HISTORY OF AZERBAIJAN: TIMELINE AND FACTS

by Prof Mahir Khalifa-zadeh

azGlobalContext.org - Toronto-based Media and Analysis Center, Canada

azglobalcontext.org (Toronto, Canada)
created: February 17, 2017
updated: April 07, 2017 

Republic of Azerbaijan

Dawn of History

Paleolithic Period

Scientific research conducted by Azerbaijani and German scientists proved that primitive people appeared on the territory of Azerbaijan 2 million years ago (1). Archaeological excavations and anthropological studies confirm that the territory of the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Period (350,000-10,000 Before Present, BP). Prof Mammadali Husseynov discovered humans remains of the Paleolithic Period as well as some other early habitats’ artifacts in the Cave of Azykh (Khojavend in Karabakh, Azerbaijan) in 1968(2). The archaeological material of the Upper Paleolithic Period (40000 BC) was discovered in caves of Taghlar (Khojavend district)) and Dash Salakhly (Qazakh district) as well as in Aveidag, Damjily, Yatagery sites. Scientists believe that the stone carvings of Gobustan (60km from Baku) are the Stone Age Rock Art, dating back to 40,000 BP (3). The Gobustan caves' artifacts are dated as the last Ice Age and Upper Paleolithic (4).

The Neolithic Period (10000-3000 BC) artifacts were discovered in Leylatapa site (Garadagh district) (4). Many graves, artifacts and old settlements as well as Leylatapa’s cultures were found lengthwise of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline (5).

Bronze and Irons Ages (2200- 500 BC) the artifacts of Bronze and Middle Bronze Ages as well as the Iron Age were discovered in Nakhcivan and Karabakh. The Bronze Age’s several graves were found in Babaverdish site in Ganja-Gazakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as near the Garajamirli village in the Shamkir district (6). The Borsunlu burial mound (Goranboy district), Zayamchai necropolis (Shamkir district) as well as Tovuzchai necropolis were discovered in Tovuz district of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Hasansu necropolis was found in Agstafa district. Discovers were occurred thanks to the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline.

Early State

The archeological studies confirm that several agricultural and stockbreeding settlements has been existed in Azerbaijan since the 7th-6th millennium BC. The Caucasian tribes such as the Gargars, Utis, Saks, Sodes, Massagets and others inhabited the territory of Azerbaijan, with Mannae emerging as the first state in the 10th Century BC (6,7).

8th Century BC – Northward expansion of the Kingdom of Mannae’s borders and absorption of the main part of Southern Azerbaijan (8, 9).

Ancient period

7th century BC – The Empire of Media with the capital at Ecbatana emerges in the area southwest of the Caspian Sea. Media was unified by a man named Deioces, the first of four kings who were to rule a true empire that included large parts of Iran and eastern Anatolia. King Cyaxares of Media (623-585BC) defeats the Assyrian Empire and captures the capital of Nineveh (10). The Medes (people of Media) defeat the Kingdom of Mannae. The Medes conquer the Kingdom of Urartu (present-day Armenia) and incorporate it into Median Empire (11). In Assyrian raid, King Cyrus II of Persia (later Cyrus the Great) was a commander of Persian unite in the Median Army under Cyrus’ uncle command of King Cyaxares of Media (12).

6th century BC (550BC) – Cyrus the Great unites Iranian people of Medes and Persians and establish a new Empire under his Achaemenid dynasty. He extends its rule over his grandfather’s lands of Media (10).

Many scholars consider that the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, founder of Zoroastrianism) was born in the territory of the present-day Azerbaijan or in vicinity of Urmia Lake (South Azerbaijan, Iran) in the 6th century BC (13).

