Historical Overview of the South Caucasus states Mgr. Zinaida Shevchuk Colchis - Caucasus •Large mountainous zone, •Small republics of the huge Soviet Union, •Conflict countries from headline news. • VittfarneGeorgien_155.jpg caucasus-image.jpg Early history •The advanced economy and favorable geographic and natural conditions of the area attracted the Byzantine, Persian, Mongol, Ottoman and Russian empires. •Ancient countries of Caucasus: Armenia, Iberia, Colchis and Albania. C:\Users\Ziko\Desktop\Caucasus03.jpg Culture ColchisNike.jpg •The area was home to the well-developed bronze culture known as the Colchian culture. •Golden braceletes, c 5-4 centuries BC. • • C:\Users\Ziko\Desktop\Colchisbracelet.jpg Religion •Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population. azerbaijan-mosque.jpg •The Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian_Church_Structure.jpg Georgia – Orthodox Christianity 132edcda61c8.jpg gallery_6390_8_1275077867.jpgc.jpg gallery_24827_8_1270120093.jpg gallery_997_2_1229775575.jpg gallery_15146_2_1204398084.jpg Multinational environment 516px-Ethnic_Groups_In_Caucasus_Region_2009.jpg Languages map.caucasus.GIF Languages •The Georgian alphabet georgian_alphabet.gif •The Armenian alphabet arsAlphabet55o02.jpg C:\Users\Ziko\Desktop\alphabet_chart_2a.jpg ETHNIC_MAP_of_Georgia.jpg mapa.jpg Historical Overview •The Caucasus is the point where Russia, Iran and Turkey meet. For most of the 19th century, the three powers dueled for dominance of the region. •Russia – main force which determined the development in the South Caucasus region for more than two centuries. Russia’s interests •Trade interests, •Colonization intentions and •Strategic considerations. • •Peter the Great - to transform Russia to a great European power. Historical overview •In 1801 the Georgian protectorate - Georgia’s annexation to Russia. •Russian attempts to control over the region led to the conquest of a number of Khanates in 1806-1809 and ultimately to the first Russia-Persian war 1812-1813. •The treaty of Gulistan 1813. •The treaty of Turkmanchai in 1828. Gulistan-Treaty.jpg Historical overview •During the latter part of the 19th century and for most of the Soviet period, the Soviet position in the Caucasus ran along the frontier with Turkey and Persia (later Iran). •During the Russian revolution 1917 -Transcaucasian Federation was born (the Georgian Mensheviks, the Azerbaijan Musavat party and the Dashnaks). • The South Caucasus separated from Russia and declare its independence in 1918. In 1918 three democratic republic were declared, Azerbaijan and Georgian and Armenian Democratic Republics. Historical overview •By 31.05.1920, Azerbaijan was invaded by Sovietized by Russia’s 11th Red Army. •Four months later, Armenia was invaded by the Kemalist Army of Karabekir Pasa and partitioned between Turkey and Russia. •The Soviet military campaign against Georgia was launched on February 11th, 1921. •The region was the part of the Soviet union for 70years. • b211914ed1b49682d18cc98cdb5942790cd1b99b.jpg