Zonuz

Azari
Azari
آذری Āḏarī
Native to	Iran (Persia), Azerbaijan
Region	Middle East, Caucasia
Extinct	gradually 1100-1600AD
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Iranian Western Iranian Northwestern Iranian Azari; ; ; ; ;
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–

Zonuz

Zonouz or Zounouz زنوز, زونوز
Zonuz Zonouz or Zounouz زنوز, زونوز
	File:Zonouz11.jpg
Country	Iran
Province	East Azarbaijan Province
County	Marand
Time zone	UTC+3:30 (IRST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+4:30 (IRDT)

File:Zonouz17.jpg

Zonouz dam

Zonouz (زونوز in Turki Azari) and (زنوز in Turk), also known as Zonuz or Zounouz is a small Iranian South Caucasian village in the East Azarbaijan province of Iran. It is located on a mountain, and has very cold and snowy weather in winter and cool summers. Zonouz valley is located between two mountain ranges. They extended east-west direction. They are connected to each other in the east by Soltan Sanjar mountain. The height of this mountains from east to west are decreased. Soltan Sanjar with a height of 3,168 meters is located in the east. Other mountains namely, Nevasar, Gerdehowul,Diragah have a height of 2500 to 2200 meters respectively.

Geography

Topography

According to the study of French geologist Hubet Rieben, the land of Zonouz is formed by the rocks, their ages reach from Devonian to Quaternary period. The age of rocks are related to different geologic periods.

Calcareous rocks, formation of Paleozoic begins from Devonian. Generally they are formed from calcareous rocks. They form symmetrical layers. The color and hardness of these Calcareous rocks are different. You can see Calcareous layers in the north wall and eastern parts of Diragah mountain. They are in red color and hard. Sometimes it seems to be light blue. In the south-west part of this mountain,black olive Calcareous layers can be distinguished. On the other hand, dark brown and blue limestone is lain in the upper part of Zounuz's dam. In this place, eruption of mineral springs through Calcareous rocks are seen. Unfortunately this place recently is submerged under water of dam.

It is mentioned that different color limestone has been seen in the Zonouz area. On the western slopes of high altitude of Soltan Sanjar mountain, the limestone are in dark red, whereas on the eastern slopes of Zireh mount which is situated on the north part of Zonouz, you can see black limestones.

Formations of Mesozoic period were similar to Paleozoic era. The layers of limestone are hard. Some of them were covered by blue silicated limes. However we observed this kind of limestone in Safe-Ali, Navasar and in some part of Deravan Daghi. Also the same kind of limestone have been seen in the western part of Soltan Sanjar.

Some of strata like conglomerate rock and rock-salt have built high elevations, therefore travertine stones lie over them. On the west part, near Ramana, entrance of Zonouz road, the thickness of conglomerate rocks reaches to 50 meters. In the third Cenozoic period, the strata of igneous rocks have been observed on high land of Soltan Sanjar mountain, east of Diragah also on the east part of Oyukhly mountain. In comparison to other layers they are mostly in vertical shape. In the eastern part of Zonouz the landscape of high wall of igneous rocks are extended to the east about 4 kilometers. This igneous rock wall is lying on sand-stone, salt-shale and gypsum formations.

Quaternary period: In this period, horizontal travertine stones have lain on different formations of salt-shale. This karts travertine has lain in the east part of Zonouz on height of 1800-1900 meters also in the east of Zonouzag having altitude of 2000 meters. Many springs come out from these travertine stones, such as Kal-las-ser and Ali Suei springs.

Climate

Zonouz has continental climate with cold winters and cool summers.

Districts

Zonouz has been divided to 4 districts: Khan Khajeh, Meerjan, Seyedlar and Dibin.

Demography

Race

-

Race: Turk

Branch: Iranian

Ethnicity: Caucasian / Azarbaijani or Turk Azeri an Iranian/ turk and the continuation of text is lie on the part of racist persiansş word from Azar or Azeris which means Fier. Commonly during the soviet occupation were referred to as Persians. In almost all x- USSR states Azeri is still referred to as “Pers” which means Persian in Russian language. The use of incorrect name is a common error which from time to time has also been abused by politicians as will. Caucus has been centre of political debate for it geopolitical and natural resources. Hence imperial ambition of others has always played a bloody role in the region. The ethnography of this region by all renowned and recognised historians and anthropologists has been confirmed as white Aryan race. Slavic and Iranic families that is, which during the periodical occupation by others their language or population has been polluted. Hence more wars and arguments over nonsense have been carried out up to date.