Atropatena

4th-3rd century BC –In some historical sources, Azerbaijan is referred as "Medes Minor" and/or "Atropatenian Medes" or "Medes-Atropatena". Darius III’s general Atropat (in Greeks Atropates) becomes King of Media Minor (northern Media) (14). Some sources indicate the name of Atropat originates from Ataropad (Old Persian, Atoorpat)– who was one of the sons of Zarathustra. According to one theory, the northern Media is named after Atropates as Media-Atropatene (in ancient Greek) or just Atoorpatkan (Old Persian, Aturpatkan). In Old Persian “Atur” is derived from the Avestan language “Atar” meaning fire. “Pat” is derived from the Avestan “payu” meaning “guardian” or “protector”. According to Sassanian King Shapur I (r. 241 to 272 CE) inscriptions, “Atarpatakan” is named as “Adurbaigan”. “Adurbaigan would then have evolved to the “Azerbaijan” when “Adur” evolved to “Azar” or “Azer” Azarbayjan or Azerbaijan (15). Another theory traces the etymology from the ancient Persian words "Āzar" (Persian: آذر‎‎), meaning Fire, and "Pāyegān" (Persian: پایگان‎‎) meaning Guardian/Protector (Āzar Pāyegān = "Guardians of Fire") (Persian: آذر پایگان‎‎), with Āzar Pāyegān was latter corrupted into “Azerbaijan” under the dominance of Arabic and the circumstances thereby imposed by that language's lack of facility in pronouncing some non-Arabic words.

Atropates and Alexander the Great

Atropates (Atropat) fights in the battle of Gaugamela between Darius III and Alexander the Great (331 BC) as a commander of the left wing of the Persian Army. During the battle, Atropates’ units pushed Alexander’s army to stop an advance and implements defensive measures. Alexander was forced to deploy additional troops facing the units under command of Atropates. Only after new troops deployment, Macedonians were able to re-launch attacks against Atropates' flank. Alexander nominated Atropat as Satrap of Atropatena, following his pattern to involve local nobility to the state administration in the countries he conquered. The other version says that Alexander reappointed Atropates to be a governor of Media because of his bravery, command ability and great respect within his Median soldiers that Alexander noticed in the Battle of Gaugamela.

Atropat allows his daughter to be married with Alexander's most important generals, Perdiccas (commander of Alexander’s cavalry). Atropat tries to safe Zoroastrian tradition in his land; and he offered to Alexander one hundred Media’s female warriors. According to Strabo the name of Atropatenian Medes derives from Alexander’s Satrap Atropates. “Midia is divided into two parts. One of them is called the Great Midia with capital in Ecbatana… the second one is Atropatena Midia, which got its name from the commander Atropates. Indeed, King Atropat made this country independent on his own decision and succession to the throne was kept in his family… It is a great country as regards to its military power, because it can be represented by 10,000 horsemen and 40,000 infantrymen…”, Strabo reports (16). It is in Atropatena that Azerbaijani identity began to be shaped.

Rome, Parthia and Caucasian Albania

4th –3rd century BC - The Kingdom of Caucasian Albania (Aghbania, Aghvania) is founded in the northern part of Azerbaijan in the late 4th – early 3rd century BC with the royal capital of Kabalaka (current Gabala, Azerbaijan). The Kingdom is a close ally to Parthia. The territory of Caucasian Albania covered most of the present-day Republic of Azerbaijan including some areas in neighboring countries. It was a state with sufficiently developed agriculture, handicraft and trade. Albania had its own coins and army.

1st century BC 1st Century AD- The Roman Army under General Pompey Magnus subjugates Armenia, Iberia and sizes Colchis (66-65BC). His army moves toward the Caspian Sea. Pompey forded the Alazan river and clashed with the forces of Oroezes (Orois), King of Albania. Finally, Pompey is defeated by the Parthians and Albanians in Caucasian Albania. Albanian army was able to have up to 60,000 foot-soldiers and 22,000 horsemen (17).

Roman General Markus Crasus and wealthiest man of Rome, is defeated in 53 BC in the south of the Caspian Sea (18). Later in 36 BC, the Romans led by the General Mark Antony is defeated by the Parthians and Albanians at the well-fortified Albanian capital Phraata (current Maraga, Azerbaijan) or (less possible) at Ganzaca (Karabakh, Azerbaijan) (19).

75 CE– Roman Emperor Domitian sends Legio XII Fulminata to the allied kingdoms of Iberia and Albania. A rock inscription was found at the shores of the Caspian Sea in 1948 (Gobustan, 60-70 km from Baku) mentions the presence of a centurion of Legio XII Fulminata named Lucius Julius Maximus (20).

233 CE – Roman Emperor Severus Alexander’s army is defeated by Parthians and Albanians in Caucasus Albania (Azerbaijan) (21).

Christianity, Islam and Early Turks

1st- 2nd century– Christianity, brought over by the missions of St Eliseus and Nestor, reaches Caucasian Albania and spreads all over the country. The Church is established by the 1st century missionary Saint Elisaeus, who proselytized throughout Caucasian Albania and Persia. He establishes the first Christian temple in the Caucasus, in Kish (Sheki, Azerbaijan) (21, 22).  

