guests. The visitor was treated to sweets and tea and entertained folk songs and dancing.
Any traveler will find shelter with an Azerbaijani if he asks. First of all, he is taken into the house (on the threshold you must take off your shoes) and given tea from a national glass of armuda with sweets.
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Translated, the word “armudu” means “pear-shaped”, which corresponds to its shape. It is believed that his unusual appearance refers to the figure of an oriental beauty. Scientists explain the shape from a scientific point of view: thanks to the narrow “waist”, the liquid from the lower part does not cool down, and the energy released by it warms up the drink in the upper compartment.
The tea ceremony and sweets are unchanging attributes of any feast and holiday of Azerbaijanis. Tea begins and ends any meal; it is drunk during negotiations, relaxation, and matchmaking. Teahouses are popular in the country, however, unlike Asian ones, they only serve sweets and tea. Only men gather here in the evenings to relax and discuss business. Sweets symbolize the sweet life: they are present in huge quantities at weddings.
If tea was not poured for the guest, it meant that they were not welcome to see him in the house. And the unexpected presentation of a full bag of food indicated that hospitality should not be abused and the owners were asking the stranger to leave the house.
Food
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The basis of the people's diet was flour, dairy and meat products. Bread and lavash were baked in tandoors, and kutabs were popular - unleavened dough pies filled with herbs or cottage cheese. IN Everyday life We ate rich lamb soups - bozbash and piti. There was a special attitude towards pilaf: National cuisine has more than 30 of his recipes. Azerbaijani dishes such as dolma, lula kebab and shish kebab are popular throughout the post-Soviet space.
Famous Azerbaijanis
The vocal abilities of Azerbaijanis did not disappear with the advent of modern times. This is confirmed by famous singers and musicians Muslim Magomayev, Emin Agalarov (EMİN), Bakhtiyar Aliyev (Bahh Tee), Timur Rodriguez.
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Emin Garibov, the former captain of the Russian artistic gymnastics team, actor and model Rustam Dzhabrailov, and member of the Russian national football team Alexander Samedov achieved fame. Among the women, journalist Irada Zeynalova, grandmaster Elmira Mirzoeva, and model Gunay Musayeva became famous.
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Video
By tribes. These were mainly Cimmerians, Scythians, Huns, Bulgars, Khazars, Oguzes, Pechenegs, etc.
The Azerbaijanis have a mixed ethnic origin, the oldest element of which is the local population of eastern Transcaucasia and possibly the Iranian-speaking Medes who lived in northern Persia. This population was Persianized during the rise to power of the Sassanid dynasty (III-VII centuries AD). A significant part of the Albanian population converted to Islam in Arab times, and later underwent Turkization, serving as the basis for the subsequent formation of the Azerbaijani people. American historian D. Burnoutyan notes that the Caucasian Albanians are not the direct ancestors of modern Azerbaijanis, since by the time the Turks penetrated into Transcaucasia, the Albanian tribes were first absorbed by Zoroastrian Persia and then Islamized by the Arabs.
As for the role of the Turkic-speaking component in the ethnogenesis of the Azerbaijanis, the Turkic-speaking Oguz tribal union was formed as a result of the mixing of the Turks with local tribes of Ugric and Iranian-speaking Sarmatian origin (according to the TSB, as a result of the mixing of some Turkic and ancient Mongolian tribes with part of the Iranian-speaking Saka-Massaget tribes). Later, the Seljuk clan emerged from the Oguz environment, under whose auspices a wave of Turkic-speaking tribes poured into Transcaucasia in the 11th century. According to the Larus Great Encyclopedic Dictionary: “Azerbaijanis are descendants of the ancient Iranian-speaking population, Turkified since the 11th century”. Vladimir Minorsky, in turn, notes that “At the beginning of the 5th/11th centuries. Hordes of Oghuzs, first in smaller groups and then in significant numbers, captured Azerbaijan under the Seljuks. As a result, the Iranian population of Azerbaijan and the adjacent regions of Transcaucasia became Turkic-speaking; at the same time character traits Azerbaijani Turkic language, such as Persian intonation, refusal of vocal harmony, reflect the non-Turkic origin of the Turkicized population." .
In Russia, early descriptions of the origins of Azerbaijanis appear already in late XIX- first half of the 20th century. Thus, the Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedia published in the Russian Empire wrote that “Aderbeijan Tatars are descendants of the Seljuk Turks and Turkic-Mongols of the army of Gulagu Khan (XIII century), but to a large extent also of Turkified Iranians”, and according to TSB 1926, “during the era of the decline of the caliphate, a gradual infiltration of Turkic elements into Eastern Transcaucasia begins. The indigenous population (Albanians) is either destroyed or pushed into the mountains, and most often mixed with the conquerors. The Turkic (Azeri) element finally established itself in the eastern part of the Caucasus as a result of the so-called. Mongol invasion of the 13th century. and subsequent conquests of Tamerlane, Turkmens, Ottoman Turks, etc. ".
