Vikipediya müzakirəsi:Viki Yeri Sevir 2016

AZERBAIJAN ART IN THE WORLD MUSEUMS The art of Azerbaijan is as old and rich as its history. Rock picture of Gobustan, works of art of ceramics and metal, the art of glass and engraving developed in Caucasian Albania, the works of miniature art, colored carpets, needlework, pottery plates with lions, the art of glazed tile, engraved tender shebekes and beautiful jewelries popular in the middle ages in Tebriz prove that our artistic heritage is very rich.

Folk arts appeared as a result of work of our people and widely used in their life have great and rich history.

The investigations show that the four thousand years ago the tribes lived in the territory of Azerbaijan made original kitchen implements, weapons and accessories of stone, clay and metal and used them in their life. Those works of art have for a long time attract the interest of art-researchers for their original form, exact construction and designs on them.

Among rich museum collections of Victoria and Albert in London, Luvr in Paris, Metropoliten in Washington, and museums of Vienna, Rome, Berlin, Istambul, Tehran, Cairo one may find the works of art created by hands of the masters of Tebriz, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Gazakh, Guba, Baki, Sheki, Shamakhi and Karabakh.

The appearance of our works of arts, considered the jewelry of the world museums, in the museums and personal collections of European, Asian, American countries lean on a great historical background. Many of them were bought from separate individuals, some were brought by foreign travelers, merchants, diplomats and scientists visited Azerbaijan, some were stolen.

Azerbaijan works of art in the museums of Moscow. Long scientific investigations revealed that a great part of works of art created by Azerbaijan people for centuries, is kept in Moscow as well as in other great cities of the world.

They are generally kept in the House o Weapons in Kremlin, in the museum of Eastern folks,in the State Historical Museum, in the museum of folk creativity, in the churches of Moscow and its suburbs( the mosques of Savvo-Storojevski, Sergiyevo, the monastery of Kiril-Belozyerski etc.)

The most figurative and original patterns of Azerbaijan art kept in Moscow are in the House of Weapons in Kremlin.

Original works of Azerbaijan art are also demonstrated together with art of Turkish, Iranian, Indian, French, English, Germanic people.

The majority of works of Art kept in House of Weapons is the works of jeweler's art and metal art. We must specially mention hoods, shields, swords, daggers and accessories.

Among Azerbaijan jewelries exhibited in House of Weapons in Kremlin particular interest deserves a figurative shield of the XVI century.

Together wit the shield we must also speak of two more works of art made in Azerbaijan at that time. They are an armored head-dress used by the nobles in war and a couple of elbow-rest.

As in the case of figurative shield, there is no exact information about the time and the name of the one who brought it here.

When speaking of the decoration of metal works kept in the House of Weapons we must mention about written in Arabic alphabet words and sayings shown among the pictures and designs of the abovementioned. Those scripts generally reflect the time of their creation and the name of the customer, as well as words taken from Guran and also the parts of classical poems.

To their artistic peculiarities the cloths kept in the House of Weapons may be divided into ornamental cloth and topical cloths.

Topical clothes are more original and valuable. As on the cloths of this type we view different scenes taken from the works of East classics and those taken from Azerbaijan folk creation.

One of those cloths attract particular attention.

The works of Azerbaijan art kept in the Museums of Saint-Petersburg. Among museums preserving works of art created by masters of Azerbaijan museums located in Saint-Petersburg occupy an important position. The State Hermitage of Saint-Petersburg, Kazanski Sobor and other places are first among those museums.

In the department of culture of the East of the State Hermitage together with material culture of the people of Iran, Turkey, China, Japan and Arabia, one may find rare works of art of Azerbaijan people created during the centuries.

Here one may find engraved works of jewelry, pottery, stone, and wood and different works of weaving made by Azerbaijan masters since the ancient times up to the beginning of our century.

First of all the State Hermitage is a cultural center among the museums of the world preserving the ancient patterns of Azerbaijan mastership. Gathered here tender plates, swords, axes, waistbands and other accessories made of bronze create an interesting page of the art of the ancient period.

Among the monuments referred to II millennium b. c. exhibited at the Hermitage a bronze bull head found during archeological digs in Nagorny Karabakh attracts particular attention for its original form and exact composition.

At the State Hermitage among works of art referred to bronze age one may meet such kind of the accessories as waistbands, bracelets, colorful beads of different shape.

3000 year old patterns of jeweler's art found during archeological digs once conducted in the village Khojaly of Karabakh are interesting for their original form and technical use. We should mention that some gold accessories kept at the State Hermitage today and referred to bronze age were found from here.

At State Hermitage of Saint-Petersburg we also have many samples of metal art referred to the middle ages.

According to their form and the theme those works of art might be grouped under two groups:

1. Monuments of plastic art

2. Everyday life equipments.

To plastic monuments kept here first of all belong bronze cast of bird, animal and human figures referred to the V-VIII.

A prominent scientist of Saint-Petersburg academician K.Trever,in terested in art and the history of the Caucasian Albania looks upon those figures as the continuation of the same type pottery found in Mingacheir. One of the mentioned figures has for a long time attracted the attention of the scientists. The figure referred to the VII century was found at the end of the XIX century in Nakhchivan. The figure is 35,6 high and according to the scientists it is the monument of Javanshir(638-670), the ruler of Caucasian Albania.