In 313, King Urnayr declares Orthodox Christianity as an official religion of Caucasian Albania, predating King Mirian of Iberia’s declaration of Iberia as Christian nation in 337 (23, 24). IThe Albanian church becomes a state institution. In 451 AD, Artsakh, the mountainous part of Caucasus Albania, becomes the country's center for the anti-Sassanid resistance. Since 552 AD, Albanian Catholicos is sitting in Partaw (modern Barda, Azerbaijan), capital of Caucasus Albania. Christian Caucasian Albanian as a Bible in one of the Caucasian Albanian languages-old Udi (25). 

4th-5th century – Early Turks tribes starts to arrive and to settle in the South Caucasus, particularly in Caucasus Albania.  Hun Turks comes from the Don River to Azerbaijan in 395 and 398, respectively. The beginning of Turks’ linguistic and ethnic mixture with locals and Albanians is started (26). In 466, the Aghaceri Turk tribes, belonging to the European Huns (the Oghuz), settles in Azerbaijan (27).

4th - Starting from the late Roman time (Byzantium), Nomadic Turkic tribes begin to penetrate into Caucasian Albania and Northern Iran from the North Caucasus and later from Central Asia (28).

7th century – Albania under King of Varaz-Grigor and his son Juanšer (Persian Javanšir) resists to Arabs (29). In 654, Javanshir sends a letter to Byzantine emperor Constantine II and asks the emperor to adopt Albania under his patronymic. The Arab conquests result in the spread of Islam in Caucasian Albania. This, subsequently, brings about the disintegration of the Kingdom and the entire region’s being assimilated into the Arabian Caliphate.

7th century - Islam becomes the major religion following the Arab advance into Caucasus Albania.

6th-7th century - The Book of Dede Korkut which is the historic epic of the Oguz Turks is written in Azerbaijan (30).

Medieval and beginning of 18 Century

9th century – In 816, a popular Shiite liberation movement for independence from the Arabian Caliphate is launched under the leadership of Babek. Babek quickly seized power in Armenia, Esfahan, Mosul and Hamedan (816-817). However, he was defeated and executed in 838 (31).

The Shirvanshahs state in Azerbaijan emerges in the 861 and covers the area of Shirvan of the present-day Azerbaijan and existed till 1539 (32).

10th - The Oguz adapts Islam. A new ethnic group of Azeri Turks emerges (33). The Oguz tribes’ Seljuk dynasty puts an end to the Arab control by invading Azerbaijan from Central Asia.

12th – 13th century – The emergence of the Atabek state in Azerbaijan under the Seljuk ruler Shams ad-din Ildeniz with a capital in Barda. In 1230s the Mongol Armies led by Genghis Khan conquer Azerbaijan (34).

14th century – The Mongol Armies of Tamerlane invade Azerbaijan again. This is followed by the emergence of two successive Azerbaijani states: the Kara-Goyunlu and Ak-Goyunlu (1378-1469, Southern Azerbaijan) with a capital in Tebriz. Kara-Goyunly controls the areas of Southern Azerbaijan, Iraq, Fars and part of Eastern Iran.

15th century –When the city of Shemakha is abandoned as the capital of the state of Shirvanshahs (9th –16th centuries, Northern Azerbaijan) in favour of Baku, the Palace of Shirvanshahs is built in 1411 in the new capital.

1420 – 1436 - Qara Iskander ibn Yusuf rules the Kara Goyunlu and gains control over Armenia. 1467- Uzun Hassan of Ak Goyunlu defeates Kara Koyunlu’s Jahān Shāh (35). In 1468, the state of Kara-Goyunly disintegrates and a new state of Ak-Goyunly (1387-1502) with capital in Tebriz emerges under the rule of Uzun Hasan.

1468-1478- the reign of Uzun Hasan, the Emperor of Ak Goyunlu and Azerbaijan’s great statesman (36).

Shah Ismail Sefevid (Esmail Safavid)
16th –17th century – In the beginning of the 16th century Azerbaijan becomes a power base of another indigenous dynasty, the Safavids (Azeri Turk dynasty). The founder of the Safavid Dynasty, Shah Ismail I (1486-1524), declares Shia Islam as the state religion. He unites all Azerbaijani lands (Northern and Southern Azerbaijan) and creates a powerful Iranian empire with a capital in Tebriz. The state of Safavids stretches from Amur Darya in the east to the Euphrates in the west and from Derbend in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south.