Later, Soviet and Russian scientists, like their Western colleagues, also began to note the formation of the Azerbaijani ethnic group as a result of linguistic and ethno-cultural assimilation. So in the 1950s. S. T. Eremyan wrote: “As the Turkic nomadic tribes established themselves in the winter pastures of the Kura-Araks lowland, the Muslimized part of the aboriginal population of ancient Albania was assimilated by the newcomer Turkic tribes. This is how the modern Azerbaijani nation was formed.” According to S. A. Tokarev: “The origin of Azerbaijanis is a relatively clear question. They are a mixed people. Its oldest layer is obviously the aboriginal population of Eastern Transcaucasia - the Caspians and Albanians, perhaps also the Medes of Northern Iran. This population, due to the cultural predominance of Iran in the Sassanid era, was Iranianized, and in the 11th century, during the Seljuk conquest, its Turkification began.”, which continued during the period of the Mongol conquest.
Azerbaijanis as a people emerged as a result of a long historical development, the gradual consolidation of local ancient tribes (Albanians, Udis, Caspians, Talysh, etc.) with newcomers to different periods Turkic-speaking tribes - Huns, Oguzes, Kipchaks, etc. - and, according to scientific opinion, the replacement of the indigenous languages of the population with the Turkic spoken language here dates back to the 11th-13th centuries. In turn, the Turkic-speaking tribes were quite diverse in their ethnic components, uniting many other, partly more ancient tribes, which subsequently participated in the ethnogenesis of not only Azerbaijanis, but also a number of other Turkic-speaking peoples. It must be assumed that the Karakoyunlu (“black ram”) and Akkoyunlu (“white ram”) tribes who settled in Southern Azerbaijan also left a noticeable mark on the ethnic history of Azerbaijan, into whose states in the 15th century. included “Azerbaijani lands south of Cuba”
The outstanding Soviet and Russian orientalist A.P. Novoseltsev wrote:
It can be admitted that individual Turkic ethnic groups came here throughout the second half of the 1st millennium AD. e., and maybe earlier. However, it was not they who changed the ethnic appearance of Eastern Transcaucasia and laid the foundation for the formation of the modern Azerbaijani Turkic-speaking people. The reason for the changes was the invasion of the Oguzes in the 11th century. […] With the founding of the Seljuk Empire, the Oghuzs spread throughout Iran, but settled especially intensively in Asia Minor and present-day Azerbaijan. The reasons for this are not only that the largest number of these new “warriors of Islam” gathered here, on the borders of the Muslim world. Much more important was the fact that in these areas the greatest ethnic diversity reigned, and therefore Turkization found suitable soil. […] The process of formation of the Azerbaijani nation, especially within the Transcaucasus, is not yet clear enough. |
At the same time, he pointed out that “Current Azerbaijanis are also Turkified descendants of part of the ancient tribes of Caucasian Albania and the Iranians of southern Azerbaijan. The other ancestors of the Azerbaijanis, who brought the Turkic language, the Oguz tribes, in turn, are a product of a complex Turkic-Iranian synthesis.” .
The penetration of the Seljuk Turks into Eastern Transcaucasia led to the Turkization of a significant part of the local population, and in the XI-XIII centuries. The formation of the Turkic-speaking Azerbaijani ethnic group began, which was completed mainly by the end of the 15th century, during the reign of the Safavids. A number of researchers note the adoption of Shiism during the reign of the Safavids as the final factor in the formation of the Azerbaijani people.
Genetic research
Anthropological data
Anthropologically, Azerbaijanis belong to the Caspian subtype of the Caucasian race. This also includes Kumyks, Tsakhurs and Muslim Tats, as well as some Kurds and Turkmen. The Caspian type is usually considered as a variety of the Mediterranean race or the Indo-Afghan race.
19th century explorations
In another work, “Races of the Caucasus,” Pantyukhov highlights:
The third Caucasian race is of purely Asian origin, dolichocephalic with a cranial index of 77-78, an average height of about 1.70 m and hyper-brunette eye color, that is, more than 90% pigmented eyes. The Persians, Aderbeijan Tatars, Kurds and Tats belong to this very pure race.
encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Efron regarding the spread of dolichocevalia wrote that “only a few of the modern Caucasian peoples show the presence of a dolichocephalic element (Natukhais, Aderbeydzhan Tatars), while the majority are characterized by high degrees of brachycephaly (for example, Abkhazians, Georgians, Armenians, Aisors, Mountain Jews, Dagestanis, Kumyks).” ESBE calls Azerbaijanis Turks by language and Iranians by race, and also gives the following description:
The cephalic index, according to Eckert, is 79.4 (mesocephals), according to Chantre - 84 (brachycephaly). The eyes are dark, horizontally slit, the nose is long with a hump, the lips are often thick, the facial expression is serious and important.