The Iranian origins of the Azeris likely derive from ancient Iranic tribes, such as the Medes in Iranian Azarbaijan, and Scythian invaders who arrived during the eighth century BCE. It is believed that the Medes mixed with an indigenous population, the Caucasian Mannai, a Northeast Caucasian group related to the Urartians. Ancient written accounts, such as one written by Arab historian Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Masudi(896-956), attest to an Iranian presence in the region: “ The Persians are a people whose borders are the Mahat Mountains and Azarbaijan up to Armenia and Aran, and Bayleqan and Darband, and Ray and Tabaristan and Masqat and Shabaran and Jorjan and Abarshahr, and that is Nishabur, and Herat and Marv and other places in land of Khorasan, and Sejistan and Kerman and Fars and Ahvaz...All these lands were once one kingdom with one sovereign and one language...although the language differed slightly. The language, however, is one, in that its letters are written the same way and used the same way in composition. There are, then, different languages such as Pahlavi, Dari, Azari, as well as other Persian languages. ” A sample poem from Safina-yi Tabriz written in old Iranian dialect of Azerbaijan

Scholars see cultural similarities between modern Persians and Azeris as evidence of an ancient Iranian influence. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism was prominent throughout the Caucasus before Christianity and Islam and that the influence of various Persian Empires added to the Iranian character of the area. It has also been hypothesized that the population of Iranian Azarbaijan was predominantly Persian-speaking before the Oghuz arrived. This claim is supported by the many figures of Persian literature, such as Qatran Tabrizi, Shams Tabrizi, Nezami, and Khaghani, who wrote in Persian prior to and during the Oghuz migration, as well as by Strabo, Al-Istakhri, and Al-Masudi, who all describe the language of the region as Persian. The claim is mentioned by other medieval historians, such as Al-Muqaddasi. Other common Perso-Azeribaijani features include Iranian place names such as Tabriz and the name Azerbaijan itself.

Various sources such as Encyclopaedia Iranica explain how, "The Turkish speakers of Azerbaijan (q.v.) are mainly descended from the earlier Iranian speakers, several pockets of whom still exist in the region." The modern presence of the Iranian Talysh and Tats in Azerbaijan is further evidence of the former Iranian character of the region. As a precursor to these modern groups, the ancient Azaris are also hypothesized as ancestors of the modern Azerbaijanis.

Caucasian origin Main article: Caucasian origin of the Azerbaijanis A painting of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev (1838-1924), a leading Azeri industrialist and philanthropist.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica about Azeris in the Republic of Azerbaijan: “ The Azerbaijani are of mixed ethnic origin, the oldest element deriving from the indigenous population of eastern Transcaucasia and possibly from the Medians of northern Persia. ”

The Caucasian origin mostly applies to the Azeris of the Caucasus, most of whom are now inhabitants of the Republic of Azerbaijan. There is evidence that, despite repeated invasions and migrations, aboriginal Caucasians may have been culturally assimilated, first by Iranians and later by the Oghuz. Considerable information has been learned about the Caucasian Albanians including their language, history, early conversion to Christianity, and close ties to the Armenians. Many academics believe that the Udi language, still spoken in Azerbaijan, is a remnant of the Albanians' language.

This Caucasian influence extended further south into Iranian Azarbaijan. During the 1st millennium BCE, another Caucasian people, the Mannaeans (Mannai) populated much of Iranian Azarbaijan. Weakened by conflicts with the Assyrians, the Mannaeans are believed to have been conquered and assimilated by the Medes by 590 BCE.

Genetics

Some new genetic studies suggest that recent erosion of human population structure might not be as important as previously thought, and overall genetic structure of human populations may not change with the immigration events and thus in the Azerbaijani case; the Azeris of Azerbaijan republic most of all genetically resemble other Caucasian people like Armenians and people in the Azarbaijan region of Iran to other Iranians.

Language

Language of the Zonouz is of Iranian family. The native people of Zonouz speak Azeri which is an Indo-European language mixed with the Turkic language during the invasion by Turkic speaking people from central Asia and later periodically by Ottoman Turks while invading Caucasian part of Iranian Empire commonly known by western writers as Persian Empire. Ahmad Kasravi is known for his solid research work on the ancient Azari language and origin of the Azerbaijani people. He showed that the ancient Azari language was an offshoot of Pahlavi language. Due to this discovery, he was granted the membership of London Royal Asiatic Society and American Academy. Arguing that ancient Azari language had been closely related to Persian language and the influx of Turkic words began only with the Seljuq invasion, Ahmad Kasravi believed that true national language of Iranian Azerbaijan was Persian and therefore advocated the linguistic assimilation of Persian in Azarbaijan.

