Azerbaijanis: Difference between revisions
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==Azerbaijanians== |
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The Azerbaijanians, also referred to as Azerbaijanian Turks or Azeris, are a Turkic-Muslim people who live in the historical land of Azerbaijan, located in a crossroads between eastern Europe and western Asia. The historic territory of Azerbaijan is composed of the independent [[Republic of Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]], with its capital at [[Baku]], and the northwestern portion of [[Iran]], a region referred to as [[South Azerbaijan]] with its traditional capital at [[Tabriz]]. The Azerbaijanians are the inheritors of ancient civilizations such as Sumer, Elam, Aratta, Urartu, Mannai, Media and [[Caucasian Albania]] and are the descendants of various bodies of [[Turkic]] peoples, especially the [[Oghuz Turks]] who in the 10th century set the national foundation of modern Azerbaijan. |
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Azerbaijanis or "Azerbaijani Turks," are a [[Muslim]] people who number more than 25 million worldwide. The majority, around 17 million, live in [[Iran]]. The rest, around 8 million, live in [[Republic of Azerbaijan]]. There are also sizeable communities in [[Turkey]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Russia]], [[USA]], [[Canada]], and [[Germany]]. |
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The Azerbaijanians are a historically divided people, having been seperated in 1828 by [[Russia]] and Iran. The northern half of Azerbaijan was annexed by the Russians and the southern half by the Iranians, an event that has kept historic Azerbaijan politically seperated for more than 150 years. They number more than 40 million worldwide, with the majority living outside of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Republic of Azerbaijan has a population of 8 million, while more than 20 million live in the northwestern region of Iran in the provinces of Ardebil, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Zanjan; the territory of South Azerbaijan. |
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More than 8 million live in various cities in central Iran especially in the capital of Tehran. Most analysts state that at least 50% of the city and province of Tehran including the city of Karaj, is inhabited by Azerbaijanians. The nomadic Turkic tribes of Afshar, Shahseven, Qarapapaq, Qajar and Timurtash who are spread across Iran are tribes of the Azerbaijanians. There are also 2 million indigenous Azerbaijanians living in the eastern region of Turkey (mostly in Kars and Igdir), 2 million throughout the [[Russian Federation]] (mostly in the autonomous republic of [[Dagestan]] and the capital city of Moscow) 1 million living in northern Iraq (whom are referred to as Turkmens that live mostly in [[Kirkuk]], [[Erbil]] and [[Mosul]]) and 500,000 living in the southern region of Georgia. There are also scattered populations of Azerbaijanians in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Syria and Afghanistan, including a large diaspora living in North America and Europe. |
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==Origins== |
==Origins== |
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Much has been debated about the racial, cultural and linguistic origin of the Azerbaijani people. It is difficult to disentangle national pride and ambition, imperial or political propaganda and good science. |
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The Azerbaijanians are a Turkic people, descending primaraly from the [[Oghuz Turks]]. The Oghuz Turks, a confederation of 24 tribes originating in Central Asia migrated to Azerbaijan in the 10th century and became the majority population in the land. |
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Having said this, a fair number of historians consider the nation of Azerbaijani Turks the inheritants of ancient Iranian [[Medes]]. Others believe they are the descendants of various bodies of [[Turks]], [[Scythian]]s (Ishkuz), Cimmerians, [[Huns]], [[Gokturks]], [[Khazars]], Barsils, Kurtugurs, Saragurs, [[Kipchaks]] and others. |
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Azerbaijan's ancient ethnic composition seems to consist of [[Turkic]] and [[Caucasian]] peoples who intermingled with one another. [[Indo-European]] (Iranian) peoples had interaction in southern parts of Media (south of Hamedan) yet the ethnic structure of the territory of Media and Albania seems to have been primaraly Turanian and Caucasian, with various tribes of Scythian (Ishkuz) and Caucaus mountain tribes, such as the Chols. |