According to the article “Turks” in the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron, Azerbaijanis under “they are tall and mesocephalic (gol. index 80.4) and in all other characteristics, abundant facial hair, very elongated face, curved nose, merging eyebrows, etc., clearly approach the Iranians”. ESBE also notes that “In terms of the shape of the skull, Persians, Kurds, and Azerbaijanis generally present a significant similarity (skull width indicator 77-78)” .
20th century studies
Analyzing the anthropological characteristics of Azerbaijanis, Soviet and Russian anthropologist Valery Alekseev noted:
Since the closest morphological analogies of the Caspian population group are noted among the population of Afghanistan and Northern India, the ancestors of the Azerbaijanis should be sought among those ancient peoples who simultaneously gave rise to the Nuristanis and many peoples of Northern India... But even in the absence of paleoanthropological data, somatological materials indicate that that the immediate ancestors of the Azerbaijani people must be sought among the ancient peoples of Western Asia and that in the ethnogenesis of the Azerbaijanis, connections in the southeastern direction are decisive. Contact with peoples who spoke Turkic languages and the associated transition to Turkic speech did not have any noticeable impact on the formation of the anthropological characteristics of the Azerbaijani people.
He notes that among the Caucasian peoples, the Azerbaijanis are the darkest-eyed, with the maximum of individuals with black eyes falling in the southeastern regions of Azerbaijan, where the average score in most groups rises above 1.65. According to hair color in different Azerbaijani groups, in approximately half of the cases, blue-black hair was noted (No. 27 on the Fisher scale). Alekseev gives the following description:
The face of Azerbaijanis is narrow and, apparently, low, the nose protrudes very much. However, unlike the Adyghe peoples of the North Caucasus, who also have small faces, Azerbaijanis are the most darkly pigmented of the Caucasian peoples. The hairline is moderately developed, in all likelihood, approximately the same as that of Georgians or even a little less.
Soviet and Russian anthropologist, specialist in the field of anthropological dermatoglyphics, Henrietta Hit in the report “Dermatoglyphics and racial genesis of the population of the Caucasus” regarding dermatoglyphics notes that “The Turks of the Caucasus (Azerbaijanis, Karachais, Balkars) according to dermatoglyphics form a separate homogeneous cluster, merging with the Adyghe. However, according to somatological characteristics, closely similar Karachais and Balkars unite with Ossetians, Chechens and Ingush, and Azerbaijanis are generally dermatoglyphically isolated in the entire system of Caucasian peoples.” .
Sources
- Stuart James An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires. - Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. - P. 27. - ISBN 0313274975
- Shnirelman V.A. Wars of Memory: Myths, Identity and Politics in Transcaucasia. - ICC "Akademkniga", 2002. - P. 197. - ISBN 5-94628-118-6
Original text(Russian)
During Arab times, a significant part of the Albanian population converted to Islam and began to use Arabic writing. Later, in the 11th-13th centuries, it underwent Turkization and served as the basis for the subsequent formation of the Azerbaijani people.
- Ethnogenesis of Azerbaijanis- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- Central Asian Survey: The Journal of the Society for Central Asian Studies (1982, p. 437).
- Azerbaijani. Article from the Encyclopædia Britannica
- George A. Bournoutian. A brief history of the Aghuankʻ region. Mazda Publishers, 2009. ISBN 1-56859-171-3. Page 28
- Mikhail Illarionovich Artamonov History of the Khazars. - Philological Faculty of St. Petersburg state university, 2002. - P. 419. - ISBN 5846500323, 9785846500327
Original text(Russian)
The term “Oguz” was originally a common noun for a tribe and, with a numeral determinative, was used to name unions of tribes, such as, for example, the Uighurs - Tokuz-Oguz - nine tribes, Karluks - Uch-Oguz - three tribes. Subsequently, it lost its original meaning and became the ethnic name of the tribes formed in the Aral steppes as a result of the mixing of the Turkuts with local tribes of Ugric and Sarmatian origin.
- Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - State Scientific Publishing House, 1954. - P. 513. - ISBN 5846500323, 9785846500327
Original text(Russian)
OGUZ (Guzes, Uzes) - a union of tribes that existed in the Aral Sea region in the 6th-11th centuries. based on the mixing of certain Turkic and ancient Mongolian tribes with part of the Saka-Massaget tribes; The Turkic speech turned out to be victorious.
- Grand Dictionnaire Encyclopédique Larousse(1982). Page 921, ISBN 2-03-102301-2 (retrieved 17 February 2007).
- Minorsky, V. "(Azarbaijan)." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill
Original text(English)
In the beginning of the 5th/11th century the Ghuzz hordes, first in smaller parties, and then in significant numbers, under the Seljuqids occupied Azerbaijan. In consequence, the Iranian population of Azerbaijan and the adjacent parts of Transcaucasia became Turkophone while the characteristic features of Ādharbāyjānī Turkish, such as Persian intonations and disregard of the vocalic harmony, reflect the non-Turkish origin of the Turkicised population.
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- S.A. Tokarev Ethnography of the peoples of the USSR: historical background life and culture. - Moscow University Publishing House, 1958. - pp. 295-296.