A prolific writer, Kasravi was very critical of both the Shi'a clergy and of the policies of the central government. He had liberal views on religion, was a strong supporter of democracy, and expressed them in satirical pamphlets like What Is the Religion of the Hajis with Warehouses? that infuriated many readers. His views earned him many powerful enemies such as Ayatollah Khomeini. ranian origin Main article: Iranian origin of the Azerbaijanis Statue of Nezami Ganjavi, a twelfth-century writer and philosopher, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Nezami is a major literary figure to both Azeris and Persians.

In many references, Azerbaijanis are designated as a Turkic people, due to their Turkic language. However, modern-day Azerbaijanis are believed to be primarily the descendants of the Caucasian and Iranic peoples who lived in the areas of the Caucasus and northern Iran, respectively, prior to Turkification. Various historians including Vladimir Minorsky explain how largely Iranian and Caucasian populations became Turkish-speaking: “ In the beginning of the 5th/11th century the Ghuzz hordes, first in smaller parties, and then in considerable numbers, under the Seljuqids occupied Azarbaijan. In consequence, the Iranian population of Azarbaijan 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." ”

Thus, centuries of turkification of the language helped to formulate the modern Azerbaijani language.

Religion

Inhabitants of Zonouz and Zonouzakh originally were Zoroastrians. After the attack by Arab invaders most of the populated of Iran forcefully became sunni Muslims the original and the popular Islamic faith. please see Islamic conquest of Persia. After creation of shiazm by Iranian forcing back the Arabs a way from Iran most of the population remained shia muslems. see Demographics of Islam. Currently the inhabitants of Zonouz like most of Iranians are born Shia Muslims with some Zoroastrians and newly converted Christians, as most of the Iran going through counter cultural change since the Islamic revolution.

History

Ownership rights in Zonouz

Study of ownership of Zonouz land shows that many evens and changes have happened historically in land ownership. In History of Tabriz it is mentioned that Malek Mahmoud Tabrizi, son of Malek Mozaffar, contemporary with Khajeh Rashid-al-din Fazlollah lived in Eilkhane-Moghol time. Malek Mahmoud Tabrizi sold the Zonouz village to Rashid-al-din Fazlollah. After his death, history of ownership of Zonouz remains unclear until the late period of Zandieh-dynasty and beginning of Qajar dynasty. In that time, in many cities of Iran, there were serious disorders, social unrest and insecurity as a result of transferring governmental authority from Zand dynasty to Qajar dynasty. Therefore Zonouz village was one of the areas that encountered these problems. Zonouz was ruled by Donbali Khavanin. Many social and economic problems were happening in Zonouz during this time. Consequently many residents left Zonouz for other cities. Apparently it seems that they were supporting the people but secretly they were trying to lead people toward the poverty and slavery. On this case, this proverb is true, "The butcher shows a bunch of grass to the ship in order to direct the ship toward slaughter house". Consequently some loyalists did not accept this abasement and inferiority, so they decided to leave their homeland for other places. With the pressure of Donbali Khavanin "An illegal document was written on ownership of Zonouz lands". A few years later, Seyed Ali Mojtahed took this illegal document and kept it for a while. After his death again this document was given to Aziz Khan Donbali. After a while it was sold to Shoa al Saltaneh, uncle of Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar.

Shoa al Saltaneh did much oppression against the people of Zonouz. The oppressed people had to leave their homeland for Russia. His cruel behaviour and actions caused him to be murdered in Tabriz by tailor's worker. Finally successors of Shoa al Saltaneh sold this document to Mortazavi in spite of some money. Mortazavi, who used to live in Tabriz, was considered to be one of the greatest landlords in Azerbaijan. Mortazavi has selected some local powerful men as a commissary for collecting earnings related to farmer's products.

