Chapter I
Origin and ethnogenesis
Azerbaijanis (self-designation - azərbaycanlılar) are a Turkic-speaking people of the Eastern South Caucasus and northwestern Iran. The Azerbaijani language belongs to the Oghuz subgroup of the Turkic languages.
History of the people · Azerbaijanis
History of the Azerbaijanis
Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people of the South Caucasus and northwestern Iran. The Azerbaijani language belongs to the Oghuz group. Cultural heritage includes mugham, ashugh poetry, carpet weaving and diverse regional traditions.
Chapter II
7th century / 15th century
The Arab campaigns and the spread of Islam
7th century. Arab campaigns and the spread of Islam. The military establishment of the caliphate's power and the gradual conversion of the inhabitants were different processes.
11th–12th centuries. Oghuz speech in the region. Migrations and interaction with local societies expand the spread of the Turkic languages.
15th century. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Baku. The architectural ensemble represents an important part of the city's heritage; the dating is given according to the UNESCO description.
Chapter III
1501 / 1813
Shah Ismail in Tabriz
1501. Shah Ismail in Tabriz. Safavid rule is established; Shiism is proclaimed the official religion of the state.
16th century. The work of Fuzuli. Multilingual poetry receives a lasting literary and musical continuation.
1813. The Treaty of Gulistan. After the war, a new Russian-Iranian border is fixed; a number of territorial questions remain unresolved.
Chapter IV
1828 / 1908
The consequences of the new Russo-Iranian war
1828. Consequences of the new Russian-Iranian war. Further concessions by Iran deepen the division of Turkic-speaking communities between the two empires.
1875. The newspaper Ekinchi. The press becomes a platform for discussing education, language and social change.
1908. Leyli and Majnun. Uzeyir Hajibeyli's opera combines mugham with musical theatre.
Chapter V
28 May 1918 / 18 October 1991
Proclamation of the Republic
28 May 1918. Proclamation of the republic. An independent Azerbaijani republic emerges.
1920. Establishment of Soviet power. The Soviet stage of Azerbaijan's state history begins.
18 October 1991. Restoration of independence. A constitutional act on state independence is adopted.
Chapter VI
2000 / 2009
The Old City of Baku on the World Heritage List
2000. The old city of Baku in the World Heritage. The significance of the historical ensemble is internationally recognized.
2008. Mugham in the Representative List. The tradition is included in the new list of intangible heritage.
2009. The art of ashugs in the UNESCO list. Poetic, musical and storytelling practices are recognized.
Chapter VII
2010 / 2014
Recognition of carpet weaving
2010. Recognition of carpet weaving. The traditional craft is included in the list of intangible heritage.
2012. Tar making and performance. UNESCO recognizes the related skills of craftsmen and musicians.
2014. Kelaghayi in the UNESCO list. The making and wearing of silk headscarves are recognized.
Chapter VIII
2015 / 2018
The copper craft of Lahij
2015. The copper craft of Lagich. International recognition of a local craft tradition.
2017. Preparation and sharing of dolma. Recognized as a family and community cultural practice.
2018. Safeguarding of yalli dances. Kochari and tenzere of Nakhchivan were included in the list requiring urgent safeguarding.
Chapter IX
2018 / 2019
The heritage of Dede Qorqud
2018. The heritage of Dede Korkut. A joint nomination of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey was included in the UNESCO list.
2019. Population census. In the part of the country covered by the census, 9,436.1 thousand Azerbaijanis were counted according to the published table.
2019. The historic centre of Shaki. The urban ensemble with the Khan's palace was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Chapter X
2022 / 2024
Tea culture
2022. Tea culture. A joint nomination of Azerbaijan and Turkey was recognized by UNESCO.
2024. Tandir and bread baking. The making of ovens and the family transmission of skills were included in the UNESCO list.
2024. The expanded nomination of Novruz. International safeguarding of the shared spring festive heritage continues.
Chapter XI
Language and writing
Azerbaijani belongs to the Oghuz group of the Turkic family and is close to Turkish, Gagauz and Turkmen. It is an independent language with its own literary tradition and dialects.
Different literary and colloquial practices have developed in the Republic of Azerbaijan and in Iran. Among the Iranian varieties, the Tabriz, Urmia, Ardabil and Zanjan dialects are distinguished. The Tabriz variety has high prestige in the Azerbaijani-speaking environment of Iran.
The language is characterized by the attachment of grammatical suffixes and vowel harmony; there is no grammatical gender. Persian and Arabic borrowings are noticeable in the vocabulary, and later Russian and other European ones. Their spread is connected with long-standing cultural and linguistic contacts.
Historically, Arabic script was used. In Soviet Azerbaijan, in the 1920s there was a transition to the Latin alphabet, and in the late 1930s to Cyrillic; since 1991 the Latin script has been restored. In Iran, Arabic-based writing is preserved.
The literary heritage is multilingual: Fuzuli created works in Turkic, Persian and Arabic. Nizami Ganjavi wrote in Persian. The language of a work should be distinguished from its significance for modern national culture.
Chapter XII
Beliefs and religion
Pre-Islamic heritage. Local cults, Zoroastrian and Christian traditions existed in various parts of the region. The Arab conquests of the 7th century created the conditions for the spread of Islam, but the conversion of the population took place gradually. The spread of Oghuz speech began later and did not coincide in time with the initial Islamization.
Shiism and Sunnism. Both main branches of Islam are represented among Azerbaijanis. The strengthening of Twelver Shiism is associated with the Safavids: in 1501 Shah Ismail proclaimed it the state religion. This choice was accompanied by long religious and political changes; Sunni communities also survived.
Religious practice. In the Shiite tradition, an important place is occupied by the commemoration of Imam Husayn in the month of Muharram, especially on the day of Ashura. Visits to revered places - ziyarat - and family rituals have local forms. Participation in them depends on the community and personal beliefs.
A secular state and freedom of faith. The Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan establishes the separation of religion from the state and freedom of conscience. Among Azerbaijanis there are practicing believers and secular people; ethnicity does not determine the degree of religiosity.