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Some believe also that there are remnants of ancient [[Sumerians]]. This point of view is not widely accepted. |
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| ⚫ | According to the 1911 [[ |
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The most commonly accepted view is that the Azerbaijanis are the result of a mixture of Iranian, Caucasian and Turkish waves of immigration. This is supported by the analysis of sources which shows that many different people and ethnic groups have settled in the region and have left their influences. |
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| ⚫ | According to the 1911 [[Encyclopedia Britannica]] "the people of the Mada (Mata), the Medes, appear in history first in 836 B.C., when the Assyrian conqueror Shalmaneser II in his wars against the tribes of the Zagros received the tribute of the Amadai ....Herodotus gives a list of six Median tribes among them the Paraetaceni....names in the Assyrian inscriptions prove that the tribes in the Zagros and the northern parts of Media (Azerbaijan) were Iranian but an aboriginal population.....perhaps connected with the numerous tribes of the Caucasus (northern Azerbaijan, Albania)....Gelae, Tapuri, Cadusii, Amardi, Utii and other tribes in northern Media (Azerbaijan) and on the shores of the Caspian were not Iranians. With them Polybius, Strabo and Pliny mention the Anariaci, whom they consider as a particular tribe; but in reality their name, the Non-Aryans, is the comprehensive designation of all these small tribes..... |
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According to historian [[Kalankatly]], in the period between 191-200 A.D., hordes of Barsil and Khazar Turks crossed the Kura river in Azerbaijan. |
According to historian [[Kalankatly]], in the period between 191-200 A.D., hordes of Barsil and Khazar Turks crossed the Kura river in Azerbaijan. |
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Kalankatly also states that in the year 629, the army of the Gokturks as well as a series Khazar Turkic tribes entered Azerbaijan and declared the land to be "eternal possession" of Turks. |
Kalankatly also states that in the year 629, the army of the Gokturks as well as a series Khazar Turkic tribes entered Azerbaijan and declared the land to be "eternal possession" of Turks. |
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Byzantine sources of the mid |
Byzantine sources of the mid-6th century refer to the "settlement of Khazar Turks" in the left bank of the Kura river, and Moisey Khaghankatli, a historian from pre-Islamic Azerbaijan, referred to a "Hun state" on the left bank of the Kura River in the 7th century. |
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According to Professor Peter B. Golden, "In the course of the seventh century, the two major tribal unions emerged in Azerbaijan under the Turk banner: the Khazars and the Bulgars...the Khazars formed the bulk of the Turk forces used by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610-640) in his counter-offensive against the Sasanids (rulers) in Azerbaijan" |
According to Professor Peter B. Golden, "In the course of the seventh century, the two major tribal unions emerged in Azerbaijan under the Turk banner: the Khazars and the Bulgars...the Khazars formed the bulk of the Turk forces used by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610-640) in his counter-offensive against the Sasanids (rulers) in Azerbaijan" |
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Pre-Islamic Turkic presence in Azerbaijan is evident in literature after the Islamic conquest of the region, in an era that was famous for its historical, geographical and scientific analyzations of the world by Muslim scholars and Islamic states. According to the 7th century work of Ubeid ibn Shariyya al-Jurhumi, the Muslim Caliph Mueviyyen (661-680) was told that Azerbaijan "has long been a land of Turks. Having gathered over there, they have mixed with one another and become integrated." |
Pre-Islamic Turkic presence in Azerbaijan is evident in literature after the Islamic conquest of the region, in an era that was famous for its historical, geographical and scientific analyzations of the world by Muslim scholars and Islamic states. According to the 7th century work of Ubeid ibn Shariyya al-Jurhumi, the Muslim Caliph Mueviyyen (661-680) was told that Azerbaijan "has long been a land of Turks. Having gathered over there, they have mixed with one another and become integrated." |
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It must also be noted that the famous "Book of Dede Korkut" which is the epic of the Oghuz Turks (considered the main ancestors of |
