Azerbaijan

Capital of Azerbaijan: Baku
Population of Azerbaijan: 9,165,000
Total area of Azerbaijan: 86,600 km2

The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in Southeastern Europe. It is located in Caucasus region in between Europe and Asia. Its flag has three horizontal stripes, a light blue stripe, a red stripe and a green stripe. The red stripe has a sliver of a moon opening out into a star, both colored white. It has a complex emblem involving a white 8-pointed star, a red flame in the middle, and a shaft of wheat and leaves at the bottom.

Azerbaijan population

The total population of Azerbaijan is around 9 million individuals. More than half of them live in urban areas, while slightly under half were considered rural inhabitants. The population is declining because many people who consider themselves Azerbaijani currently live and work in Russia. The life expectancy is low at 61 for males and 71 for females. There are many cultural centers of other ethnic groups in Azerbaijan, including Kurdish people, Germans, Slavic individuals, Israelis and others. In Iran, the largest group of minorities is the Azerbaijanis.  

History of Azerbaijan

People lived in Azerbaijan as early as 10,000 BCE. It dates back to the Stone Age and the Bronze Age. The early people were called the Scythians, which predated Iranian people in the region. There were several empires and kingdoms in the era before the Common Era. The Feudal Era followed antiquity and lasted until the 1030s, when Turkish tribes took over the area. Prior to that, the people spoke a form of Iranian language but, after the Turkish invasion, the language switched over to a Turkish form known as the Azerbaijani language that became extinct in the sixteenth century. In modern times, the Russians took over Azerbaijan around 1812. When the Russian Empire collapsed in WWI, the country joined with Armenia and Georgia. This was short-lived and Azerbaijan declared itself an independent country. It became a Muslim state that was also the first to give women the same rights as men. Azerbaijan became a Republic of the Soviet Union and fought with the Russians in World War II. It became a sovereign nation in 1990.

Azerbaijan Tourism

Azerbaijan is a country of natural beauty and rich culture. It prides itself in its tourism that has slowly become known to the world. In the 1980s, the country was a hotspot for tourists but it was crippled by war in the 1990s. By 2000, tourism began to recover and now a steady high number of tourists visit the country each year. The place is typically a mix of remnants of the ancient empires and the post-Soviet Union. The main city to go to is Baku, the capital city. Nowadays, this city is filled with skyscrapers and a modern façade. However, a few hours away from the city will bring you to natural landscapes of green orchards, majestic mountains and green fields. The country life is a breathtaking experience for all travelers to Azerbaijan. The famous tourist destinations include Fire Temple, Shirvanshah's Palace, Petroglyphs of Qobustan and Xinaliq High Caucasus village.

For first time travelers to the country of Azerbaijan, be guided that the respect for women is an important value in Azerbaijan society. The women in Azerbaijan are highly regarded so be advised to treat their women with utmost respect. Female tourists should not take it the wrong way if Azerbaijan friends who are men will open the door for them, offer their hand when climbing down, carry their bag for them or pay the bills for them. On the other hand, male tourists should take note that Azerbaijan women expect them to be as courteous as the male Azerbaijan.