On the face of the square pedestal of the figure there is the description of two lions and a mountain goat. The sides are decorated with the scene of fight between the hunter and the lion and also ornamental motives of an elehant, a fox and plants.

Among plastic works of art made of metal Shirvan tube referred to 1206 is the most interesting exhibit.

Together with plastic works made of metal demonstrated at the State Hermitage of Saint-Petersburg one may find everyday decorated equipment original in form. To such samples of art we first of all refer bronze trays belonging to the VI-VIII centuries. Three of our trays kept at Hermitage are referred to the beginning of the middle ages. Two of them are decorated with topical descriptions, the third one has only ornaments on it. To the everyday house equipment made of metal we may refer bronze pots of different form and decoration referred to the XIII and XIV centuries.

Those pots draw attraction for its volume, form and decorations. One of them is especially distinguished.

One of the most developed spheres of middle age Azerbaijan art was ceramics.

The State Hermitage also preserves the beautiful pattern of this kind of our art. Works of ceramics kept here are subdivided into two groups according to their usage and graphical peculiarities.

The first group contains pottery used in everyday life, the second group includes glazed tiles applied in architecture. To the pottery used in everyday life belong kup-nimche(plate- big pot), bowl and rail found during archeological digs once held in Oran-Gala (the region Goranboy).

The samples of glazed tiles are also demonstrated at the state Hermitage. The major position here is given to the glazed tiles of Pirhuseyh khanagah(places for dervishes) over Pirsaatchay of Gazimammad region.

The State Hermitage possesses about 500 glazed tiles of different form and decoration. The majority of samples of carpet weaving kept at Hermitage are fleecy carpets. One can also find here the carpets weaved in the famous carpet centers of Azerbaijan since the XVI up to the XIX centuries.

Azerbaijan carpets weaved in Tebriz and Shirvan are one of the precious samples of the museum. The carpets Pirabadil weaved in the villages of Guba, Mereze weaved in villages of Shamakhi are the most attractive ones for their color and rich elements of design. On the carpet of Shamakhi there is a note that it had been weaving in 1881-1885.

Among the samples kept in the museum one can find a nearly unknown to us work of Mirza Gadim Iravani, a prominent artist of Azerbaijan painter-ornamentalist lived in the middle of the XIX century.

The museum preserves referred to 1430 'Khamsa' by Nizami Ganjevi. This exhibit is not only one of the first copies of the five poems of the poet, but also as a work of art.

The works of Azerbaijan art in the museums of Budapest. The works of Azerbaijan art existed in Hungary were kept in personal collections till the 40-s of the XX century. During the later 50-60 years those works are gathered by the government and placed in the museums. Today the majority of works of Azerbaijan art are preserved in the museums of 'Decorative arts' and 'The art of the East' located in Budapest.

More than 200 works of Azerbaijan art are kept in those museums. Among them you kind find carpets, cloths, needlework and many works of art made of metal and wood.

As in other foreign museums the most of works of arts kept in the museums of Budapest are carpets.

Those are the carpets at different periods weaved in the cultural centers of Azerbaijan such as Baki, Guba, Shamakhi, Shusha, Gazakh and Tebriz.

A small carpet of Gazakh referred to the XVIII century and demonstrated in the museum of 'Decorative arts' carries particular attention.

Together with ornamental carpets weaved at different times in cultural centers of Azerbaijan you may find here some carpets with original topical composition.

Referred to different periods needleworks of Azerbaijan, kept here as a precious exhibit of the museums are coverings, pillow-cases, table-cloths, saddle-cover and figurative curtains.

As a sample we may show a curtain decorated by the masters of Tebriz in the VXI century.

Works of Azerbaijan art kept at the museums of 'Decorative arts' and 'The art of the East' of the Budapest do not only embrace carpets and needleworks, those made of metal, wood and pottery as well.

The majority of monuments made of metal are weapons(swords, dagers) and some house equipment (tray, satil, lamp). For artistic and technological peculiarities those samples made of different metals (silver, gold, steel) and referred to the XVIII-XIX remind the style of Shirvan masters. There is only one work made of wood in the museum of Budapest-the figurative rahil (book-supporter) kept in the museum .

The works of Azernaijan art in the United States of America. Most of the works of Azerbaijan masters is kept in America.

In museums, artistic galleries and personal collections in Washington, New-York, Chicago, Los-Angeles, Philadelphia, Huston, San-Francisco, Cleveland, Detroit, Boston and other cities of the USA you may find hundreds of works of national masters.

The most of the patterns kept here are carpets, cloths, figurative metal and pottery.

The most ancient samples among those kept in the USA are metallic works.

It is now kept in the museums 'Metropoliten' in New-York, America and 'The Art of Asia ' in San-Francisco.

Among the works of metal art kept in the museum 'Metropoliten' the most interesting one is referred to the VIII century b.c. accessories found in the province of Ziviya, near the lake Urmiya.

A gold bracelet attracts particular attention of world for its figurative peculiarity and realization.