It must also be noted that the famous "Book of Dede Korkut" which is the epic of the Oghuz Turks (considered the main ancestors of Azerbaijanis) was written in central-Asia in the 6th and 7th centuries. Certain groups want to connect that book to Azarbaijan. |
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The Turkic and non-Turkic peoples of pre-Islamic Azerbaijan were absorbed by the Oghuz Turks of the 10th century. |
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The Azerbaijanis speak [[Azerbaijani]] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a [[Turkic languages|Turkic language]] mixed with the original [[Tati]] language of the area which was an Iranin language. Some other Turkic languages are [[Turkish (language)|Turkish]] and [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]] (see also [[Turkic peoples]]), [[Yakuti]] and [[Uzbeki]]. The standard Azerbaijani language developed from the [[10th century]] onwards. |
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Prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkish dialects spoken across the region. |
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The Azerbaijanians speak [[Azerbaijani|Azerbaijanian]] (sometimes called Azerbaijanian Turkish or Azeri) which is a [[Turkic languages|Turkic language]]. The standard Azerbaijanian language developed from the [[10th century]] onwards. |
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The modern written language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the [[10th century|10th]] to the [[13th century|13th centuries]], after the Oghuz Turkic migrations and the decline of the [[Oghuz Yabgu]] state in Central Asia. This is the timespan that is called Azerbaijan's cultural and linguistic "golden age". |
The modern written language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the [[10th century|10th]] to the [[13th century|13th centuries]], after the Oghuz Turkic migrations and the decline of the [[Oghuz Yabgu]] state in Central Asia. This is the timespan that is called Azerbaijan's cultural and linguistic "golden age". |
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==Demographics== |
==Demographics== |
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There are about total 12 to 21 million Azerbaijanis in the world, but census figures are incomplete. |
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It is estimated that there are |
It is estimated that there are 16 million Azerbaijanis in Iran, 4-7 million in the Republic of Azerbaijan, 600 thousand to 2.16 million in [[Russia]], possibly over one million in the [[US]], between 50 and 500 thousand in each of [[Ukraine]] and [[Germany]], more than 800 thousand in [[Turkey]], 286 thousand in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and 78.3 thousand to 200 thousand in [[Kazakhstan]]. The [[United Kingdom]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Uzbekistan]], and [[Turkmenistan]] also have some populations of Azerbaijanis living there. |
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More than 90% of |
More than 90% of Azerbaijanis are [[Shia Muslims]] Turks, but there are also [[Sunni Muslims]], [[Jew]]s, [[Zoroastrian]]s, [[Christian]]s and [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'ís]]. In recent years there have been many conversions to Sunni Islam. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 23:11, 19 February 2005
Azerbaijanis or "Azerbaijani Turks," are a Muslim people who number more than 25 million worldwide. The majority, around 17 million, live in Iran. The rest, around 8 million, live in Republic of Azerbaijan. There are also sizeable communities in Turkey, Georgia, Russia, USA, Canada, and Germany.
Origins
Much has been debated about the racial, cultural and linguistic origin of the Azerbaijani people. It is difficult to disentangle national pride and ambition, imperial or political propaganda and good science.
Having said this, a fair number of historians consider the nation of Azerbaijani Turks the inheritants of ancient Iranian Medes. Others believe they are the descendants of various bodies of Turks, Scythians (Ishkuz), Cimmerians, Huns, Gokturks, Khazars, Barsils, Kurtugurs, Saragurs, Kipchaks and others.
Some believe also that there are remnants of ancient Sumerians. This point of view is not widely accepted.
The most commonly accepted view is that the Azerbaijanis are the result of a mixture of Iranian, Caucasian and Turkish waves of immigration. This is supported by the analysis of sources which shows that many different people and ethnic groups have settled in the region and have left their influences.