In 1504, Shah Ismail (Esmail) Sefevid orders his general Revangulu Khan to build a fortress on the river of Zanghi (now renamed by Armenians into Razdan rver) bordering with Osmans.

In 1511, the fortress is build and named after Ismail's general Revangulu as Revan or Irevan (Erivan) qala (later Imperial Russia renames into Yerevan, now a capital of Armenia) (37)  

In August 1514, Ismail’s army is defeated in the battle of Chaldiran by the Ottoman troops under Sultan Selim I. Between 1590 and 1639 wars over Azerbaijan are fought between the Ottoman and Iranian Empires.

1736- A brilliant military commander Nadir Kuli-Khan Afshar (later Nadir Shah Afshar), member of Turk Afshar tribe settling in Azerbaijan since 13 century, crowned as Shah of Iran in Mugan (Azerbaijan). Nadir Shah was known as "The Second Alexander" and "The Napoleon of Persia".

Imperial Russia

18th –19th century – Emergence of Azerbaijani Qajars state in Iran and Azerbaijan in 1781. The Russo-Persian wars lead to the signing of the Gulistan (1813) and the Turkmenchay (1828) treaties between the Persian and Russian Empires that split Azerbaijan into two parts (southern or Iranian Azerbaijan and northern or Russian/Soviet Azerbaijan that is the present-day independent Republic of Azerbaijan) along the Araz River. The Russian rule in Azerbaijan begins.

In accordance with the Treaty of Gulistan, Imperial Russia possess Karabakh, Gandja, Sheki, Shirvan, Derbend, Kouba, and Baku, together with part of Talish and the fortress of Lenkoran (38).

22 June, 1804- Iran's Crown Prince Abbas-Mirza Qajar, supreme commander of the Persian Army, signs a capitulation of Iran's fortress Erivan (Irevan, Azerbaijan) after a long siege launched by general Tsitsianov, Russian Imperial Army.

Under the Treaty of Turkmanchay, Iran ceded the Erivan Khanate (the present-day part of Armenia), the Nakhchivan Khanate (present-day Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan), the Talysh Khanate (southeastern Azerbaijan), and the Ordubad and Mughan regions (now also part of Azerbaijan) (39).

Finally, the Russian Empire conquers and incorporates the following Azerbaijani khanates - Erivan (later renamed by Russians into Yerevan, present-day a capital of Armenia), Karabakh, Nakhichevan, Ganja, Shemakha, Baku, Sheki, Guba, Derbend, Talysh, Salian and fortress Lenkoran.

In the late 1820s a massive resettlement of Armenians from the central parts of Iran as well as from Middle East into Azerbaijani lands takes place under the Treaty of Turkmenchay (40).

March 21, 1828, Russian Tsar issued and signed an Order that renames Azerbaijan khanate of Erivan and some parts of Nakhchivan khanate into Armenian province. Finally, Imperial Russia establishes the province of Armenia on Azerbaijani lands (41).

6 August 1832 - the birthdate of world famous Azeribaijani lyrical poetess  Khurshid Banu Natavan. She was a daughter of Mehdigulu Khan, last ruler of the Karabakh khanate (1748–1822).

First Oil boom

1872 – Starting point of commercial oil production and the first Oil Boom in Baku (11 million tones are produced per annum; 50% of the world oil production). In 1879, the Nobel Brothers establish their own company in Baku (some 12 percent of the Nobel Prize fund was drawn from Alfred's shares in the Nobel Brothers' Petroleum Company in Baku).

In 1883, the capital of the Rothchilds finances Baku-Batum railway which plays an important role in the export of oil from Baku to the European markets.

Independence, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR)

1918

30-31 March – The massacre of about 20,000 Azerbaijanis in Baku is perpetrated by the Russian Red (Communist) Army and Armenian Dashnaks. 28 May - Azerbaijan declares independence and announces the creation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR) - the first secular and democratic state in the Muslim world. The first Cabinet of Ministers is formed under the Prime-Minister Fatali-khan Khoyski.

4 June – The Peace and Friendship Agreement is signed between the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and Turkey. Establishment of Turkish Military Mission in Ganja.

15 September – Baku is liberated from Dashnak Armenians and Shaumyan’s communist armed formations. Joint Azerbaijani and Turkish troops enter Baku. The capital of Azerbaijan is moved from Ganja to Baku.

