Azerbaijan (Iran) 882499 225669730 2008-07-14T20:42:21Z Alborz Fallah 3570214 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225630993 by [[Special:Contributions/Sehend1|Sehend1]] ([[User talk:Sehend1|talk]]) :''This article is about the region in Iran; for other uses, see [[Azerbaijan (disambiguation)]].'' '''Azerbaijan''' or '''Azarbaijan''' ({{PerB|آذربایجان; ''Āzarbāijān''}}; {{lang-az|آذربایجان}} , [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]: آذربایجان ), also '''Iranian Azerbaijan''', '''Iranian Azarbaijan''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: آذربایجان ایران; ''Āzarbāijān-e Irān''), is a [[region]] in northwestern [[Iran]]. It is also historically known as ''[[Atropatene]]'' and ''[[Aturpatakan]]''. The region is referred to by some as ''South Azerbaijan'' or ''Southern Azerbaijan'' ({{lang-az|جنوبی آذربایجان}}; in the republic of Azerbaijan: ''Cənubi Azərbaycan'', گونئي آذربایجان; in the Republic of Azerbaijan (Anatolian Turkish style): ''Güney Azərbaycan'').<ref>Encyclopaedia Iranica: "Azerbaijan", viii "Azerbaijan Turkish", Doerfer, G. page 246, ([http://www.iranica.com/newsite/search/searchpdf.isc?ReqStrPDFPath=/home1/iranica/articles/v3_articles/azerbaijan/azeri_turkish&OptStrLogFile=/home/iranica/public_html/logs/pdfdownload.html LINK])</ref><ref>Brown, Cameron S. 2002 (Dec.). "Observations from Azerbaijan." ''[[Middle East Review of International Affairs]]'': v. 6, no. 4, ([http://meria.idc.ac.il/journal/2002/issue4/jv6n4a7.html LINK])</ref> However, some sources view these terms as being incorrect and politically motivated.<ref>Michael P. Croissant, "The Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Causes and Implications", Praeger/Greenwood, 1998</ref><ref> ''Ethnic Conflict and International Security'', Edited by Michael E. Brown, Princeton University Press, 1993 </ref> For more information see the article [[History of the name Azerbaijan]]. == Etymology and usage == {{main|History of the name Azerbaijan}} The name Azerbaijan itself is derived from ''[[Atropates]]'',<ref> Atroapates. Encyclopedia Iranica. [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v3f1/v3f1a020.html] </ref> the [[Satrap]] (governor) of [[Medes|Medea]] in the [[Achaemenid]] [[empire]], who ruled a region found in modern Iranian Azarbaijan called ''[[Atropatene]]''. Atropates name is believed to be derived from the [[Old Persian]] roots meaning "protected by fire."<ref>Encyclopædia Iranica, [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v3f1/v3f1a020.html "ATROPATES"] M. L. Chaumont.</ref> The name is also mentioned in the [[Avesta]]n Frawardin Yasht: ''âterepâtahe ashaonô fravashîm ýazamaide'' which translates literally to: We worship the [[Fravashi]] of the holy Atare-pata.<ref>[http://www.avesta.org/ka/yt13sbe.htm FRAWARDIN YASHT ("Hymn to the Guardian Angels") Translated by James Darmesteter (From Sacred Books of the East, American Edition, 1898)]</ref> َAccording to the Encyclopedia of Islam, the name of the province was pronounced as: ''In Middle Persian the name of the province was called Āturpātākān, older new-Persian Ādharbādhagān آذربادگان/آذرآبادگان, Ādharbāyagān, at present Āzerbāydjān/Āzarbāydjān, Greek ᾿Ατροπατήνη, Byzantine Greek ᾿Αδραβιγάνων, Armenian Atrpatakan, Syriac Adhorbāyghān.''.<ref>Minorsky, V.; Minorsky, V. "Azerbaijan" Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill </ref> The name Atropat in Middle Persian was transformed to Adharbad and is connected with Zoroastrianism. A famous Zoroastrian priest by the name Adarbad Mahraspandan is well known for his counsels.<ref> R. C. Zaehner, The Teachings of the Magi, London, 1956, p. 101 [http://www.avesta.org/mp/adarbad1.htm] </ref> Azerbaijan, due to its numerous fire-temples has also been quoted in a variety of historic sources as being the birth place of the prophet [[Zoroaster]] although modern scholars have not yet reached an agreement on the location of his birth.