- Fundamentals of Iranian linguistics: ancient Iranian languages. - M.: Nauka, 1979. - P. 49.
- Proceedings of the Institute of Ethnography named after. N.N. Miklouho-Maclay. - Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1962. - T. 79, Part 1. - P. 18.
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- XAVIER DE PLANHOL. IRAN I. LANDS OF IRANn, Encyclopædia Iranica.
Original text(English)
This unique aspect of Azerbaijan, the only area to have been almost entirely “Turkicized” within Iranian territory, is the result of a complex, progressive cultural and historical process, in which factors accumulated successively (Sümer; Planhol, 1995, pp. 510- 12) The process merits deeper analysis of the extent to which it illustrates the great resilience of the land of Iran. The first phase was the amassing of nomads, initially at the time of the Turkish invasions, following the route of penetration along the piedmont south of the Alborz, facing the Byzantine borders, then those of the Greek empire of Trebizond and Christian Georgia. The Mongol invasion in the 13th century led to an extensive renewal of tribal stock, and the Turkic groups of the region during this period had not yet become stable. In the 15th century, the assimilation of the indigenous Iranian population was far from being completed. The decisive episode, at the beginning of the 16th century, was the adoption of Shiʿite Islam as the religion of the state by the Iran of the Safavids, whereas the Ottoman empire remained faithful to Sunnite orthodoxy. Shiʿite propaganda spread among the nomadic Turkoman tribes of Anatolia, far from urban centers of orthodoxy. These Shiʿite nomads returned en masse along their migratory route back to Safavid Iran. This movement was to extend up to southwest Anatolia, from where the Tekelu, originally from the Lycian peninsula, returned to Iran with 15,000 camels. These nomads returning from Ottoman territory naturally settled en masse in regions near the border, and it was from this period that the definitive “Turkicization” of Azerbaijan dates, along with the establishment of the present-day Azeri-Persian linguistic border-not far from Qazvin, only some 150 kilometers from Tehran.
- Olivier Roy The new Central Asia: the creation of nations. - I.B.Tauris, 2000. - P. 6. -
Historically, the territory of modern independent Azerbaijan is part of the Iranian statehood system. It ceded to Russia only under two peace treaties, the Gulistan Treaty of 1813 and the Turkmanchay Treaty of 1828. Now, according to various sources, from fifteen percent to almost a third of the population of Iran are ethnic Azerbaijanis, also known as Azeri or often simply called Turks in Iran. It is difficult to say exactly the numbers, since we do not have sufficiently reliable demographic sources, but we can say with high accuracy that more Azerbaijanis now live in Iran than in Azerbaijan itself. Azerbaijanis are an integral part of Iranian society, which has played and continues to play an important role in the culture, literature and politics of the country. Thus, throughout the twentieth century, Iranian Azerbaijanis made a significant contribution to the Constitutional Movement, as well as to the victory of the Islamic Revolution of 1979. According to a number of sources, the current Rahbar (Supreme Leader of Iran) - Ali Akbar Khamenei - is ethnically Azerbaijani, which is often not advertised within the country.
There is another example: after the Soviet-British occupation of Iran during the Second World War, there was an attempt to form the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, which was socialist in orientation, but it was based not on ethnicity, but rather on leftist ideas. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from its territory, this movement was harshly suppressed by the last Shah, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi.
Rizvan HUSEYNOV, employee of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, director of the Center for the History of the Caucasus, UNESCO/UNITWIN associate professor for the North Caucasus.
For many centuries, Azerbaijanis (Turks) and Persians were and remain the peoples who created a number of brilliant medieval empires. In particular, in the 9th century, the Turks created a number of military-political alliances on the basis of which states were created, which included vast territories of the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Western Asia. Azerbaijani Turkic dynasties created the Kara-Koyunlu, Ak-Koyunlu empires in the 15th century, then the Safavid state in the 16th century, which played an important role in history and world politics for many centuries. Then, during the weakening of the Safavid Empire in the 18th century, a talented commander Nadir Shah appeared - originally from the Turkic Afshar tribe. He was able to unify the empire for a short period and make extensive conquests, for which he was compared to Alexander the Great. Then the Turkic Qajar dynasty came to power and tried to stop the collapse of the empire. However, this could not be done; the loss of Northern (Caucasian) Azerbaijan, which, according to the Turkmanchay Treaty of 1828, went to the Russian Empire, was especially difficult. As a result, the Azerbaijani Turkic factor weakened in the empire, which began to decline and the Shah’s power ceased to exist in 1979. Today, about 10 million Azerbaijani Turks live in the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as hundreds of thousands in Georgia, Dagestan and other regions of the Caucasus. And according to approximate data, about 25-28 million Azerbaijani Turks live in Iran.