In the USA one can find plenty of samples of metal art of the middle ages. They are bronze plate of the XII-XIII centuries made in Nakhchivan, kept in the personal collection of Piyerpont Morgan in the USA, bonze plate referred to 703 year according to hijri-gamari(moslem) calendar (year 1304) with the words "Oljayt Khudabende" on it and istirlab kept in the personal collection of Mr. Harari, again decorated with rich ornaments bronze plate of the XII century kept in the museum of art of Cleveland.

Alike in foreign museums, in the shop of ancient things and personal collections you may find many samples of Azerbaijan carpets in the USA as well.

Today this country preserves thousand patterns of ornamental and the best quality fleecy carpets and carpets without pile weaved in major centers of art of our country.

The oldest Azerbaijan carpets demonstrated in the USA are in the museum 'Metropoliten' in New-York.

Let us view one of the mentioned carpets.

The great attraction deserves a piece of round velvet with descriptions on it.

The works of Azerbaijan art in the museums of the Great Britain. The Great Britain is one of the countries where you may find ancient works of our folk art.

In the museums located in such the cities of this country as London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, shops of ancient things and personal collections there are hundreds of works of our art

From the point of view of figurativeness, the most original works of Azerbaijan masters are now preserved in the museum of Victoria and Albert in London.

The works referred to Azerbaijan are kept in the Near East department of the museum. They are pattens of figurative cloths, needlework, carpets, jewelry, pottery and so on.

Rom the aspect of antiquity the oldest pattern of our folk art kept in the museum of Victoria and Albert is a bronze bowl of 1319.

A particular position among samples preserved in the museum of Victoria and Albert occupy Azerbaijan carpets. For their graphic and technology they are subdivided into Tebriz carpets of the XVI century and the carpets of Guba-Shirvan, Ganja-Gazakh and Karabakh of the XVI-XIX centuries..

In London museum of carpets you may found a carpet weaved in 1892 in Karabakh.

Among the carpets of Tebriz demonstrated in the museum of Victoria and Albert we must especially remind of a carpet known as 'Sheyk Sefi' weaved in Tebriz in 1539 by request of Shah Tahmasib for the mosque of Ardebil. XVII-XIX century Azerbaijan carpets preserved at the museum of Victoria and Albert are those once weaved in Guba, Baki, Shamakhi, Gazakh and Karabakh.

In the museum of Victoria and Albert alike other world museums we may find plenty of figurative specimen of cloths referred to the XVI-XVII centuries. There of them are most attractive.

Azerbaijan works of art in France. The majority of now preserved in France specimen of Azerbaijan folk art consist of the works of art weaving. In many museums and personal collection of France you may find hundreds of high quality cloths of Azerbaijan made in Shamakhi, Sheki, Ganja, Nakhchivan and Tebriz. Among them special attention should be paid to topical cloths of the XVI-XVII

One of topical clothes demonstrated in the museum of decorative arts in Paris draws particular attention.

In the museum of Decorative arts in Paris there is an original topical cloth of 26 cm length referred to the XVI century.

Wile peaking about works of art of weaving we should specially mention about carpets demonstrated in rich museums of this country. The most graphically and technologically valuable carpets of Azerbaijan are kept in the museums of Decorative arts and Luvr of Paris.

Let us view one of the carpets demonstrated in the museums of Decorative arts of Paris.

Besides samples of the art of weaving, kept in this cultural center, being one of the richest museums of the world you may also find hundred specimen of art of pottery, glazed tile and graphic metal.

There some rare patterns of metal art made of silver, copper and bronze in Luvr. The most interesting of them is a bronze plate of original figure made in 1190. This specimen is demonstrated under a bell-glass on a high stool in the middle of the East culture hall of the first floor of Luvr.

This bronze plate, in the form a bird with long bill is original not only for its form but, but for its decorations as well. The decorations on the plate are three birds different in size and medallions placed on the spaces between them.

Those decorations made by the technique of forging and scratching are composed of stylized ornamental plant elements and the scripts. One of the scripts reflects the name of the master Osman Salman oglu Nakhchivani.

Azerbaijan works of art in Switzerland. Specimen of our art kept in the museums, personal collections and shops of antique things of the cities Bern, Geneva, Zurich, Basel, Lausanne create a beautiful page of the history of Azerbaijan art.

Many valuable samples of Azerbaijan arts are demonstrated at historical museums of Bern together with material culture of the Europe.

The center of the museum exposition is composed of a great mafrash(a sack to carry linen, carpets, and palazes)stylized in the harmony of blue and red and weaved in the motives of ornaments with kilim (a type of rug) under it. There is a great label near them informing in Germanic that they were weaved in Azerbaijan in the XVIII century. This admirable specimen reminds us the technique of weaving of Karabakh carpets for its figurative and technological peculiarities and is considered to be one of the best exhibits of the department of East art.

An interesting carpet kept in the museum of Bern is 'Gollu chichi', weaved in 1830 in Guba.

Among interesting patterns of Azerbaijan art particular attention is paid to daggers, swords, pistols and gun-powder boxes made in the XVIII-XIX centuries in Shanakhi, Goychay, Ganja, Sheki, Baki, Tebriz, Ardebil. The works made by Shirvan masters prevail in historical museum of Bern.

Among the artistic composition of the weapons kept in the museum we come across with designs of plant and geometry, scenes taken from animal world and also small topical compositions.

