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| '''Azerbaijan'' , ]. | |||
| #REDIRECT ] | |||
| '''Azarbaijan''', '''Azerbaijan''' or '''Azerbayejan''', region, c.34,280 sq mi (88,785 sq km), NW Iran, divided into the provinces of East Azerbaijan (1996 pop. 3,325,540), West Azerbaijan (1996 pop. 2,496,320), and Ardabil. (1996 pop. 1,168,011). The chief cities include ] (the capital of East Azerbaijan), ] (the capital of West Azerbaijan), ] (the capital of Ardabil), ], and ] (Khvoy). The region is bounded in the N by ] and the ] (from which it is separated by the Aras River) and in the W by ] and ]. | |||
| Azarbaijan, which includes ], is mountainous, with deep valleys and fertile lowlands. Grains, fruits, cotton, rice, nuts, and tobacco are grown. Wool, carpets, and metalware are produced. Industries include food processing, cement, textiles, electric equipment, and sugar milling. An oil pipeline runs through the region. The majority of the people of Azarbaijan are Turkic-speaking Azeris of Iranian stock, who are ] Muslims. There are also ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| In ancient times, before the ] migration to ], Azarbaijan was dominated by the kings of Van and ] (in Armenia). By the 8th cent. B.C. it had been settled by the Iranian ], and it later formed the province of Media Minor in the ]. After ] the ] warlord conquered ], he appointed (328 B.C.) as governor the Persian general Atropates, who eventually established an independent dynasty. Later, the region, which came to be called Atropatene or Media Atropatene, was much disputed. In the 2d cent. B.C. it was liberated from ] domination by the Mithradates I, of ] and c.A.D. 226 it became part of ] Ardashir I's Empire. ] enlarged Azarbaijan by adding territory in the north kniown as Arran or Aran (today known as the Republic of ]). | |||
| Heraclius, the ] emperor, briefly held the region in the 7th cent., just before the ]; Arab invaders converted most of its people to Islam and made it part of the ]. The Persianized ] Turks dominated the region in the 11th and 12th cent., and the ] under Hulagu Khan established (13th cent.) their capital at ]. After being conquered by ] in the 14th cent., ] became an important provincial capital of the ]. It was out of ] (Ancient Artavilla) that the ] dynasty arose (c.1500) to renew the state of Persia. There was fierce fighting between the ] and Persia for Azarbaijan. After brief Ottoman control, ], regained control of the region in 1603. | |||
Revision as of 06:56, 24 October 2005
'Azerbaijan , Iran.
Azarbaijan, Azerbaijan or Azerbayejan, region, c.34,280 sq mi (88,785 sq km), NW Iran, divided into the provinces of East Azerbaijan (1996 pop. 3,325,540), West Azerbaijan (1996 pop. 2,496,320), and Ardabil. (1996 pop. 1,168,011). The chief cities include Tabriz (the capital of East Azerbaijan), Urmia (the capital of West Azerbaijan), Ardebil (the capital of Ardabil), Maragheh, and Khoy (Khvoy). The region is bounded in the N by Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan (from which it is separated by the Aras River) and in the W by Turkey and Iraq.
Azarbaijan, which includes Lake Urmia, is mountainous, with deep valleys and fertile lowlands. Grains, fruits, cotton, rice, nuts, and tobacco are grown. Wool, carpets, and metalware are produced. Industries include food processing, cement, textiles, electric equipment, and sugar milling. An oil pipeline runs through the region. The majority of the people of Azarbaijan are Turkic-speaking Azeris of Iranian stock, who are Shiite Muslims. There are also Armenians, Kurds, Jews, and Persians.
In ancient times, before the Aryan migration to Iranian Plateau, Azarbaijan was dominated by the kings of Van and Urartu (in Armenia). By the 8th cent. B.C. it had been settled by the Iranian Medes, and it later formed the province of Media Minor in the Persian Empire. After Alexander the Macedonain warlord conquered Persia, he appointed (328 B.C.) as governor the Persian general Atropates, who eventually established an independent dynasty. Later, the region, which came to be called Atropatene or Media Atropatene, was much disputed. In the 2d cent. B.C. it was liberated from Selucid domination by the Mithradates I, of Arsacid dynasty and c.A.D. 226 it became part of Sassanian Ardashir I's Empire. Shapur II enlarged Azarbaijan by adding territory in the north kniown as Arran or Aran (today known as the Republic of Azerbaijan).
Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor, briefly held the region in the 7th cent., just before the Islamic Conquest of Iran; Arab invaders converted most of its people to Islam and made it part of the caliphate. The Persianized Seljuk Turks dominated the region in the 11th and 12th cent., and the Mongols under Hulagu Khan established (13th cent.) their capital at Maragheh. After being conquered by Timur in the 14th cent., Tabriz became an important provincial capital of the Timurid empire. It was out of Ardebil (Ancient Artavilla) that the Safavid dynasty arose (c.1500) to renew the state of Persia. There was fierce fighting between the Ottoman Empire and Persia for Azarbaijan. After brief Ottoman control, Shah Abbas the Great, regained control of the region in 1603.