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.
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.
Culture
The area was home to the welldeveloped
bronze culture known as
the Colchian culture.
Golden braceletes, c 5-4 centuries BC.
Religion
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic
and majority-Muslim population. The Armenian Apostolic Church
Georgia – Orthodox Christianity
Multinational environment
Languages
Languages
The Georgian alphabet The Armenian alphabet
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.
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.