Among different kinds of designs of those weapons you may even find scripts written in Arabic language. Those scripts are so skillfully placed among the designs and the descriptions, they look like beautiful design and compose an inseparable part of the general composition. Hose scripts also carry some important historical information. For instance, on decorated by the technique of forging and garasavad nice silver gun-powder box we may read the name of 'Shamakhili Seyidzadeh'(inventory # 832), on the a pistol, the butt and the joint of barrel to the body of which are covered with silver decorated pieces we may find the script 'amali Ali'(inventory #766), on a small dagger 38,2 cm long with a handle of ivory and the blade decorated with the ornaments you may read "amali Mahammad Ardabili" (inventory # 1178), and on 51,1 cm long dagger with curved blade one may read the names o the master and the owner of the weapon.

On the weapons of Azerbaijan kept in the historical museum of Bern one may find the scripts "Baki", "Guba", "Amali Samed", "Omar"and others.

In the department of East of that museum we may find the patterns of house equipment made of copper widely used by our people in the XVIII-XIX centuries. Those kitchen implements original in form are demonstrated on the text-bench within the niche-frames

Azerbaijan works of art in Federative Republic of Germany. Only one pattern represents our carpets in Federative Republic of Germany.

Thousands of our carpets are kept In the museums, the shops of ancient things and personal collection found in Bonn, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Dusseldorph, Frankfurt-Mayn, Manheim and other cities.

Together with a mass simple carpets one may find in this country rare patterns of carpets weaved at different periods in our motherland.

The originality of Gazakh carpet referred to the XVIII century and demonstrated in 1960 in the shop of the antique things in Munich draws a good deal of attraction on it.

So wide-spread in the world of the East for its constructive structure those designs, seemed like swastika with the tips directed towards four different sides and were such really weaved as if they were circling around one point. The mentioned element of the carpets 'Damgali' of Gazakh could also be seen in other kinds of decorative-applied art of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan works of art in Turkey. Azerbaijan art patterns as decorative-applied and picturing art examples are generally focused in Istanbul.

The most beautiful and ancient patterns of Azerbaijan art are mainly kept in three large museums in Istanbul. Those are Topgapi palace museum, Turkish and Islam works museum, Carpet museum.

Utensils, jewelry and arms of different metals (gold, silver, steel, copper etc.) exceeded among art patterns, kept in Istanbul museums.

Golden belt, kept in Topgapi palace museum, particularly draws attention among metallic art examples.

Steel hood of 1528, kept in Topgapi, is considered valuable work, giving notion of medieval Azerbaijan jewelry.

Bronze alams (gonfalon), once made in Ardabil and Tabriz, might be included into metal art patterns, kept In Istanbul museums. Bronze alams used to be stuck into roofs of mosques and madrasas (religious school), tops of minarets and had religious essence. Trunks of alams were without adorn as they were stuck into special projections.

The most beautiful part of alams is its top. Religious scripts and symbolical portrayals were given in this part. Alams, kept in Turkish museums at present time, are of two forms: horn and pear-shaped.

You can see figuratively worked out words as Allah, Muhammad, Ali on some of them, and symbolical portrayals on the others.

Some rare patterns of Azerbaijan weaving art are kept in Turkish museums. There are material, fine needleworks and carpets, once made in Shamakhi, Ganja, Sheki, Shusha and Tebriz.

A number of qualitative patterns represent material and fine needlework art of Azerbaijan in Turkish museums at present. Most of them are mainly collected in Topgapi museum, Istanbul. Two examples draw particular attention. One of them is piece of material with plots belonging to XVI century and another is embroidery gown.

Azerbaijan carpets, found world fame are turned to be fine exhibits of Turkish museums.

Azerbaijan carpets are collected in four large museums of Turkey. These are the Turkish and Islam works museum, Topgapi palace museum and Carpet museums in Instanbul, Moylana museum in Koniya.

The most ancient carpet, kept in Turkey, belongs to XVIII century. According to Turkish art critics, this rare pattern of art of weaving, 254 cm length and 170 cm width, was given to Ashraf oglu mosque in Beyshahar as alms. It was brought to Movlana museum in 1932.

We may refer script of difficult painting, exhibiting in the Archeological museum in Izmir, to our original art patterns.

Azerbaijan art patterns in Iran museums. Thousands of rare art patterns, created by Azerbaijan people during centuries, are protected in Iran museums, mosques and private collections at present.

Exhibits of archeological and carpet museums, located in Tehran, Basitan, Gulustan, draw particular attention.

Artistic metallic wares, found in Hasanli hill, has particular significance among our art examples, exhibiting in the Archeological museum in Tehran.

Hasanli hill is situated in Sulduz region, Iranian Azerbaijan. This point with fine nature was one of the richest culture centers of the Near East one thousand year B.C. According to sources, Manna tribe, belonging to Great Midiya state, lived in this territory.

Among art monuments, found in Hasanli hill in 1956-1957 golden bowl, exhibiting in the Tehran Archeological museum, especially draws attention of world scientists.

