Why has Azerbaijan become a battlefield for military strategists? 9 secrets you need to know

Why has Azerbaijan become a battlefield for military strategists? 9 secrets you need to know

1. Transcaucasia

The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in Western Asia, in southeastern part of Transcaucasia.

The Caucasus Mountains are dividing line between Asia and Europe. Previously, people divided region of Caucasus Mountains into north and south. The south of mountains is called Transcaucasia.

This is a narrow strip that connects Caspian and Black Seas, as well as a crossroads connecting Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

Azerbaijan is largest and most populous country in entire Transcaucasus.

The area of ​​the city is 86,600 square kilometers, which is roughly size of Chongqing in China.

Facing Caspian Sea in east, it has a coastline of 800 kilometers.

There is also an enclave called Nakhichevan in southwest of neighboring country of Armenia.

This is first city built by Noah after great flood described in Bible.

2. Highlands

Half of territory of Azerbaijan is covered with mountains with an average height of 2500 meters above sea level.

The mountains intersect in territory, Greater Caucasus in northeast, Lesser Caucasus in southwest, and the highest point is Bazardizu Peak at an altitude of 4466 meters.

Archaeologists have discovered that 500,000 years ago there were traces of human life in Azerbaijan, and a large number of petroglyphs remained in Gobustan region.

Rock paintings

About 400 BC many Albanian tribes appeared throughout Caucasus region and eventually formed Albanian state in territory of modern Azerbaijan and Southern Dagestan, and Christian church also appeared.

The Albanian state took over power of Roman Empire. These ancient Albanian tribal peoples are ancestors of today's Azerbaijanis.

3. Vulcan Kingdom

In ancient Azerbaijan, due to shallow deposits of oil and natural gas, natural eruptions and fires often occurred. Small flames on ground caused people to worship fire.

Like ancient Persia, a neighboring country to south, people generally believe in Zoroastrianism. It is said that Zoroaster, prophet of Zoroastrianism, was born in Azerbaijan.

Temple of Fire

Today, well-preserved Temple of Fire can still be seen on outskirts of capital Baku, where flames have been raging for hundreds of years.

The name of country "Azerbaijan" comes from ancient Persian language, which means land of fire.

Three flame towers are a new attraction of capital Baku today.

Flame tower under cover of night

4. Land of Four Wars

Located in center of Eurasian continent, mountainous region of Caucasus with ancient cores has been a center of competition for all armed forces since ancient times. Azerbaijan cannot avoid fate of ruining iron hooves of empire. In storm of war.

The Persian Empire and Roman Empire have been at enmity here since 4th century AD.

The Persians left a deep imprint on their weapons, clothing and lifestyle. Until now, national costumes of Azerbaijan have followed ancient Persians.

Starting from 7th century AD, Arabs and Persians again fought in Caucasus region, and a group of Khazars appeared on northern coast of Caspian Sea, who fought for another half a century.

During period of Arab rule, Islam was recognized as state religion, and Islamic code was basis for legal cases.

To this day, 97% of population of Azerbaijan is Muslim, and, like in Iran, most of them are Shiites.

Shamaki Mosque

In 11th century, Turkic people came from Eurasian meadows. Two hundred years later, Mongolian brothers came and killed all directions.

For hundreds of years of war, Azerbaijan has always been main battlefield, where different ethnic groups oppose each other, and more than a dozen languages ​​are spoken locally.

Arabic is used in science and religion. Turkic tribes are integrated with local population. Turkic is language of communication between people. Meat on a spit has become a traditional delicacy.

Today's Azerbaijan belongs to Turkic language family, Azerbaijanis can communicate with Turks, and also consider Turks to be distant relatives.

Azerbaijani cuisine consists mainly of meat

5. The Flower of Civilization

Despite fact that for a long time they lived in conditions of war, Azerbaijanis still created their immortal civilization.

Azerbaijan is main road of Silk Road, and western city of Sheki still has a thousand-year-old postal station.

Silk and woolen products from Azerbaijan at that time were most popular goods on European market, and today Azerbaijani carpets are collected by major museums around world.

This ancient art of carpet weaving has survived to this day, and today Azerbaijanis weave 70% of carpets exported from Iran.

Azerbaijani carpets are presented in museum

Azerbaijanis love to write poetry. The poet Nezami wrote a love epic [Layli and Majnun]] that has been staged countless times. In East, she is known as Romeo and Juliet.

And they sing and dance well, and they often have impromptu performances on traditional musical instruments at parties called muqams.