According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica "the people of the Mada (Mata), the Medes, appear in history first in 836 B.C., when the Assyrian conqueror Shalmaneser II in his wars against the tribes of the Zagros received the tribute of the Amadai ....Herodotus gives a list of six Median tribes among them the Paraetaceni....names in the Assyrian inscriptions prove that the tribes in the Zagros and the northern parts of Media (Azerbaijan) were Iranian but an aboriginal population.....perhaps connected with the numerous tribes of the Caucasus (northern Azerbaijan, Albania)....Gelae, Tapuri, Cadusii, Amardi, Utii and other tribes in northern Media (Azerbaijan) and on the shores of the Caspian were not Iranians. With them Polybius, Strabo and Pliny mention the Anariaci, whom they consider as a particular tribe; but in reality their name, the Non-Aryans, is the comprehensive designation of all these small tribes.....
According to historian Kalankatly, in the period between 191-200 A.D., hordes of Barsil and Khazar Turks crossed the Kura river in Azerbaijan.
According to the historian Tabari, descriptions of incursions into Azerbaijan by Turks (Huns and Khazars) occurred in the 4th and 5th centuries. Tabari also states that by the mid-6th century, there was a significant Turkish presence in Azerbaijan.
Kalankatly also states that in the year 629, the army of the Gokturks as well as a series Khazar Turkic tribes entered Azerbaijan and declared the land to be "eternal possession" of Turks.
Byzantine sources of the mid-6th century refer to the "settlement of Khazar Turks" in the left bank of the Kura river, and Moisey Khaghankatli, a historian from pre-Islamic Azerbaijan, referred to a "Hun state" on the left bank of the Kura River in the 7th century.
According to Professor Peter B. Golden, "In the course of the seventh century, the two major tribal unions emerged in Azerbaijan under the Turk banner: the Khazars and the Bulgars...the Khazars formed the bulk of the Turk forces used by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610-640) in his counter-offensive against the Sasanids (rulers) in Azerbaijan"
Pre-Islamic Turkic presence in Azerbaijan is evident in literature after the Islamic conquest of the region, in an era that was famous for its historical, geographical and scientific analyzations of the world by Muslim scholars and Islamic states. According to the 7th century work of Ubeid ibn Shariyya al-Jurhumi, the Muslim Caliph Mueviyyen (661-680) was told that Azerbaijan "has long been a land of Turks. Having gathered over there, they have mixed with one another and become integrated."
It must also be noted that the famous "Book of Dede Korkut" which is the epic of the Oghuz Turks (considered the main ancestors of Azerbaijanis) was written in central-Asia in the 6th and 7th centuries. Certain groups want to connect that book to Azarbaijan.
Language
Main article: Azerbaijani language
The Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a Turkic language mixed with the original Tati language of the area which was an Iranin language. Some other Turkic languages are Turkish and Turkmen (see also Turkic peoples), Yakuti and Uzbeki. The standard Azerbaijani language developed from the 10th century onwards.
Prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkish dialects spoken across the region.
The modern written language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the 10th to the 13th centuries, after the Oghuz Turkic migrations and the decline of the Oghuz Yabgu state in Central Asia. This is the timespan that is called Azerbaijan's cultural and linguistic "golden age".
Demographics
There are about total 12 to 21 million Azerbaijanis in the world, but census figures are incomplete.
It is estimated that there are 16 million Azerbaijanis in Iran, 4-7 million in the Republic of Azerbaijan, 600 thousand to 2.16 million in Russia, possibly over one million in the US, between 50 and 500 thousand in each of Ukraine and Germany, more than 800 thousand in Turkey, 286 thousand in Georgia, and 78.3 thousand to 200 thousand in Kazakhstan. The United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan also have some populations of Azerbaijanis living there.
More than 90% of Azerbaijanis are Shia Muslims Turks, but there are also Sunni Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians, Christians and Bahá'ís. In recent years there have been many conversions to Sunni Islam.