There are many attractive scenes on the surface of the bowl. Hunter with snack around his head, naked woman laid on two rams, man holding his hand to the wrestler, staying aside, to rescue from tricipalious dragon were described here. These scenes pictured on the middle part of the bowl. An old man was described in the comparatively lower part. A woman, staying before him, holds out an infant. Above that scene a man stands with some plate in his hands with his face to the sandal. There are three more scenes between the description of a hunter with a snake winding around his head.

Referred to the VIII-VII century b. c. gold apron found in the province of Ziviye round the lake Urmiya proves the fact of mutual culture relation exited between Azerbaijan and the neighboring states.

Museums in Iran also keep the carpets made in Azerbaijan. We must particularly mention a carpet weaved in the village Pirabadil of Guba.

Kharabakh region of Azerbaijan is the area where people lived in 2 million year old Azikh Cave, one of the most ancient human residences. The area of Karabakh is a residence of successors of substituting Kura-Araz and Khojaly-Gadabay cultures which existed in the Bronze and Iron Ages of Paleolithtic period of Guruchay culture founders.

The ancient stone monuments discovered in mountainous and plain areas of Karabakh- dolmens in Khojaly, kromlekhs in Khankandi, as well as, stone box graves of ancient times discovered in different places of Karabakh are material culture signs reflecting ideology, moral thinking of that period.

In the whole territory of Azerbaijan among Manna , Atropatena,Skit states in the junction of IV-III centuries BC Caucasian Albania appeared in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic. Albania was governed by Albanian Arshakis family in I century. The southern boundary of Albania was along the Araz River (History of Albania by Moisey Kalankatuglu (translated by Ziya Bunyadov), Science , Baku-1993, 235 pp book1, ch.4; History of Armenia(translated by N. Gmina) Science, Moscow 1983 , book 2 ch. 8) Girdman, Sakasena, Uti, arsak, Paytakaran, Sisakan were historical lands of Kharabakh. (History of Albania by Moisey Kalankatuglu (translated by Ziya Bunyadov) , Science , Baku 1993 235 pp book 4, ch. 50; Azerbaijan History, Vol II, Science, Baki, 1998 pp. 15-21)

A great number of Scythian burial mounds of Turkic peoples dating back to VI-III centuries BC were discovered in Beylagan, Aghjabadi, Barda, Yevlakh, Tartar and upland area of Karabakh.

The ancient sources bear interesting information about the existence of old towns in ancient territoru of Karabakh- Uti, Arsak, and Paytakaran. Archaeological researches made in Barda, Govurgala( Aghdam), Garakopek Hill (Fuzuli), Ergi settlement (Aghjabadi),etc approve the above- mentioned statements. Besides archeological monuments, a number of Christian monuments were investigated in Karabakh region. These monuments were met in Barda, Aghjabadi, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Aghdere areas of Karabakh as well as in Lachin and Kalbajar. The most popular of these monuments Ganjasar(Ganzasar), Amaras, Elysian and Khotavang temples. It should be noted that Albanian Christian monuments also exist in other areas of Azerbaijan (Gabala, Nakhchivan, Mingachevir, Gazakh, Tovuz, Shamakhi).

By the way, there was no ethnic mass in Nagorno Karabakh up to XIX century. Beginning from XIX century many Armenain families were remitted to Karabakh by making use of avtokhton Albanians living there.

The monument erected by Armenians in Maragha village of Aghdere (Mardakert) in Karabakh in 1978 in the honor of eviction of first 200 Armenian families (from Maragha city of Iran) to Karabakh proves it.

The existence of different religions had a great impact on the social life of human society. The existence of Islam and Christianity and their substitute of each-other in Karabakh as well as in every part of Azerbaijan showed itself in the building culture . A good deal of Albanian Christian monuments were built in the area of Karabakh( Amaras in Nagorno-Karabakh, Govurgala in Aghdam, Khotavang in Kalbajar, Aghoghlan in Lachin) and other places of Albania(Gum village of Gakh region, Big Amidli village of Gabala region, Mingachevir).

There existed all kinds of architecture particular to East Christianity in Albania. Albanian cross stones form their specific group obeyed to laws of religious art with their local features and reflection of faiths and forces of universe till Christianity on Albanian written stones. Albanian cross bears signs which sum up indications of beliefs and universe cognition till Christianity. Its all compositions are reflected like links across the sky to the ground, symbol of sun, light, and fertility.

The adoption of Islam was the beginning of a new stage in Albania (Azerbaijan). During Islam many mosques and minarets were built in Garabagh, part of Azerbaijan. Along with it, Christian churches and other religious temples were protected there.

In that period flourishing period started in spiritual culture of Karabakh. In this land dozens of prominent thinkers with nicknames “ Karabakhi”, “ Bardai” grew up, information about their names, personalities and literary activities have become part of history.

In the period when Shirvan-Absheron, Nakhchivan-Maragha schools, which reflect main directions of architecture in XI-XII centuries, were widely spread, Arran (Karabakh) architecture school defines the further progress of Azerbaijan culture of Middle Ages. Architecture and town-building, decorative applied art beagan to develop in this period, the number of epigraphic monuments increased. More than 2000 different historical and cultural monuments mostly of Islam period were registered. There are houses, public buildings, as well as religious buildings, places of visit among them.

