General Facts


The etymology of the name "Azerbaijan" has an ancient origin. It is known that the majority of the population living in this territory before our era were fire worshipers. So, according to one version, the name comes from the word "Azer", which means fire, flame. According to another version, the name of the country comes from the combination of the words "az" and "er", used in ancient times on the territory of Azerbaijan. In the Turkic languages, the word “az” has such meanings as “good aspiration”, “good fortune”, and “er (brave) man”, “son of a man of courage”, “keeper of fire”. Time has preserved for us many archaeological and architectural monuments of antiquity. Stone epitaphs, manuscripts, carpet patterns that have come down to us from time immemorial, will tell a lot to those who can, and most importantly want to read them. Azerbaijan is a country of ancient culture and traditions.

Over the centuries, the various tribes resettled here in this territory mingled with the local population, which had deep cultural roots and, in turn, enriched this culture with their customs and traditions. The talent and creative heritage of the Azerbaijani people are personified in Kitabi-Dede Gorgud, Oguznam, Koroglu and many other epic monuments. This fertile, generous and affectionate land was the cradle of many thinkers, philosophers, scientists, poets, architects, musicians, artists. According to legend, Zardusht (Zoroaster) was born on this earth. The land of Azerbaijan gave such geniuses to humanity as Nizami Ganjavi, Khagani Shirvani, Bakhmanyar, Nasimi, Fyuzuli, Nasiraddin Tusi, Shah Ismail Khatai, Molla Panah Vagif, A. Bakikhanov, MF Akhundov, MA A. Sabir, J. Mamedkulizade , Hussein Javid, J. Jabbarli, Samad Vurgun, Aliaga Vahid, Rasul Rza. The picturesque nature of this country is reflected in the art canvases of Sattar Bahlulzade, Tahir Salakhov, Togrul Narimanbekov, Mikail Abdullayev and other talented masters of the brush. Folk music, mugam, inspired such outstanding composers as Uzeir Hajibeyov, Muslim Magomayev, Kara Karayev, Fikret Amirov, Niyazi, Arif Melikov to give us songs that have a magical, charming voice like Byulbyu to us in the world. , Rashid Beybutov. Famous Azerbaijani carpets as if absorbed all the colors, colors of nature, all the rich history of this region.

Today, like magical carpets, without knowing the boundaries of time and space, they reach the most distant countries. Many museums of the world store samples of decorative art created by Azerbaijani masters of metal, ceramics, silk and wood. For decades, the country's industry represented oil production, the chemical industry, metallurgy, machinery, and agriculture - cotton, viticulture, vegetable and livestock. If we compare the economy of Azerbaijan with a living organism, then we can say that oil flows through its “veins”. Oil and gas production has made this place famous since ancient times. Azerbaijan has been known since antiquity for its burning foci, ateshgahs (temples of fire). Absheron has a place called Yanardag (burning mountain). In Nakhchivan, Kelbajar, Lankaran, Babadag ... hot water flows out of the ground. In Surahani there is always burning and never dying down Ateshgah (temple of fire). For centuries, from distant countries of the world, fire worshipers, even priests from India, came to Absheron to worship the fire and created their main prayer here in Surakhani Ateshgyah (temple of fire). And today, speaking of “Azerbaijan”, its main wealth, oil, appears before our eyes.

Oil is not only wealth, but also fame. In the distant past, distant countries came to this region for a liquid with a specific smell and color. For millennia, oil filled with skins carried the camel caravan to the East, the West. The oil exported from Azerbaijan was used not only for illumination, but also as a valuable medicine against many diseases. The territory of Azerbaijan is 86.6 thousand square meters. km The capital is Baku, an independent Azerbaijan Republic, a major scientific, technical and industrial center. In its antiquity, the size of the territory and population, Baku is one of the oldest and largest cities in the East. Area, population. Baku is located in the south of the Absheron Peninsula, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, its area is 2200 square meters. km, the population is about 2 million. In addition, about 500,000 refugees and IDPs are currently living in the city of Baku, expelled by the Armenian invaders from the regions occupied by them and the Armenian Republic.