<ref> G. Gnoli, Zoroaster's time and homeland, Naples, 1980</ref> ==Geography== Iranian Azerbaijan is generally considered the northwest portion of Iran compromising the provinces of [[Zanjan]], [[East Azerbaijan]], [[West Azerbaijan]] and [[Ardabil]]. It shares borders with the [[Republic of Azerbaijan]],<ref>[http://www.iranica.com/articles/ot_grp5/ot_archeology_viii_20040616.html M. N. POGREBOVA, Encyclopedia Iranica, ARCHEOLOGY. viii. NORTHERN AZERBAIJAN (REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN), June 16, 2004]</ref> Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq and a population of about 25 million. Azerbaijan is famous for its great natural beauty. There are 17 rivers and two lakes in the region. Cotton, nuts, textiles, tea, machinery and electrical equipments are main industries. The northern, [[alpine climate|alpine]] region, which includes [[Lake Urmia]], is mountainous, with deep valleys and fertile lowlands. The region is bounded in the north by [[Armenia]] and the [[Republic of Azerbaijan]] and in the West by [[Lake Urmia]] and Kurdish-inhabited areas of Iran, and in the East by the [[Talyshstan]] and [[Gilan Province|Gilan]]. ==Agriculture== Grains, fruits, cotton, rice, nuts, and tobacco are the staple crops of the region. ==Industries and handicrafts== Industries include machine tools, vehicle factories, oil refinery, petrochemical complex, food processing, cement, textiles, electric equipment, and sugar milling. Oil and gas pipelines run through the region. Wool, carpets, and metal ware are also produced. ==People== {{see also|Iranian Azeris|Demographics of Iran}} Azerbaijan, the main Turkic-speaking area and one of the richest and one of the most densely populated regions of Iran, presents a picture of ethnic distinctiveness and homogeneity that is perhaps misleading. Not only are there various linguistic, religious, and tribal minority groups, and Azerbaijanis themselves have settled widely outside the region.<ref>[[Encyclopaedia Iranica]], page 243 = accessed January 9, 2007]</ref> The Azeris are followers of [[Shi'a]] Islam. [[Azeris in Iran|Azeris]] make up the majority of the population in the Iranian region of Azerbaijan. The '''Azeri''' (also known as '''Azerbaijani''') population of [[Iran]] is mainly found in the northwest provinces: [[East Azarbaijan Province|East Azarbaijan]], [[West Azarbaijan Province|West Azarbaijan]], [[Ardabil Province|Ardabil]], [[Zanjan]], and in some regions of [[Kordestan Province|Kordestan]], [[Hamadan Province|Hamadan]] and [[Markazi Province|Markazi]]. Many others live in [[Tehran]], [[Karaj]] and other regions.<ref name="Library of Congress Iran">Azarbaijanis</ref> Smaller groups of [[Kurdish people|Kurds]], [[Armenians]], [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]], [[Talysh]]s, [[Persian Jews|Jew]]s, [[Georgians in Iran|Georgians]], and [[Persian people|Persians]] also inhabit the region. ==Provinces and cities== Iranian Azerbaijan is divided into the provinces of [[East Azerbaijan|East Azarbaijan]] (1996 pop. 3,325,540), [[West Azerbaijan|West Azarbaijan]] (1996 pop. 2,496,320), [[Ardabil Province|Ardabil]]. (1996 pop. 1,168,011), [[Zanjan Province|Zanjan]] (1996 pop. 900,890)<ref>[http://www.statoids.com/uir.html Provinces of Iran - 1996 Census figures, page last updated: 2006-04-19, accessed April 2, 2007]</ref>[http://lexicorient.com/e.o/iran_provinces.htm] The chief cities include [[Tabriz]] (the capital of East Azarbaijan), [[Urmia]] (the capital of West Azerbaijan), [[Ardabil]] (the capital of Ardabil), [[Maragheh]], [[Marand]], [[Zanjan]], and [[Khoy]] (Khvoy). ==History== {{see main|History of Iran}} ===Pre-Islamic period=== The oldest kingdom known in Iranian Azerbaijan is that of the [[Mannaeans|Mannea]] who ruled a region southeast of [[Lake Urmia]] centered around modern [[Saqqez]]. The Manneans were a confederation of Iranian and non-Iranian groups. According to Professor Zadok: {{cquote|it is unlikely that there was any ethnolinguistic unity in Mannea. Like other peoples of the [[Iranian plateau]], the Manneans were subjected to an ever increasing Iranian (i.e., Indo-European) penetration.