The cities of Karabakh – Aghdere, Kalbajar, Khojavand, Shusha, Khankendi, Tartar, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Aghjabadi, Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan appeared in the period of Islam. The national, moral, and ideological thinking style in the structure of these cities was artistically reflected in the building culture. New national ideological features show themselves in the interiors of houses and administrative buildings. It is proven with architectural masterpieces built in Middle Ages all over Azerbaijan, as well as Karabakh.

A number of cultural monuments of different kinds were registered in the area of Karabakh, and the majority of them are epigraphic monuments. A considerable number of building, tombs, and epigraphic ,etc. monuments were registered and investigated in the areas of Shusha, Aghdam, Barda, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Lachin, Kalbajar regions.

Sheykh Yaqub’s Tomb (Sepulcher) in Fuzuli (XII century), Qoch Ahmadli Juma Mosque, Haji Alasgar Mosque, Mir Ali tomb( sepulcher) in Ashaghi Veysalli village( XIV century) and tombs in Ahmadallar village(XIV century), Sheykh Ibrahim Tomb (XVII century) Ahmad Sultan Tomb, Jalal Tomb (h.c. 1307) Juma Mosque in Horadiz village, Asgaran fortress in the area of Nagorno Karabakh, Maiden Tower in in the region of Jabrayil, a tomb in Shikhlar village of Jabrayil (1308) and other tombs, a 12 cornered tomb near Khachin Darband village in Aghdam, Aghdam Juma Mosque (1870) , a bath building in Abdal – Gulabli village of Aghdam( beginning of XX century) , Shahbulag Mosque of Aghdam, a 12 arched bridge Tartar river in Barda(XIV century), “Barda” , “Akhsadan baba” tombs (XIV century), a double minaret “Imamzadeh” mosque complex built in Barda by Karbalayi Safkhan Garabaghi(1868), “Bahman Mirze“ tomb, an eight angle tomb in Shusha, Penah khan fortress, Natavan’s house, Mamayi mosque, Mashadi Shukur Mirsiyab oghlu’s mosque caravanserai, Julfalar Mosque, Haji Yusifli Mosque, Saatli Mosque, Upper Govheragha Mosque, Down Govheragha Mosque( XIX century), Khan evi(house),the gymnasium building, Garasaggal tomb in Lachin, Soltan baba tomb, Sheykh Ahmad tomb, Sari Ashug’s tomb(XV century), tombs in Jijimli village, “Ushag galasi” ( child fortress) in Gushchu village, “Boyuk bulag”( big spring) monument (XV century), Hamza Sultan palace (1761) are valuable material culture monuments for our history.

Bayat, Shahbulag (Tarnakut), Panahabad (Shusha) fortresses together bazaars, caravanserais, mosques, bath- houses,etc were built in the second half of XVIII century in Karabakh. Mansions, kumbezs belonging to Penah khan and his family were built in Aghdam.

Some fortresses (Bayat, Shahbulag, Panahabad (Shusha) were built, and settlements of a city and village type appeared during the period of Karabakh khanate. Beautiful and typical samples of wall paintings were created in the interiors of public buildings and houses in Shusha,the capital city of Karabakh khanate.

Most of these monuments form the main type of memorial buildings in Azerbaijan. There is no information about them since they are under occupation now.

Karabakh carpets which are popular since Middle Ages have kept their reputation so far. Carpets of Karabakh carpets group are distinguished with their names and decorative patterns. Karabakh carpets are divided into the first group with Barda , Aghjabadi carpets, into the second group with Shusha carpets, into the third group with Jabrayil carpets.

The ancient traditions were continued intensively in the carpet art of Karabakh. The art of Karabakh carpets centralized in Shusha from the second half of XVII century, later it developed on a large scale.

The culture, science , and literature went through the period of great progress in late Middle Ages in Azerbaijan, as well as Karabakh like in the east of all Moslem countries. In the following periods Karabakh didn’t lose its role of cultural centre.

Thus, researches display obviously that Karabakh material culture heritage is an integral part of Azerbaijan material culture and gives ground to prove that opposite ideas sounded about it lack reasons. Coming to the destiny of Karabakh monuments today, it must be mentioned that Armenia’s destructive work, war and conflict endangered them.

There was no opportunity to protect these monuments on the eve of the war. No chance was given to transfer museum exhibits and libraries. The ongoing vandalism destroyed most of the historical monuments that Azerbaijan had protected for centuries. People of Khojali were subject to the genocide by Armenian and Russian military units who caused the biggest tragedy of XX century Khojali tragedy. They destroyed the popular Khojali cemetry which was our great ancestors’ historical memory symbol with military technics. This vandalism of nasty enemies reached to its exreme level. Khojali mounds which were the ancient cradle of Khojaly- Gadabay culture were completely ruined. Azerbaijan thinkers’ monuments were fired with gun bullets in Shusha. The museums were destructed in Shusha.

The Azikh cave which was the world’s great ancestors’ cradle was changed into Armenians’ ammunition storage. Islam monuments were completely ruined. Albanian christian monuments were completely distorted. Albanian writings on Elysee temple, Hasanriz temple , and other monumets were wiped out. The items of these monuments which belonged to Albanians were destroyed. The Albanian ruler III Vachagan’s grave and writings on it which was protected in Elysee temple were completely ruined.