6. Oil King

Although territory of Azerbaijan is small, its resources are very significant. There are metal deposits in western mountains, and natural gas and oil are hidden in Absheron Peninsula and Caspian Sea.

Before discovery of oil in Middle East, Azerbaijan was largest oil producer in world. There are records of artificial oil production in 10th century AD.

Map of oil distribution in Azerbaijan

High quality oil and shallow, some wells are only 2-3 meters deep.

Oil floats on surface of Caspian Sea, and streets are filled with smell of gas stations, and tourists can also take a dip in ancient oil bath.

It looks a bit gloomy, and it is said that it can cure all diseases. Azerbaijanis are truly a family of health care.

Oil bath

Because of its rich resources, Azerbaijan has become center of modern imperial hegemony.

Azerbaijan became part of Russia after Ottoman Turkey and Russia fought each other in 18th century.

In 1848, world's first oil well was built in Azerbaijan, which became raw material base for industrial development of Russia.

In 1901, Azerbaijan accounted for more than half of world oil production and 95% Russian.

Baku has become largest oil city in world and birthplace of modern oil industry. The Swedish Nobel family made a fortune here by selling oil.

Baku has preserved old place and mansion where Nobel brothers founded an oil company, and now it is former residence museum of Nobel brothers.

House-museum of Nobel family

7. Sow bad fruits

When Russia ruled Azerbaijan, I was a little worried about local Muslims, fearing that one day they would run away with Turkey.

Because a fragmented nation is easier to manage, Russia has begun to artificially change local ethnic structure.

From 1828 to 1830, hundreds of thousands of Armenians who believed in Christianity moved to a place called Naka in southwestern Azerbaijan today. After that, Azerbaijanis who believed in Islam became a minority.

In 1922, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Transcaucasia joined Soviet Union.

When Soviet Union ate a big pot of rice, everyone was still Soviet, although there were territorial disputes, but they lived peacefully.

But when Soviet Union collapsed, Republic of Azerbaijan had just declared its independence, and Armenians in Naka region popped up to leave Azerbaijan and join neighboring Armenia.

Under influence of these high national sentiments, Armenia launched an armed invasion of Azerbaijan in 1992, and 20% of territory of Azerbaijan was occupied. There was also a massacre against Azerbaijanis and over 1,000 people were killed.

In total, more than 30,000 Azerbaijani citizens were killed, almost 1 million Azerbaijanis lost their land and homes. The Nak region and part of adjacent territory of Azerbaijan are still out of government control.

As a result of war, Azerbaijan's GDP fell by 60% compared to period before collapse of Soviet Union

Two countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia, have closed their borders and consider each other enemies. Have they misused their weapons? War is about to break out at instigation of nationalists of two countries.

8. Both ways

Today's Azerbaijan is trying to get rid of fate of chess piece of a big country, has relations with every big country and wants to follow path of both sides.

Adhering to principle of secularization, religion has no direct influence on political life of country.

Girls can dress cool and bar is very lively.

Don't treat Russia like a dog, but actively approach Europe. As an Asian country, it often hosts various European competitions.

He also signed contract of century with Western countries to build an oil pipeline to break Russia's oil monopoly in Caspian Sea region.

At same time, despite opposition of United States, it maintains economic and trade relations with Iran.

With support of this foreign policy and oil trade, Azerbaijan's economy grew rapidly and became best student in Caucasus.

Today's Baku is a branch of Dubai Caucasus. Like most oil bosses in Middle East, they are obsessed with building skyscrapers of various shapes to show off their wealth.

Zaha Hadid Center

He is also looking for new growth opportunities beyond oil, such as tourism and conference economics, hosting annual International Jazz Festival, European Formula 1 racing events and many Olympic bids. once.

For Chinese tourists a visa can be obtained for money.

Azerbaijanis are warm and down to earth because there are few East Asian faces, Chinese tourists are treated like superstars, kind where there are always people on street who want to take a picture with you.

Enthusiastic people of Azerbaijan

9. Take care of world

The wild peaks of Caucasus, gentle ripples of Caspian Sea, and clashing swords of empires together shaped flames and beaches of Azerbaijan.

The oldest streets and most modern neon lights, most touching events of past and most enthusiastic smiling faces.

Aerial view of city of Azerbaijan

I hope that years of tender joy can stifle senseless confrontation, and suffering and scars of war can be dispelled by an ancient and long time.

Azerbaijanis are always waiting for a quiet life and precious peace.