<ref>[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/ot_grp10/ot_mannea_20060116.html MANNEA by R. Zadok in Encyclopaedia Iranica]</ref>}} According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the [[Medes]] were an: {{cquote|Indo-European people, related to the Persians, who entered northeastern Iran probably as early as the 17th century BC and settled in the plateau land that came to be known as Media.<ref>"Mede." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 12 February 2007 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9051719></ref>}} [[Image:Persia 600ad.jpg|250px|thumb|Map showing Atropatene (Iranian Azerbaijan) below the Aras River. Region above the Aras River,currently Located in Azerbaijan republic, is labeled as [[Caucasian Albania]] (600 AD).]] By the 8th century BC, Azerbaijan, as well as [[Hamadan]], [[Tehran]], and [[Esfahan]] had been settled by [[Medes]]. Azerbaijan later formed the province of ''Media Minor'' in the [[Persian Empire]]. After [[Alexander the Great]] conquered [[Persia]], he appointed (328 BC) as governor the Persian general [[Atropates]], who eventually established an independent dynasty. The region, which came to be known as [[Atropatene]] or Media Atropatene (after Atropates), was much disputed. In the 2nd century BC, it was liberated from [[Seleucid]] domination by [[Mithradates I]] of [[Arsacid dynasty]], and was later made a province of the [[Sassanid Empire]] of [[Ardashir I]]. Under the Sassanids, Azerbaijan was ruled by a ''marzubān'', and, towards the end of the period, belonged to the family of [[Farrukh-Hormuzd]]. [[Heraclius]], the [[List of Byzantine emperors|Byzantine emperor]], briefly held the region in the 7th century until peace was made with the Sassanids. After the [[Islamic Conquest of Iran]], [[Arab]] invaders converted most of its people to [[Islam]] and made it part of the [[caliphate]]. ===Islamic period=== ====Arab Conquest==== During the Islamic invasion of Azerbaijan, the name of the general of Iran, was Rustam the son of Farrukh Hurmuz also known as Rustam Farrokhzad. Rustam himself was born in Azerbaijan and lead the Sassanid army into battle. He is also mentioned in the Shahnameh: چو نامه بخوانی تو با مهتران/برانداز و برساز لشکر بران همی تاز تا آذرآبادگان/ دیار بزرگان و آزادگان همیدون گله هرچه داری ز اسب/ببر سوی گنجور آذرگشسب The Sassanid Persian army was defeated in the battle of Qadisiya and Rustam was killed in the same battle. In 642 A.D., Piruzan, the Persian commander fought the Muslims in Nahavand, which was a gateway to the provinces of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Albania. The battle was fiece but the Sassanid troops failed in battle. This opened the gateway for Muslims into Azerbaijan. Muslims settled in Azerbaijan like many parts of Iran. According to the historian Kasravi, the Muslims also settled in Azerbaijan more numerously than other provinces due to its wide and green pastures. Local revolts against the Caliphate were common and the most famous of these revolts was that Persian Khurramite movement. ==== Abbasid and Seljuqids ==== After the revolt of [[Babak Khorramdin]] who was a Zoroastrian of neo-Mazdakite background, the grip of the [[Abbasid]] caliphate on Azerbaijan weakened, allowing native dynasties to rise in Azerbaijan. Later on Azerbaijan was taken by the Kurdish [[Daisam]] and the [[Gilan|Daylamite]] [[Marzuban bin Muhammad|Marzuban]]. The Daylamites were succeeded by the Kurdish [[Rawadids]]. After confrontations with the local Kurdish populations who had already established their own dynasties and emirates in vast areas of Azerbaijan, the [[Seljuks]] dominated the region in the 11th and early 12th centuries, at which point Turkification of the native populations began. In 1136, Azerbaijan fell to the lot of the