7 December – The opening session of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. 18 December – General Thompson declares Britain’s support to Azerbaijani Parliament as the only legitimate authority within the territory of the ADR.

1919

8 January – Azerbaijan Democratic Republic’s official delegation participates at the Paris Peace Conference.

15 January –The Paris Peace Conference’s official decision on the recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence is presented to the Azerbaijani delegation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France. 27 June – Azerbaijani (based on Latin Alphabet) is adopted as the state language.

In the face of the Bolsheviks’ military advance, Azerbaijan and Georgia sign the Azerbaijani–Georgian mutual defense pact in Tbilisi that establishes a military union in June 16, 1919 (42). November-December –Armenian Dashnaks perpetrate massacres of Azerbaijani population in ADR’s Zangezur.

1920-1921

11 January 1920, The Paris Peace Conference recognizes de-facto the Azerbaijan Republic with the capital in Baku. The Conference issues a Special Resolution, which confirms Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan (43). Under this document, the Allied Powers recognize Khosrov-bey Sultanov, appointed by the Government of Azerbaijan, as Zangezour’s and Karabakh’s Governor-General (44, 45).

20 March, 1920 - Iran de-jure recognizes the independence of Azerbaijan (46).

27-28 April 1920 – 11th Red (Communist) Army invades Baku. The Soviet Government led by Nariman Narimanov is established in Azerbaijan.

1921 - Parts of the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan are transferred to Armenia by the Soviet Bolshevik Government. These include - Zangezur, Goyche, Daralayaz, and Sharur.

November, 1921 - Azerbaijan's Soviet government transfers Zangezur to Armenia in November 1920 as a "symbol of friendship and brotherhood" (47, 48).

USSR and Black January of 1990

1922-1990

In 1922, Azerbaijan is incorporated into the Soviet Union as a part of the Transcaucasian Federation and subsequently, in 1936, it becomes a Union Soviet Socialist Republic. The Cyrillic alphabet is introduced in the country. Azerbaijan is one of the fifteen republics of the USSR until the country’s re-independence in 1991.

1988 – Beginning of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis in Armenia results in the influx of refugees to Baku. The Soviet Authorities in Moscow step up measures to suppress National Movement for independence in Azerbaijan and secure the Communist rule in the country.

20 January 1990 – Soviet military intervention. Up to 26,000 Soviet troops storm Baku. More than 130 civilians (Azerbaijanis, Russians, Jews, Ukrainians) are killed and 700 wounded.

Restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence and Armenia’s military aggression

1991-1993

31 August 1991 – Azerbaijani Parliament adopts the Declaration of Independence. The Parliamentary Act establishing State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan is passed on October 18, 1991.

June 1992 - President Ayaz Mutalibov flees Baku against the backdrop of increasing failure in internal policy and in Nagorno-Karabakh culminating in the Armenian massacres of Azerbaijani civilians in the town of Khojali on 26 February 1992 (613 were killed, 487 wounded and 1,275 civilians were taken hostage). The Popular Front of Azerbaijan seizes power and Abulfaz Elchibey becomes President. The CSCE (now the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE) sets up the Minsk Group, a group of member states coalesced to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The three co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group include representatives of France, Russia and the United States.

June 1993 – One year of unsuccessful rule by the Popular Front reaches its climax. The Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan over the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh results in the occupation of Aghdam, Lachin, Kelbajar, Gubatly, Zangilan, Jebrail and Fizuli districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The number of Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons reaches one million. Armed revolt against the Popular Front Government gains momentum. Amid imminent threat of civil war Abulfaz Elchibey appeals to Heydar Aliyev (at the time a Leader of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan) to return to Baku and, using his rich political experience, address the dire situation and save the country from the outbreak of internecine hostilities. Elchibey flees Baku.

June 1993 - Heydar Aliyev returns to Baku and, through a number of skillful and courageous measures, manages to avert the confrontations. 15 June, 1993- Heydar Aliyev becomes Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

In 1993, the United Nations Security Council adopts the four Resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) condemning the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and demanding unconditional withdrawal of Armenian Armed Forces.

3 October 1993 – Heydar Aliyev is elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

1994-1998

9-12 May 1994 - The cease-fire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is signed.

20 September 1994 – Contract of the century is signed between Azerbaijan and Consortium of Major Oil Companies led by BP. 5-6 December 1994 - CSCE Budapest Summit. A decision on "Intensification of CSCE action in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict" is adopted.