Karabakh is one of the most ancient regions of not only Azerbaijan but also the entire world. The site of the most ancient human beings was found in the Azykh cave of this region.

It proves Azerbaijan to be one of the cradles of the mankind along with Karabakh, the Mediterranean Sea basin and East Africa. The researcher of the Azykh cave, Azerbaijani scientist M.Guseynov wrote: "River stone instruments discovered in the Azykh cave are close to those of the Orduvay culture of East Africa. At the same time the instruments were prepared in different ways thus making it possible to single out the Guruchay culture composed of the labor instruments found in the lower layers of the Azykh cave…The Guruchay culture can be dated back to 1 million 200 thousand years ago".

The jaw bone of the Azykh human -Azykhantrope was found in the Acheulian layer of the Azykh cave in 1968. The Azykhantrope is proposed to live 350-400 thousand years ago. The mustye culture of Karabakh was mainly represented by the Taghlar cave. The continuation of the archeological investigation of Karabakh may also prove the high level of development of Mezolite and Neolite periods of the Stone Age. Great changes occurred in the life of Karabakh in the neolite (6-4th millenniums B.C.), bronze and the first iron age (late 4th-early 1 millenniums B.C.). The late Bronze and early iron ages (13-8th centuries B.C) were called the Khodjaly-Gedebey culture. The agate beads with the cuneiform once belonging to the Assyria ruler Adad nirar were found in the archeological monument of the Khodjaly cemetery of that period. These findings and a number of others confirm the existence of economic and culture relations with the Near East.

Ethno-political processes developed along with the industrial and cultural ones. The strong state Manna appeared in the south of Azerbaijan (9-6 centuries B.C), and it managed to protect its independence in the fight with Assyria and Urartu. Urartu»s intervention bypassed the lands of the North Azerbaijan including Karabakh. Armenian ethnos did not exist at that time in the South Caucasus (Transcaucasia). Prominent researches, collective monographs authors expressed unanimous views on the political history of Transcaucasia. The major part of Urartu was located out of the bounds of USSR. The areas of compact settlement of Armenians of the ancient period and Middle Ages were also out of the bounds of the present-day Armenia SSR. The situation changed in times of the Midia state (672-550 B.C) that put an end to the wealth of Urartu. Midia subdued the South-Eastern Transcaucasia. Such a state were typical of the Akhameni period (550-330 B.C).

The political processes stepped to a new stage following the overthrow of the Akhamenistate by Macedonian Alexander. As a result of that after the death of Macedonian Alexander that ruled for a short period of time, his empire fell into a number of states and Atropatena appeared in the south of Azerbaijan, while Albania -in the north. (In the recent time Azerbaijani historians enriched Atropatena and Albania studies with new scientific works. They made a great contribution to the correction of scientific facts of that period that was so much falsified by Armenian authors. We think it unnecessary to cite them here). Atropatena owned the north lands of Azerbaijan in the 4th B.C and part of the lands that constituted Karabakh were subdued to that very state.

Albania that established simultaneously with Atropatena existed in the 4-8th centuries B.C and played a great role in the history of Azerbaijan of nearly 1200 years. Albania covered the entire territory of Karabakh and it did everything possible to hold this region in its hands and reached its aim with few exceptions. The sixth maps of F.Mamedova that reflected the historical dynamics of the area and borders of Albania and the regions it included (Sakasena, Otena-Uti, Orkhistena-Arsakh, Araksena, etc) proves this fact irrefutably as well.

Likewise Karabakh belonged to Azerbaijani Albania state, the ethnic communities residing there-uti, sovdey, qargar and others were also Albanian tribes.

Armenians first appeared in the South Caucasus (Transcaucasia) after the 2nd century B.C. Their aggressive activity against local states and peoples started with their settlement in these regions. At that time Armenians called the Armenian kingdom in the east of the Asia Minor the Great Armenia and tried to introduce the lands in which they settled as their own. As a result of the defeat of Tigran the Second by the Roman Empire in 66 B.C the false legend about the Great Armenia failed and Armenians were turned into the vassals of the Roman Empire. The situation remained changeless till the 4th century. In this case the declaration of the historical lands of Albania the native regions of Armenia was scientifically and historically baseless. Yet, unlike Armenians Albania state continued its independent policy and included the historical province Karabakh. A number of researches wrote: "the investigation of the sources and the realities of the 1st-4th century assures us that the southern border of Albania was stretching along the Araz river" .

The all-Turk prominent monument of the oral folklore literature epos Kitabi Dede Gorgut also proves that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan and different Turkic tribes lived in the country. The epos Dede Gorgut was widely spread in all the regions of Azerbaijan including Karabakh and the basin of the Goycha lake in the 6-7th centuries. As stated in this valuable national epos, some oghuz heroes even met with him to express their respect. The famous Oghuzname (from the Kitabi-Diyarbekir written by Abu Bekr Tehrani in 1470) written by the instruction of the Aggoyunlu ruler Uzun Gasan (1453-1478) proved that the Goycha lake pastures and Karabakh belonged to ancient oghuz turks, that the forefather of the oghuz turks Oghuz Khagan was buried on the Goycha lake shore and that Bayandur khagan lived and buried in Karabakh on the Goycha lake pastures.