Azerbaijani customs and traditions They went a long way before they formed into the species that are familiar to us now. It took many centuries for their formation, and many events, both positive and negative, caused their occurrence. Azerbaijani traditions also reflect different religious worldviews of people, the peculiarities of their mentality, and the influence of other cultures. The centralized (Soviet) government of the republic tried to eradicate many of the traditions in the 20th century, but no one will ever be able to destroy in a person what is part of him. That is why many ancient traditions are still alive.
After drinking tea, main courses, greens and fresh vegetables are served, and then sweets or dovga. It is not customary to take food with your left hand. Rice is taken with a pinch; it is also considered not shameful to take some dishes with your hand or a piece of bread. In urban settings, meals are usually carried out according to European standards, with the presence of cutlery and individual portions. In rural areas, especially if we are talking about some kind of community holiday, the rules of behavior at the table are more free and informal.
One of the main features of Azerbaijani cuisine, like any oriental one, is the unique aroma and spicy taste of dishes. A variety of spices give such an amazing effect to Azerbaijani food. Particular attention should be paid to saffron and sumac (barberry powder). The first has become an integral component of numerous pilafs. And sumac is served with meat dishes. By the way, another distinctive feature Azerbaijani cooking - the use of lamb. Dolma is prepared from it, which is very similar to cabbage rolls.
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Dishes such as kufta-bozbash (broth with meatballs, potatoes and peas), dovga (sour milk soup) and, of course, lula kebab are widely known. Different regions of Azerbaijan also boast special cooking methods. For example, in the north-west of the country a popular dish is khingal, which is very similar to dumplings. Its filling is made from meat, kurut (dried cottage cheese) and fried onions. Lankarania is famous for chicken stuffed with nuts, jam and onions. Confectionery products can be divided into two groups: cookies (shaker-luku, unlanan, kurabiye) and pies with nut filling, which are famous as baklava. The most common national drink- this is sherbet. It is made from lemon, saffron, sugar, basil and mint seeds, and various fruits.
Don't be surprised if the first dish served is tea. Among Azerbaijanis, tea drinking has long turned into a cultural and aesthetic heritage, which has its own techniques and rules. After tea drinking, main courses, fresh vegetables and herbs are served, and at the end - dovga or sweets. Many dishes need to be eaten with the hands, for example, rice is usually taken with a pinch. An Azerbaijani lunch can last about three hours. However, in urban settings, meals are often served according to European standards familiar to foreigners.
Teahouse
Another tradition associated with the tea ceremony. Unlike a standard Central Asian teahouse, where you can drink tea and have a hearty lunch, the Azerbaijani teahouse serves only tea. They can only offer sweets and candies with it, but not food. In the modern understanding of a foreigner, a teahouse can confidently be called a club, and exclusively for men. Here they discuss news, affairs, make plans, remember the past, and most importantly, maintain relationships. In a sense, this is an institution designed to maintain stability in society. Neighbors who quarreled during the day meet in the teahouse in the evening. And here, among neighbors and friends, over a glass of tea, they can calmly discuss their problems and find a mutually beneficial way out of the current situation.
Holidays
Among the holidays celebrated by Azerbaijanis, Kurban Bayram (feast of sacrifice) and Orujluk (feast of fasting) are widely celebrated. Novruz Bayram is the most widely celebrated holiday. This ancient folk holiday of the New Year and spring. It is celebrated on March 21 - the day of the spring equinox. They have been preparing for it since the end of winter: renovating apartments, sewing new clothes, but most importantly, growing wheat on plates, then boiling it in a special way. In the evening on the day of the holiday, a table with rich dishes is set so that the year will be rich and fertile. Small fires are lit in the courtyards, over which children jump under the supervision of older children. Celebrating Novruz is one of the interesting folk traditions of Azerbaijan. Novruz is a holiday of spring, the beginning of the new year. Before the celebration of Novruz, Azerbaijanis celebrate a number of previous days, which are holidays marking the end of the Old Year and the beginning of the New Year. It's about about four pre-holiday Wednesdays: Su Chershenbe (Wednesday on the water), Odlu Chershenbe (Wednesday on fire), Torpag Chershenbe (Wednesday on land) and Ahyr Chershenbe (last Wednesday). According to popular beliefs, on the first Wednesday the water was renewed, standing waters began to move. In the second - fire, in the third - earth. On the fourth Wednesday the wind opened the buds of the trees, and folk signs, spring was coming.