Therefore, a large share of farmers' incomes were gathered for him. Crops were divided between landowner and farmer based on one third of irrigated lands and one fourth 0f dry farming. Additionally, a lot of animal oil, butter, sheep, and cheese were collected for landlords. Mortazavi did a lot of oppressions on Zonouz' farmers. "The poem of harvest which is written by Eftekhari about oppressed farmers of Zonouz is the best evidence". Fortunately, land reforms were done by HIM Mohammad Reza Pahlavi period (1963, after that,the living conditions of farmers were improved. There was no more exploitation on farmers. As a result, what the feudal system was ended. In the ruling of Pahlavi period, the total ownership of zonouz were 90 shares. Each farmer had to buy his own share from successors of Mortazavi (Abdolvah hab). By buying the ownership's shares,the feudalism which was an ominous word for farmers ,gradually disappeared from zonouz society. Finally, the people of zonouz got free from inequality, injustice and inhumanity that landowners and commissaries were exerting on farmers.

Agriculture

It places in the 20th kilometer of the road of Marand-Jolfa. It is known for its different types of apples - it is considered the apple capital of Iran with some types of apple trees that grow only in Zonouz.

Nearly 25 different types of apple trees grow in Zonouz, with half of them unique to the village. These include "Girde shirin" and "Baljeyi". Economy of zonouz based on producing apples. Zonouz is called an apple producer area not only in Azerbaijan but also all over Iran. Zonouz is known for having different kind of apples. Apple is a heaven fruit. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Pleasant climate, fertile soil and adequate water for irrigation has made apple trees to be developed in the area. Apple trees which grow in Zonouz can be classified into two major groups. A.-Native apples B-Foreign{imported}apples. Local apples are as follow: 1-Payeze,taste good,sweet-smelling and pretty color. 2-Gabala; It is a ball shaped, taste-sour, combined with green and light red faces. 3-Torsh Alma: It is sour flavored apple, and can not be kept for longer time. 5-Baljeye: round-shaped with dark red color, sweet-smelling, taste good. It is called sweet-honey. 6-Gerdashirin: It is sweet and taste good apple for summer season.B.Foreign apple:There are two kind of apples,red and yellow Lobnani,trees of these apple are recently going to be replaced with the native apples.In the market,demand for buying Lobnani apple is much better than native ones.The annual production of Lebnani apples are 3000 tons.Domestic consumtion is about 75 tons,The main activities of farmers are related to developing apple gardens,especially Lobnani apples.The main incomes of farmers based on garden products.Other kind of apples are:Alangheh,Ag alma,Pir alma,Marand almasi,Asheg alma,Moshki,etc...A lot of agricultural lands were allocated for apple gardens,gradually, apricot trees are being cut,in their places new apple trees have been planted.yellow Lobnani apple has a good-smellig and taste sweet,its weight is about 300-400 grams.At the end of September,apples are picked,then stored in the refrigerators.Apples are spoiled soon if they are not kept in a cool places. Zonouz also has a fruit called "Malachi". Zonouz has well known mountains such as Mahar that are tourist attractions.Solta sanjar mountain,with 3100 meters height in the east of Zonouz is a holy mountain for pilgrims and mountain climbers.

Zonouzaq (Zonouzakh)

Zonouzaq is a small village at the upper part of Zonouz, famous for its architecture also known as Masouleh of Azarbaijan.

File:Zonouzakh01.jpg
File:Zonouzakh02.jpg
File:Zonouzakh03.jpg
historical grave in Zonouzaq cemetery

historical grave in Zonouzaq cemetery
historical grave in Zonouzaq cemetery

historical grave in Zonouzaq cemetery

Photo Gallery of Zonouz

File:Zonouz02.jpg
File:Zonouz03.jpg
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Red bridge(Qizil kopru).

Red bridge(Qizil kopru).
File:Zonouz09.jpg
File:Zonouz18.jpg
File:Zonouz14.jpg
dam of Zonouz.

dam of Zonouz.
File:Zonouz13.jpg
File:Zonouz19.jpg
a lane

a lane
File:Zonouz21.jpg
the walls

the walls
typical Zonouzi house.

typical Zonouzi house.
main room

main room
windows

windows
wooden ceilig.

wooden ceilig.

References

External links

more references
Azapadegan Research Institute for Iranian cultures and civilization (includes research articles on Adhari)

http://www.iran-daily.com/1387/3272/html/iranica.htm

38°35′18″N 45°49′48″E / 38.58833°N 45.83000°E / 38.58833; 45.83000

erani.tk Lists of many similarities between some Iranian languages, in English and Turkish
Society for Iranian Linguistics
[1] Iranian EFL Journal
Persian Language (Persian)

Template:Iranian-speaking regions Template:Distribution of Iranian languages