The geographic region of South Azerbaijan is known for its beautiful landscapes and its rich cultural and historical past. The local population is mainly engaged in the cultivation of cotton and other textile crops, tea and nuts, as well as gardening and cattle breeding.
Where is. General information
South Azerbaijan is located on the territory of modern Iran in its northwestern part. Its main cities are Urmia, Tabriz, Mehabad, Merend, Merage and Ardabil. In another way, this region is also called Iranian Azerbaijan. This part of the former Persia occupies an area of about 176 512 km 2. In total, about 7 million people live in such territory. At the same time, most of the population of South Azerbaijan is Azerbaijanis or Kurds.
At present, there are several Iranian provinces in this territory:
- West Azerbaijan
- Ardabil;
- Zanjan;
- East Azerbaijan.
Unofficially, the city of Tabriz is considered the capital of South Azerbaijan.
Geography of the area
Most of the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan is occupied by mountains. There are also 17 rivers flowing here. In the north, this region borders on Caucasian Azerbaijan. The southernmost point of the latter is the city of Lekoran. The distance from it to the Iranian city of Ardabil is only 70 km in a straight line. Also in the north of Iranian Azerbaijan runs the border with Armenia.
In the west, this region borders on Iraq and Turkey. In southern Azerbaijan, the mountains are mainly part of the Armenian Highlands. Also in the territory of this geographical area are the Kurdistan mountains (in the west) and Talysh mountains (in the east). In addition, the eastern part of the Zagros Range extends from north to south through Iranian Azerbaijan.
Tectonic activity in this area has always been quite serious. As a result of earthquakes, several picturesque intermontane basins were formed here, among other things. The most famous of such a landscape is the Urmia basin with the eponymous salt lake.
Also on the territory of South Azerbaijan, reviews of the nature of which on the Network are simply enthusiastic, there are pits:
- Hoy Merend;
- Araks River Valley;
- Bozkush;
- Sebelan.
The largest ridges of Iranian Azerbaijan are Karadag and Mishudag, bordering the Araks river, as well as the Sebelan and Bozkush depressions. Among other things, in the territory of this geographical area there are two powerful volcanoes:
- Sebelan - height 4812 m;
- Kheremdag - height 3710 m.
The nature in this geographical area is actually very beautiful. You can verify this by looking at the photos of South Azerbaijan presented in the article.
Rivers and lakes
The main river of Iranian Azerbaijan is the Araks - the right tributary of the Kura. The origins of this aquatic artery are in Turkey. In the middle reaches, Araks passes through the lands of Armenia. This main river of Azerbaijan is mentioned in the writings of the ancient Greek geographer Hecatius of Miletus (VI century BC). In ancient times, the Armenians called it Erasch and connected this waterway with the name of the ancient king Aramais Erast. The total length of Araks is 1072 km, and its basin area is 102 km 2. This aquatic artery flows mainly in mountainous terrain. In Azerbaijani, her name sounds like Araz. It may be considered interesting that a Soviet-Iranian hydroelectric facility was built on this river in the 70s of the last century.
Another significant waterway of South Azerbaijan is Gesel Uzan. This river flows in the east of the region and has two tributaries - Aydigumyush and Garang.
In addition, on the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan there are two more large lakes - Akgel and Urmia. The latter is also mentioned in the Avesta. In this Zoroastrian book, it is described as "a deep lake with salt waters" Chechasht. This body of water is located in the Kurdish Mountains at an altitude of 1275 m. The total catchment area is 50 thousand km 2. On this lake, among other things, there are 102 islands, the largest of which are covered with pistachio forests.
Climate of the country
Iranian Azerbaijan is located mainly in areas with a continental climate. Hot summers alternate with cold snowy winters. Iran is a state experiencing a large deficit of natural moisture. South Azerbaijan is a pleasant exception in this regard. The average annual rainfall here can range from 300-900 mm. Thanks to this, the local population has the opportunity to engage in agriculture without artificial irrigation. In the northeast of this geographical area, the climate is completely subtropical.