Cloth
As for traditions in clothing, the national costumes of Azerbaijanis are very beautiful and original. Women's dresses have a graceful silhouette and cut, highlighting the flexible countries of Azerbaijani beauties. They are decorated with intricate embroidery and trimmed with beautiful “golden” braid. Men's clothing is also very distinctive. It emphasizes their masculinity and does not hinder their rapid movements. Women's clothing was made mainly of silk and velvet, and men's clothing was made of cloth and homemade cashmere fabric. A notable element of the Azerbaijani costume is the underwear. It (both women's and men's) was sewn from canvas and cotton fabric. Rich beauties have silk. Women's clothing was distinguished by bright colors. Over the shirt they wore a short, fitted caftan with a gathered hem, and in winter an additional quilted sleeveless vest. The woman's hair was tied up in a narrow straight cover, and a low cap with a scarf was put on her head. When leaving the yard, especially in the city, they would throw a shawl or a special long cape over the scarf - a veil. The men's shoes were leather shoes, soft boots and shoes with their toes turned up. Women wore their own knitted socks at home, sometimes with hemmed leather soles, and when leaving the house they wore mules with small heels and pointed, turned-up toes. In conditions of sharp social inequality in the clothing of different social groups There were large differences in the population. Wealthy men wore clothes made from expensive materials - fine cloth, silk; The Circassian coat was decorated with breast pockets, which in the past served as bandoliers and gazyrs, and was belted with a thin leather belt trimmed with inlaid silver jewelry. Rich women also sewed clothes from expensive fabrics - silk, brocade, velvet; They wore a wide leather or velvet belt with elaborate silver buckles and hanging coins. Their costume was complemented by numerous jewelry - bracelets, monistos, bells, rings. Currently, both men and women wear clothes of the pan-European type. Certain elements of the national costume (hats for men, and wide skirts for women, shawls, scarves) can only be found in rural areas, mainly among older people.
Wedding
Wedding ceremonies have been and remain the richest in national rituals and ceremonies. They start with a preliminary notification...
The groom's relatives send a close relative to the girl's house. He must say about his intention to come to the matchmaking ceremony. It happens that girls in the house do not give consent to this. In this case, the most respected of the groom’s family tries to obtain consent from the girl’s parents.
In the Azerbaijani tradition, tea is an indispensable attribute of matchmaking. It is not customary for the people of this country to say directly: they say, marry your daughter to our son. The fact that matchmakers will come to the house is announced in advance, and without much publicity. During the matchmaking process itself, the conversation is conducted only in hints and half-hints. And the answer is also given ambiguously, and a non-Azerbaijani would not understand such an answer. In general, it is given through tea: if sugar is added to the tea offered to matchmakers, then one must prepare for the wedding. If sugar was served separately from tea, then this means refusal.
Wedding traditions are especially interesting Azerbaijan . There are many different pre-wedding customs in this country. One of the very first is Khabar gendyarmya or matchmaking notification. If the girl’s family does not agree to matchmaking, the boy’s relatives ask for help from respected people to help them obtain consent. There is also a custom of small matchmaking, according to which the bride is matched by the young man’s mother and another close relative.
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Azerbaijanis have Small and Large betrothal. At the first engagement there is no groom, but the guy's relatives give the bride an engagement ring, a scarf and sweets. A few months later comes the main engagement. For this engagement, the girl is given many gifts, with the exception of shoes. The most interesting traditional gift is the “check”. It is a wedding decoration made from a tree branch on which candles, a mirror, brocade, fruits and sweets are attached. The bride's dowry is brought to the groom's house a few days before the wedding.
Religious legitimation of marriage takes place before the wedding. The ceremony is performed by Molla (a representative of the Muslim mosque), who is thanked with money and a lump of sugar. During this ceremony, only the closest relatives are present. The wedding itself (“Toi”) can last up to three days. All the guests express good words addressed to the newlyweds and dance. To the left and right of the groom are his closest friends (young ones). The groom's mother should prepare gifts for them. The main thing is that the bride and groom dance a lot.
Choosing a name
The choice of names for newborns can also be distinguished as a custom. Choosing a name usually involves certain difficulties. Representatives of the dominant people are more free when choosing a name for a child. The choice can be settled on a name that rhymes with the name of the previous child, without special attention to the meaning, the name of the previous representative of the family, or simply at the discretion of the parent or other relative.
Family and family life are carriers of the rich traditional culture of the ethnic group. Family life Azerbaijanis were distinguished by a large number of patriarchal relations. The man - the head of the family - was the sovereign administrator of movable and immovable property, excluding his wife's dowry. Children were brought up in strict obedience to their father and older men. The wife was in unquestioning submission to her husband, as well as to her mother-in-law and other older women in her husband's house. In creating a family, giving birth and raising children, emotional and emotional communication, organizing leisure and recreation, running a household, caring for elderly parents and many other aspects of family life, various elements of the traditional way of life appear and function.
Dancing
National dances of Azerbaijan, as well as real street performances, are called an integral component of the culture of this country. Dancers dressed in national costumes circled passers-by and gathered crowds of curious onlookers around them. One of the most popular is the “kosa-kossa” ritual - dancing about the arrival of spring. Young people gathered in small groups and staged cheerful improvisations right on the street, receiving various sweets as a reward from grateful spectators. The difference between men's dances and women's dances is striking. Azerbaijani dancers perform the dance mainly with the upper part of the body: head, arms, body. The girls bewitch the audience with smooth movements of their hands, the bend of their waists, a mischievous smile and turns of their heads.