2–3 December 1996 - OSCE Lisbon Summit. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office makes a statement supported by all (53) OSCE member states except Armenia, on three principles for the settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

11 October 1998 - Heydar Aliyev is re-elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.  

1999-2003

17 April 1999 – Construction of Baku-Supsa oil pipeline is completed.

18 November 1999 - The Intergovernmental Agreement related to the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline is signed by the Presidents of the Turkish Republic, Republic of Azerbaijan and Georgia during the OSCE Summit in Istanbul.

25 January 2001- Azerbaijan becomes a member of the Council of Europe.

15 October 2003 – H.E. Ilham Aliyev is elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Reference

1-First Inhabitants in Azerbaijan, http://www.azerbaijan.az/_History/_Ancient/_ancient_e.html

2-Paleolithic camps of Azerbaijan, http://www.azerbaijan.az/_History/_Ancient/ancient_02_e.html 

3-Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1076 

4-Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1076 

5-Najaf Museyibli, Smithsonian, https://agt.si.edu/cultural_history/azerbaijan/neo-bronze_az.html 

6-Najaf Museyibli, Smithsonian, https://agt.si.edu/cultural_history/azerbaijan/bronze-iron_az.html 

7-Azerbaijani states in history, Baku, 2012, p.33, Kingdom of Mannaea, http://1905.az/en/kingdom-of-mannaea/ 

8-The History of Azerbaijan: from ancient times to the present day, by Ismail bey Zardabli, London, UK, 602 pages,https://books.google.ca/books/about/THE_HISTORY_OF_AZERBAIJAN_from_ancient_t.html?id=bNsEBwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y

9-Azerbaijani history: from ancient times to the present day http://www.visions.az/en/news/179/fc94314f/

10-Livius.org Articles on ancient history http://www.livius.org/articles/people/medes/?

11-Zénaïde Alexeïevna Ragozin, The Story of Media, Babylon and Persia, Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1888, https://www.abebooks.com/Story-Media-Babylon-Persia-Including-Study/5984969639/bd

12-Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania, by Barbara A.West, book, 518 pages, https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Peoples-Asia-Oceania-Vol/dp/0816071098

13-Zoroastrian Heritage, by K. E. Eduljee, http://heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/urmia/#region

14-Atropates, http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/atropates-aturpat-lit 

15-Return of the Medes: An Analysis of Iranian History, by Hamma F. Mirwaisi, 388 pages, ISBN-10: 1604944498, Arizona, USA, https://www.amazon.com/Return-Medes-Analysis-Iranian-History/dp/1604944498

16- http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_355_en.html or The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia, by Mehrdad Kia, 722 pages, ISBN-10: 1610693906, https://www.amazon.com/Persian-Empire-volumes-Historical-Encyclopedia/dp/1610693906

17-Albania, Encyclopedia Iranica, http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/albania-iranian-aran-arm

18-Caucasus: A Journey to the Land Between Christianity and Islam, by Nicholas Griffin, ISBN: 9780226308593, University Of Chicago Press, 2004, pp240, http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo3643191.html

19- Anthony Mark, Encyclopedia Iranica, http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/antony-mark-roman-gencral-ca

20- Seven Congregations in a Roman Crucible: A Commentary on Revelation 1-3, by Richard E. Oster, p32, https://books.google.ca/books/about/Seven_Congregations_in_a_Roman_Crucible.html?id=zTrOmQEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

21-Italy Invades, by Christopher Kelly, Stuart Laycock, ISBN-10:1940598729, 312 pages, https://www.amazon.com/Italy-Invades-Christopher-Kelly/dp/1940598729

22- Caucasian Albanian Church celebrates its 1700th Anniversary, by Simon Appleby, https://georgianorthodoxchurch.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/caucasian-albanian-church-celebrates-its-1700th-anniversary/ and http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2176682.html

23- Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania, by Barbara West, 2010, ISBN

1438119135, 9781438119137, 1025 pages, https://books.google.ca/books/about/Encyclopedia_of_the_Peoples_of_Asia_and.html?id=pCiNqFj3MQsC

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1848856202, London 2011, pages 292, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/w/azerbaijan-suha-bolukbasi/1103619894?ean=9781780767598

27-The History of Azerbaijan– (I), (Until the Seljuks…), http://tabriztv.blogspot.ca/2011/03/history-of-azerbaijan-i-until-seljuks.html