Why is it called
It was this area up to the 20s of the last century that was actually called Azerbaijan. It was entrenched in it historically. The more northern Caucasian territories became Azerbaijan only after the collapse of the USSR. In Soviet times, they were called a little differently. In the USSR, these territories, as you know, were the Republic of Azerbaijan. The latter was formed in 1918 and received such a name primarily for ethnic reasons.
Today, the Caucasus territories are called Azerbaijan. After all, here at the moment there is a world-recognized state that has its own borders. South Azerbaijan (or Iranian) is considered to be nothing more than a historical and geographical area.
Actually, the ancient word "Azerbaijan" itself comes from the Persian Mad-i-Aturpatkan (Âzarâbâdagân). This was the name of the province of Media, where, after the invasion of Alexander the Great, the last Achaemenid satrap Atropat (Aturpatak) ruled. It is on this territory that South Azerbaijan is mainly located today.
It is known that in ancient times many Zoroastrian fire-worshiping temples acted on these lands. Therefore, later the name "Azerbaijan" began to be interpreted a little differently. The peoples inhabiting these territories considered their homeland "a place protected by divine fire." In Persian it sounds like “Ador Bad Agan”, which is very consonant with the word “Azerbaijan”.
Zoroastrian period
Initially, the territory of South Azerbaijan, like the Caucasus, was part of the Mann state. Subsequently, for some time it was dependent on the Scythian kingdom. Even later, these territories became part of the newly formed Median state, and then the Achaemenid empire. Iranian Azerbaijan was called the Small Mussel in those days.
After the suppression of the Atropat dynasty, these territories became part of the Parthian kingdom, and then the Sasanian empire. The kings of the Lesser Media in that era were usually the heirs to the throne of both empires. Part of South Azerbaijan east of Lake Urmia belonged to Greater Armenia during this period. In the 4th century AD e. the king of these territories Urnayr, following the example of Trdat III, adopted Christianity.
Islamic period
In 642, the Small Midia (Adurbadgan) became part of the Arab Caliphate. After the collapse of this empire, she moved to the Sajid caliphate with its capital in Tabriz. Two centuries later, the territories of South Azerbaijan subjugated the Seljuk Turks and made them part of their empire. After the collapse of the latter, the Atabeks from the Ildegizid dynasty, the former vassals of the Seljuks, ruled for some time.
In 1220, the Tatar-Mongols invaded Malaya Medes and devastated it. Five years later, the capital of South Azerbaijan, Tabriz, was captured by the Khorezmshah Jalal-ad-Din, putting an end to the Ildegizid dynasty. After the collapse of the Mongol empire, these lands went to Hulag Khan. In the XIV century. Iranian Azerbaijan became part of the Jalairid empire, and later the Safavids, who restored the unity of Iran. The capital of Adurbagan in those days was Isfahan.
Azerbaijani ethnos
Since the reign of the Jalairids and Safavids, the territories of South Azerbaijan began to be actively populated by Turkic peoples. Having assimilated the local Persian population, they gave rise to the development of the Azerbaijani ethnic group. At the same time, a new nationality began to take shape not only in Adurbadgan itself, but also in Transcaucasia. Here, the Turks assimilated the Iranians and Dagestanis (Albanians).
Subsequently, warlike Azerbaijani tribes, ardent Shiites, actively defended Iran from the Turks. Over time, Adurbadgan became the richest and most significant province of this state. The governor-general of these lands were most often appointed heirs to the throne of the Shah.
History of the country in the 19th - early 20th centuries
In October 1827, during the Caucasian War, the Azerbaijani city of Tabriz was taken by the troops of General Paskevich. However, later, after the signing of the Turkmanchay peace, the Russian army left these territories. Moreover, according to the agreement, North Azerbaijan was annexed to Russia. The southern one remained under the influence of the Gajar shahs of Iran. The border in those days passed along the Araks River.