A modest, but mysterious and proud country with the beautiful name Azerbaijan is neatly located on the Caspian Sea. Keeping up with the progressive society, the Azerbaijani people, building giant complexes in the capital and other densely populated cities, developing office projects, modernizing oil rigs, continue to respect the spiritual richness of the heritage of their descendants. In Azerbaijan, both young and old strictly observe national traditions. Here, every person from infancy is immersed in a unique atmosphere of originality.
Childbirth traditions
To prevent the birth of a sick child, pregnant Azerbaijani women try to constantly be friendly and courteous. It is especially useful, according to ancient customs, to linger on beautiful flowers, water or the sky. After birth, the baby was immediately bathed in salt water so that the child would be honest and courageous. But during the first bath, the mother should not be with the child. When the baby’s first teeth appeared, a special ritual was performed in which a dish was prepared from 7 types of grains. P After the child turned 1 year old, they began to trim his nails and cut his hair. It is customary to store the first cut hair and nails.
The listed traditions of Azerbaijan are not a complete list of the amazing traditions of this country. By visiting it, you will be able to feel for yourself all the diversity of the people living in this territory. In any case, getting to know the ancient traditions of Azerbaijanis will not only be educational, but also useful, and sometimes instructive.
Arriving in Azerbaijan, you will find yourself in a country where the hot sun reigns, you can see magnificent buildings (be they architectural monuments or modern houses). And, without a doubt, you will be captivated by the Azerbaijanis, who are part of the family of Caucasian peoples and rightfully proud of their history and culture, with their temperament. Without them it is impossible to imagine either the Caucasian flavor or the post-Soviet space itself.
Origin and history of the people
What they don’t tell about Azerbaijanis! Sometimes you can even hear the opinion that these people cannot be considered Caucasian, because they have something in common with the peoples of Asia. However, these are idle fictions. They are the indigenous people of the Caucasus, like those inhabiting this region.
Historians have come to the conclusion that the origin of the people is connected with people from Caucasian Albania, a large state located in the eastern part of the Caucasus in the 2nd-1st centuries BC. new era. Then the population of this country began to mix with the Huns, Cimmerians and others.
Persia also had a significant influence on the formation of the ethnic nation of Azerbaijanis. In the first centuries AD, Persia was ruled by the Sassanid dynasty, which expanded its influence to eastern regions.
We must not forget about the later influence of the Seljuk Turks, who came to these lands in the 11th century. As a result, the local population was first subjected to the influence of Persian culture, and then to the process of Turkization. Thus, the Azerbaijani people have rich history and it is closely connected with the history of neighboring states.
Turkic tribes constantly migrated throughout the region of Asia Minor, starting from early Middle Ages and ending with the XV-XVI centuries. All this could not but affect the local population, who only later began to realize their ethnic identity. Some researchers believe that modern Azerbaijanis are the descendants of a specific tribe with Turkic roots.
This hypothesis is shattered by other evidence, including cultural heritage, as well as written sources. Therefore, today we can say that the appearance of Azerbaijanis was influenced by a variety of tribes - Arab, Turkic, Iranian.
And at the same time, they still remain an indigenous ethnic group of Transcaucasia, since their history has precisely Caucasian roots. This is proven by the numerous traditions and diverse customs of the Azerbaijanis, which find their origins both in Iranian and in.
In the 18th century, the powerful Persian Safavid dynasty ended, resulting in the formation of a number of khanates with a semi-independent status. At the head of these small Transcaucasian principalities were representatives of Azerbaijani local dynasties. However, they were never able to form into a single state, since they were still under the strong influence of the Persians.
And later, already in the 19th century, Russian-Persian military conflicts began, which led to the fact that they were delimited by their regions of residence. This border ran along the Araks River, as a result of which the northern parts of Azerbaijan fell under the influence of Russia, and the southern parts went to the Persians. And if earlier the Azerbaijani elites had a strong influence on the processes taking place in Persia, then after this this influence disappeared.
Historians admit that their statehood was formed only after the October Revolution and began to be created national republics. Soviet power gave modern borders and a state-legal basis.
When the USSR collapsed, all Soviet republics gained independence, including Azerbaijan. The date of independence is October 18.
Language and religious denomination
The Azerbaijani language is of Turkic origin; its formation was also influenced by Arabic and Persian languages. However, their language also has other phonetic connections - linguists find similarities in it with the Kumyk and even Uzbek languages.
Currently, Azerbaijani is spoken by about 99% of the country's residents. Since the same language is widespread in the north of Iran and Iraq, this brings ethnic groups together and allows for the accumulation of cultural ties.
As for their literary language, it was fully formed only after these territories were annexed to Russia. However, even before the Russian period of history, the literary language of Azerbaijanis gradually developed in Shirvan and the southern regions of Azerbaijan.
As for religion, the majority of them are Muslims. Almost 90% of those who profess Islam in Azerbaijan are Shiites, but those who consider themselves to be Muslims also live here. This is another manifestation of Persian influence.
The modern faith of Azerbaijanis can be very different, since the country has complete tolerance towards.