Atabakan-e-Azerbaijan and Atabakan-e-Maragheh. It was invaded by the Khwarizm Shah Jalal ad-din until the advent of the Mongol invasions. ==== Mongol and Turkmen Period ==== The [[Mongols]] under [[Hulagu Khan]] established their capital at [[Maragheh]]. The [[Safina-yi Tabriz]] is a book that describes the general intellectual condition of Tabriz during the [[Ilkhanid]] period. After being conquered by [[Timur]] in the 14th century, [[Tabriz]] became an important provincial capital of the [[Timur|Timurid empire]]. Later, Tabriz becamse the capital of the [[Kara Koyunlu|Qara Qoyunlu]] empire. ==== Safavid, Afghan interlude, Afshars and Qajar==== It was out of [[Ardabil]] (ancient Artavilla) that the [[Safavid dynasty]] arose to renew the state of Persia and establish Shi'ism as the official religion of Iran. After 1502, Azarbaijan became the chief bulwark and military based of the Safavids. In the meantime, between 1514 and 1603, the Ottomans frequently occupied Tabriz and other parts of the province. The Safavid control was restored by Shah Abbas but during the Afghan invasion (1722-8) the Ottomans recaptured Azerbaijan and other western provinces of Iran, until [[Nadir Shah]] expelled them. In the beginning of the reign of Karim Khan Zand, the Afghan Azad Khan revolted in Azerbaijan and later the Dumbuli Kurds of [[khoy]] and other tribal chiefs ruled various parts of the territory. With the advent of the Qajars, Azerbaijan became the traditional residence of the heirs-apparent. At this time, the final northern frontier of Iran with Russia (along the Araxes) was established in 1828 ([[Turkmanchay Treaty]]). After 1905 the representatives of Azerbaijan were very active in the [[Iranian Constitutional Revolution]]. ==== Modern Period ==== The Russian (Tsarist) army occupied Iranian Azerbaijan in 1909, and again in 1912-1914 and 1915-1918 period,the Ottoman forces occupied her in 1914-1915 and 1918-1919 periods, the Bolshevik forces occupied Iranian Azerbaijan and other parts of Iran in 1920-1921,<ref>[http://www.iran-bulletin.org/ibMEF-2-completed/TheGilan%20Republic.htm Younes Parsa Benab, "The Gilan Soviet Republic and Azadistan in Iranian Azerbaijan (1917-1921)", accessed April 2, 2007]</ref> and the Soviet forces occupied Iranian Azerbaijan in [[1941]], createing a very short-lived autonomous, Soviet-supported state in May [[1946]], which was dissolved after reunification of Iranian Azerbaijan with Iran in November of the same year. The history of Iran, especially its contemporary history has proven that Azari people are one of the most patriot people in Iran. Iranian Nationalism is partly the product of Azari Intellectuals.<ref>For more information see: Ali Morshedizad,Roshanfekrane Azari va Hoviyate Melli va Ghomi (Azari Intellectuals and Their Attitude to Natinal and Ethnic Identity (Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz publishing co., 1380)</ref> <ref>http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1409&fuseaction=va2.browse&sort=Collection&item=1945%2D46%20Iranian%20Crisis Cold War International History Project Virtual Archive 2.0 Collection: 1945-46 Iranian Crisis]</ref> . Azerbaijani provinces have played a major in the cultural and economic life of Iran in both the Pahlavi era as well as the Islamic revolution.</ref> ==Culture== [[Azeris]] are culturally very close to the rest of the Iranians though their language is Turkic. The people of Azerbaijan have similar DNA to other Iranian peoples<ref name="Dr. Bonab page"> [http://www.gen.cam.ac.uk/Research/balloux.htm "Maziar Ashrafian Bonab"] — ''Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge'' (retrieved [[9 June]] [[2006]])</ref><ref>[http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-727489&Lang=P "Cambridge Genetic Study of Iran"] — ''ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency)'', 06-12-2006, news-code: 8503-06068 (retrieved [[9 June]] [[2006]])</ref> as well as their religion which is [[Shia|Shi'a]] Islam, which sets them apart from other Turkic speakers (who are mostly [[Sunni Muslims]]). [[Azeris]] celebrate [[Nouruz]] for the turn of the new Iranian year, the arrival of spring. Azerbaijan has a distinct [[Music of Azerbaijan|music]] in Iran. Many local dances and folk music continue to survive among the various peoples of the provinces. Although [[Azerbaijani]] language is not an official language it is widely used, mostly in an oral tradition, among the [[Azeris in Iran]]. Many poets that came from Azerbaijan wrote poetry in both [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Azerbaijani]]. Renowned poets in [[Azerbaijani language]] are [[Nasimi]], [[Shah Ismail I]] (who was known with the pen-name [[Khatai]]), [[Fuzuli]], and [[Mohammad Hossein Shahriar]]. Fuzuli and Nasimi were probably born outside what is now Iranian Azerbaijan. [[Azerbaijani]] was the dominant language of the ruling dynasties of the Turkic rulers of the area such as the [[Ak Koyunlu]] and later it was used in the [[Safavid]] courts for a short time, until Persian was adopted, however, Turkic was used especially among the [[Kizilbash]] warriors.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} As a longstanding province of Iran ([[Persia]]), Azerbaijan is mentioned favorably on many occasions in [[Persian literature]] by [[List of Persian poets and authors|Iran's greatest authors and poets]]. Examples: [[Image:Folio from a Khamsa-c.jpg|thumb|[[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid]] king, [[Bahram V of Persia|Bahram Gur]] is a great favourite in Persian tradition and poetry. Depction of Nezami's "Bahram and the Indian Princess in the Black Pavilion" ''Khamse'' ("Quintet"), mid-16th century [[Safavid]] era.]] گزیده هر چه در ایران بزرگان<br> زآذربایگان و ری و گرگان<br> All the nobles and greats of Iran,<br> Choose from Azerbaijan, [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], and [[Gorgan]].<br> —''[[Vis o Ramin]]'' از آنجا بتدبیر آزادگان<br> بیامد سوی آذرآبادگان<br> From there the wise and the free,<br> set off to Azerbaijan<br> —''[[Nizami]]'' به یک ماه در آذرآبادگان<br> ببودند شاهان و آزادگان<br> For a month's time, The Kings and The Free,<br> Would choose in Azerbaijan to be<br> —''[[Ferdowsi]]'' ==Colleges and Universities== * [[Sahand University of Technology]] * [[Tabriz University of Medical Sciences]] * [[University of Tabriz]] * [[Urmia University of Medical Sciences]] * [[Urmia University]] * [[Ardabil University of Medical Sciences]] * [[Mohaghegh Ardabili University]] * [[Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences|Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS)]] *[[Zanjan University]] *[[Azarbaijan University of Tarbiat Moallem]] *[[Tabriz Islamic Arts University]] * [[University of Maragheh]] ==See also== {{Wikisource1911Enc|Azerbāïjān}} * [[Atropatene]] * [[Iranian theory regarding the origin of the Azerbaijanis]] * [[History of the name Azerbaijan]] * [[Ancient Azari language]] * [[Iranian Azeris]] * [[Azeri cartoon controversy in the Iran newspaper]] * [[Takam]] * [[Takam-Chi]] * [[Saya (poem)|Sāyā]] ==External links== {{sisterlinks|Iranian Azerbaijan}} <div class="infobox sisterproject"> <div style="float: left;">[[Image:Wikipedia-logo.png|45px|none|Wikipedia]]</div> <div style="margin-right: 60px;">'''''[http://www.az.wikipedia.org Azerbaijani language edition]''''' of [[Wikipedia]]</div> </div> *[http://www.bartleby.com/65/az/AzerbjIrn.html "Azerbaijan" (''Columbia Encyclopedia'', 6th edition; 2001-05)] ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:Geography of Iran]] [[az:Cənubi Azərbaycan]] [[ca:Azerbaidjan Meridional]] [[de:Āzarbāydschān]] [[eo:Suda Azerbajĝano]] [[es:Azerbaiyán Meridional]] [[et:Lõuna-Aserbaidžaan]] [[fa:آذربایجان]] [[ga:An Asarbaiseáin (an Iaráin)]] [[id:Azerbaijan (Iran)]] [[ko:남아제르바이잔]] [[pl:Azerbejdżan Irański]] [[pt:Azerbaijão (Irã)]] [[ru:Иранский Азербайджан]] [[sv:Iranska Azarbaijan]] [[tr:Güney Azerbaycan]]