In the 19-20 centuries, South Azerbaijan periodically fell under the influence of either Turks or Russians. In 1880, a Kurdish uprising broke out here. The rebels, trying to create their own state, almost took Tabriz. However, in the end, the rebels were defeated. After another 25 years, Tabriz became the center of the Iranian revolution of 1905-1911. Russian troops helped to suppress the uprising of the then Shah of Iran.
After that, the weakened country finally became the arena of the struggle between Russia and Turkey. South Azerbaijan, after the suppression of the uprising in Tabriz and the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Kurdistan they had captured by that time, like the north, came under Russian influence.
In 1914, under pressure from the Germans and Turks, the territory of present Iranian Azerbaijan, the tsarist troops were forced to leave. However, a year later the Russians returned and remained here until 1917. From the beginning to the end of 1918, these territories were under the influence of the Turks.
New era
For a long time, the population of Azerbaijan did not identify themselves as a separate ethnic group. Residents of these lands called themselves either "Türks" or "Muslims". The concepts of "Azerbaijani language", "Azerbaijani nationality" was introduced into use by European scientists only in the XIX century.
First, Turkey, and then Russia, helped determine the identity of the ethnic group of the peoples who inhabited the northwest of Iran and the south of the Caucasus. Initially, Azerbaijani nationalism arose in these territories as a reaction to Persian pressure under the rulers of the Pahlavi dynasty. Turks began to support the discontented through agitation in the early years of the 20th year. In 1941, southern Azerbaijan was occupied by Soviet troops. At the same time, 77 divisions were introduced into the land, consisting solely of ethnic Azerbaijanis. In those days, active pan-Azerbaijani propaganda, of course, was also carried out by Soviet agents sent from Baku.
In November 1945, under the pressure of the USSR, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was created in these territories with its own government, and later the army. However, Moscow’s attempt to take control of the north-west of modern Iran ultimately failed. In 1946, under pressure from the United States and Great Britain, Russia was forced to withdraw troops from South Azerbaijan. Left without the support of Moscow, the DRA, of course, did not last too long. A year later, its territory was again transferred to Iran.
Iranian and Caucasian ethnic groups
Initially, South and Caucasus Azerbaijan was inhabited by a population almost identical in ethnic composition. After the East Transcaucasia became a part of Russia, the situation changed somewhat. The Azerbaijanis remaining in Iran continued to live under the influence of traditional Islamic culture. In the USSR, representatives of this people developed for several decades under the influence of Europeanized Russian traditions (although 99% of the population still remained Muslims).
Since the 90s of the last century, many politicians of both Azerbaijan have advocated the unification of divided lands. In 1995, for example, the National Awakening Movement of South Azerbaijan (DNPLA) was founded.
In Iran, the Persians for a long time tried to suppress any Azerbaijani ethnic sentiment. But the forces advocating the unification and independence of both regions always remained in these parts. For example, in 2006, serious unrest occurred in this country. In 2013, a group of members of the Iranian parliament drafted a bill giving this country the right to insist on the unification of North and South Azerbaijan.
History of the region: interesting facts
Officially, Azerbaijan is currently considered Northern. However, the territory of the former Soviet republic is only 86, 600 km 2. The area of South Azerbaijan, considered simply a geographical area, is equal to 100 thousand km 2. At the same time, a little less than 10 million people live in the Caucasian state. In Iranian Azerbaijan, more than 7 million people actually live in Azerbaijan.
The entry of Soviet troops in the middle of the last century into the territory of South Azerbaijan was primarily associated with the pro-fascist sentiments of the Shah of Iran during the Second World War. The USSR then relied on the treaty of 1921 existing between the countries. 6 troops were allowed to enter the territory of Iranian Azerbaijan. At that time, the British, and later the Americans, settled down in the north of the country. Thus, Iran during the Second World War became the most important transport artery, through which ammunition and equipment from the Allies were delivered to the USSR.