Here you can meet both Christians and followers of other religions. A person living in the territory of this country has the right to choose for himself which one to follow, and no one has the right to influence his beliefs.
Enos territorial issues
Since Azerbaijanis are a very diverse ethnic group, representatives of the people are found not only in this region, but also in other countries of the world. Moreover, the division of their lands between Russia and Persia has led to the fact that today there are between 15 and 20 million people living in Iran. This is much more than the population of Azerbaijan itself - about 10 million people live there, according to government statistics.
It was they who had a serious influence on the development of healthy nationalism in modern Iran. After the Second World War, residents of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the USSR and Azerbaijanis in Iran had the opportunity to communicate closely. This inner unity can still be seen today.
Azerbaijanis have close ties in Russia. In 2000, the Dagestani authorities included Azerbaijanis in the Republic of Dagestan, although this ethnic group here is classified as small in number. Basically, they live in the southern parts of the republic, and it is in this region that the largest number of them live. In the republic they make up no more than 5% (or even less) of the entire Dagestan population.
A serious conflict arose at one time between the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians; it concerned the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, located in the east of the Armenian Highlands. Historically, this territory belonged to, but the Paris Peace Conference in 1920 assigned this region to Azerbaijan.
Since then, the Azerbaijanis have considered Karabakh theirs, which led, after the collapse of the USSR, to a territorial conflict that resulted in full-fledged military action on both sides.
Only in 1994 did Armenia and Azerbaijan conclude a truce, although the tense situation in this region is still observed today. No matter how much the Azerbaijanis claim that they are the legal owners of Nagorno-Karabakh, they are not going to admit it.
Culture and traditions of the Azerbaijani people
Such a colorful people as the Azerbaijanis cannot but have their own culture - and it has its roots in. TO cultural heritage It is possible to include not only their folk traditions, but also many crafts - carpet weaving, artistic processing of stone and bone have long been developed here, and gold items created by folk goldsmiths were also widely known.
Speaking about the culture of Azerbaijanis, one cannot help but recall such traditions as holidays and folk ritual performances. First of all, these are wedding customs. In many ways it is similar to those wedding rituals that are practiced by other Caucasian ethnic groups. Not only regular matchmaking is common here, but also preliminary matchmaking, during which the parties enter into an initial agreement on a future alliance.
In many ways, Azerbaijani weddings resemble classical ritual ones. Here the bride's face is covered with a scarf or a thin veil, and the wedding feast is held both in the house of the groom and in the house of the bride.
The Azerbaijanis are always no less bright. You can’t do without national costumes, as well as songs and fiery dances.
Azerbaijani folk music always uses ethnic musical instruments. And modern motifs still resemble in many ways, which is why the songs of Azerbaijanis have a special tonality and are largely stylized after the creativity of the ashugs.
The national flavor can always be traced in. If we consider folk dance Azerbaijanis, one cannot fail to note its peculiar rhythm. They can be either overtly rhythmic or smooth.
It is on strict adherence to rhythm that the entire pattern of the dance, its structure, is built. Those dances that have roots in ancient traditions, often bear the names of plants or animals characteristic of Azerbaijan. There are many videos of them energetically performing their songs.
Talking about national costumes Azerbaijanis, it is necessary to mention their correlation with the cultural and geographical location of the region itself. Men wear a caftan-arkhalyg, and under it they put on an undershirt. A man's suit also includes outerwear for cold weather - after all, in the foothills of the Caucasus in winter, only a burka or a fur coat made of tanned lamb skins can save you.
If you look at the photos of Azerbaijanis, you can see that they often wear a Circassian coat with gazyrs.
The women's costume is no less bright and original. These are the top and bottom dresses, as well as the obligatory veil. A mandatory component of women's clothing has always been a belt or sash - such belts could be richly decorated with gold and embroidery, which could say a lot about the status of a woman.
Another custom regarding appearance women - this is the traditional coloring of hair and nails with henna. Henna dyeing is also a legacy of the influence of Persian culture.
Azerbaijanis in Russia today
Currently, Azerbaijanis are settled far beyond the borders of Azerbaijan (it is worth remembering the Iranian representatives of this ethnic group). Today their total number is up to 35 million people. They can meet in the most different countries, including not only the states of the post-Soviet space, but also Turkey, Afghanistan, and European countries.
As for Azerbaijanis living in Russia, in Moscow alone, according to rough estimates, there are about 60 thousand of them. They also live in Siberia, where the first place in their numbers is occupied by Yugra and the Tyumen region.
To the question of why Azerbaijanis feel at home everywhere, we can answer that these people have always been open, cheerful and very friendly. They expect the same attitude towards themselves.
Composer Uzeir Gadzhibekov, writer Chingiz Abdullayev, film director Rustam Ibragimbekov and many others.
Considering it as a great community of different ethnic groups, you understand that Azerbaijanis are an integral part of the peoples of this beautiful mountainous region. And without Azerbaijan, the history of the entire Caucasus will be incomplete.