28-Audrey L. Altstadt, The Azerbaijani Turks, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, 1992, 331 pages

29- Arran Province (New Republic of Azerbaijan), http://www.iranchamber.com/geography/articles/arran.php

30- http://www.tur.freeservers.com/whats_new.html

31- Conquest of Azerbaijan by Arabs and the Dissemination of Islam, http://oval.az/conquest-of-azerbaijan-by-arabs-and-the-dissemination-of-islam/

32- Azerbaijanis, Babek, http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_1613_en.html

33- http://www.shirvanshah.az/?id=2&lang=3 and http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_375_en.html

34- Azerbaijan: Ethnicity and the Struggle for Power in Iran, by Touraj Atabaki, ISBN-10: 1860645542, pages 288, https://www.amazon.com/Azerbaijan-Ethnicity-Struggle-Power-Iran/dp/1860645542 and  http://karabakhfoundation.com/heritage-center-online/azerbaijan/history-of-azerbaijan/

35- Kara Koyunlu, https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Kara%20Koyunlu&item_type=topic; and Aq Koyunlu, https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Aq%20Qoyunlu&item_type=topic

36- The History of Azerbaijan, http://www.azerbaijan.az/portal/History/General/generalInfo_01_e.html

37- Rizvan Huseynov, Monuments of Material Culture and Conflicts in Caucasus, Fortress of Irevan Case Study, Institute of Strategic Studies, The Caucasus and Globalization, Journal of Social, Political and Economical Studies, Stockholm, Sweden Vol 6, Issue 2, 2012, http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/monuments-of-material-culture-and-conflicts-in-the-caucasus-a-fortress-of-irevan-case-study
38- Treaty of Gulistan, http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Treaty-of-Gulistan.htm

39- Treaty of Turkmenchay, https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Treaty%20of%20Turkmenchay&item_type=topic

40- Griboyedov A. The Notice on the Resettlement of Armenians from Persia into our lands. (in Russian), 1917, Petrograd, Russia, Грибоедов А. С. Записка о переселении армян из Персии в наши области // Грибоедов А. С. Полное собрание сочинений. Т. 3. Пг., 1917, Presidential library, http://www.prlib.ru/en-us/History/Pages/Item.aspx?itemid=433 and http://feb-web.ru/feb/griboed/texts/piks3/3_4_v3.htm

41-Complete Collection of Laws of Russian Empire, in Russian, Polnoye sobraniye Rossiskoi Imperii, collection N2, Vol 3, St.Petersburg, 1830, pp 272-273, State Historical Public Library of Russia, http://elib.shpl.ru/ru/nodes/260-polnoe-sobranie-zakonov-rossiyskoy-imperii-sobranie-vtoroe-s-12-12-1825-po-28-02-1881-v-55-ti-t-s-ukaz-spb-1830-1885

42- Mamuka Tseretely, Azerbaijan and Georgia: Strategic Partnership for Stability in a Volatile Region, Central Asia- Caucasus Institute, John Hopkins University, Washinton DC, USA, 2013, https://www.silkroadstudies.org/resources/pdf/SilkRoadPapers/2013_09_SRP_Tsereteli_Azerbaijan-Georgia.pdf

43- http://context.reverso.net/translation/french-english/conf%C3%A9rence+de+paix+de+paris

44- State Building and Conflict Resolution in the Caucasus, by Charlotte Mathilde Louise Hille,

Leiden [Netherlands] ; Boston : Brill, 2010, ISBN 9789004179011, pages 359, https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8794869

45- Chorbajian and Hovannisian, The Republic of Armenia, Vol I, pages 152 and 192, https://www.amazon.com/Republic-Armenia-Vol-1918-1919-Eastern/dp/0520019849
46- Shabnam Yusifova, Azerbaijan-Iran Relations (1918-1920), 2-4 February 2015- Istanbul, Turkey Proceedings of INTCESS15- 2nd International Conference on Education and Social Sciences, http://www.ocerint.org/intcess15_e-publication/papers/352.pdf
47- The Armenian-Azerbaijani War, http://dictionnaire.sensagent.leparisien.fr/Armenian%E2%80%93Azerbaijani%20War/en-en/
48- Duncan, Walter Raymond; Holman (Jr.), G. Paul (1994). Ethnic nationalism and regional conflict: the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Westview Press. p. 109. ISBN 0-8133-8813-9. Retrieved 2012-01-23