In the 20s and 40s of the last century, Iran issued in Azerbaijan special bills different from those used in other parts of the state. In the 1920s, money in this part of the country simply had an overprint.
The unrest of 2006 in this geographical area was caused by the publication in the Iranian media of a caricature of the Azerbaijani language. Protests then took place throughout the northwest of the country. After 10 days, they grew into riots. During their suppression, 4 people died and 330 were arrested. There is information that in July 2007, about 800 activists of the national awakening movement in South Azerbaijan were already detained in Iranian prisons.
Caucasian Azerbaijan itself was not considered Azerbaijan at the beginning of the 20th century. Some historians believe that the new Soviet republic got its name only because the Soviet government planned to unite all the lands inhabited by representatives of the same nationality. According to scientists, modern Caucasian Azerbaijan would be more correct to call Arran.
Culture of South Azerbaijan: Interesting Facts
According to the descriptions of Herodotus, the Medes, who once settled in the north-west of Iran, invaded this country through mountain passes to the west of the Caspian, in ancient times were divided into 6 tribes. One of these nationalities was called “magicians”. Many scholars believe that this tribe was a priestly tribe, and in the future all the clergymen of not only the Medes, but also the Persians, came from it.
The close-knit magicians traditionally maintained ties with urban civilizations - Urartu, Assyria and Babylon, and, of course, learned a lot from them. It is believed that these priests once looked down on the eastern peoples and actively resisted the spread of Zoroastrianism. Later, however, this religion still became popular throughout the country.
Many scholars consider the reign of the Ildehyzids to be the cultural heyday of South Azerbaijan. After the collapse of the Seljuk empire, their former vassals actively patronized the local poets and architects. For example, the support of the Ildehyzids was enjoyed by such famous oriental poets as Zahir Faryaby, Anvari Abivardi, Nizami Ganjavi.
Safavids also sponsored sciences and arts in South Azerbaijan, beginning from Shah Ismail I. In the palaces of these rulers there were even Book Houses where rare manuscripts were kept. Libraries were especially rich at that time in Tabriz and Ardabil.
The Safavid Shah Abbas II tried at one time to bring equipment for printing books from Europe. However, the ruler did not have enough money for this then, unfortunately. In 1828, Russian troops occupied Ardabil and removed 166 valuable books from the library of this city, which were then sent to the stores of St. Petersburg.
In addition to poets, a whole generation of miniature calligraphers grew up in the Safavid period in Iranian Azerbaijan: Seyid Ali Tabrizi, Ali Rza Tabrizi, Mir Abdulbagi Tabrizi. During the time of this dynasty, Gurbani, the world-famous ashyglar of South Azerbaijan, also created. Already after his death in the XVII century an anonymous dastan “Gurbani” was created, including episodes of the poet’s biography and his poems.
Culture and education of South Azerbaijan in the XIX-XX century
As already mentioned, after the conclusion of the Turkmenchay agreement, parts of divided Azerbaijan went along different development paths. In the northern regions, which were influenced by the Russians, secular education began to develop actively (schools at the madrasah were closed at the same time).
In the southern part of Azerbaijan, the Iranian authorities paid almost no attention to the development of science and education. However, schools at madrassas that provided secondary and higher education did exist here. At the end of the 19th century, even several new secular educational institutions were opened in South Azerbaijan. But the merit in this belonged not to the ruling Kajars then, but to several intellectuals-patriots. For example, in 1887 Mirza Hasan Rushdiyya, nicknamed “the father of Iranian enlightenment, ” opened a school in Tabriz with a new teaching methodology called “Dabestan”.
In 1858, the foundations of the periodical press were laid in South Azerbaijan. Then the newspaper "Azerbaijan" was first published here. In 1880, the Tabriz publication began to be published. В 1884 г. в Иранском Азербайджане вышла газета «Меденийет».