Karabakh in times of the Arabian Caliphate. On Armenification and Gregorianization in Arsakh

The dramatic changes occurred in the history of Karabakh with the intervention of Arabian Caliphate and the downfall of Albania. Before Arabian intervention the ethnic composition of the historical population of Karabakh had been homogeneous that is all the tribes generated from Azeri-Arbanian roots while as a result of the tragic policy of Arabic caliphate the religion of Armenians dominated in the mountain regions of the province and later this process occurred in the ethnic field as well: the population of the historical region of Albania Arsakh was first converted to gregorianity and later armenified.

Z.Bunyadov conducted a special investigation of the reasons and proceeding of the grigorianization and armenification and the role of the Armenian-Caliphate cooperation and other problems as well as their reflection in the historical literature. No wonder that the process of armenification took more time than gregorianization.

Therefore, Z.Bunyadov regarded the Albanian church of the 7th and later centuries (if exactly of early 8th century) as part of Armenian church and wrote opposing the idea of armenification of Sunik, Arsakh, Uti and others: "The matter that attracts a great deal of attention is the confusion of two different concepts: Armenification and gregorianization. It is possible to talk only over the gregorianization of the population of Arran by the help of the Armenian church. The view of S.T.Yeremyan was only partially truthful as most part of the Sunik province and Arsakhyn of the Arran province were armenified in the beginning of the 12th century.

This view (as well as the conclusion drawn out by S.T.Yeremyan) proves that the population residing in that part of Karabakh was not Armenians there generated from local Albanian-Azeri tribes and were later armenified, i.e. first converted to gregorianity and then armenified.

Odontological researches, based on the modern scientific achievements and presenting information on the population ethnogeny and its reciprocal interaction also prove that. It is in no way by accident that Sunik and Arsakh-Khachyn principalities established on that lands after the downfall of the Arabian caliphate. "In late 12th century the Sunik kingdom fell and the dynastic rule ceased there after the death of Gregor and Smbat in 1166. According to the prince I.A.Orbel the Khachyn principality that blossomed on the territory of Arsakh was part of the ancient Albania in late 12th-13th centuries. Therefore, no wonder that the states that established after the downfall of the Arabian caliphate did not include any Armenian state. That proves Armenians not to have an ancient state system establishment history in the South Caucasus unlike Azerbaijan and Georgia.

The 19th-early 13th centuries, the period of the Sadjids-Atabeys-Shirvanshahs were the times pf the strengthening of Azerbaijan in the entire South Caucasus. In fact Sadjids and Atabeys unified the historical lands of Azerbaijan. The Khachyn principality, established on the territory of the former Albania reached the highest level of its development in times of Gasan Djelal (1215-1261) from the dynasty of Mehranies. He is known as the prince of the Khachyn states, the mighty prince of the Khachyn and Arsakh states as well as the ruler of Albania in the narrative and epigraphic monuments of that period. In other words, the great titles of Gasan Djalal related to the history of Azerbaijani Albania. One of the most wonderful pearls of Albanian architecture-the Ganzasar monastery was erected at that period…

Karabakh as one of the political centers of Azerbaijan (XIII- the 40s of XVIII)

In period of the ruling of Kharezmshah Djelaleddin, that ruined Atabeys state weakened by the first intervention of Mongolians (1220-1222) Karabakh was controlled by him (1225-1231).

In period of the second intervention of Mongolians and the completion of Azerbaijan»s occupation (1231-1239) Karabakh like other lands of Azerbaijan was part of the Mongolian khaganate (1239-1256) and later of Hulakues (Elkhanies ) state (1256-1357). The information of this period of Karabakh»s history is much wider and well studied.19The word combination composed of the words Gara (black) and bagh (garden) referred to a definite territory at that period.

V.Piriyev wrote: "The name of the Arran Karabakh was first mentioned in the creation of Radhid ad-Din "Djame at-tevarikh" in connection with the events of 1284". At that period Karabakh was composed of the single area that connected the mountain and foothill regions of Arran. Karabakh played an important role in the political history of Elkhanis state in the 13-14th centuries. V.Piriyev noted that the permanent wintering of Mongolian rulers in Karabakh caused a number of events of state importance. It would be enough to say that two of the Mongolian rulers (Gazan khan and Arpa khan) ascended the throne in Karabakh and two others (Argun khan and Abu Said) died there." Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan in the 13-14th centuries as well and Azeri Turks dominated the population of the region.

In the 15th century Karabakh was part of the Azeri states Garagoyunlu (1410-1467) and Aghgoyunlu (1468-1501). Yet in times of Garagoyunlus an event occurred in the life of Karabakh which told on its further history. The dynasty of the former Albanian ruler Gasan Djelal (Djelali) was attached the title of the melik (ruler) from the Garagoyunlu shah Djahan in the 15th century. Later the property of Djelalis was dividec in five feudal principalities (Gulistan, Djeravert, Khachyn, Varanda and Dizaq)…

The centralization of all the lands of Azerbaijan was initiated with the establishment of the Sefevi state (1501). The lands of Azerbaijan were completely centralized as a single state in the mid 16th century. Thus, the Sefeli state of Azerbaijan became the second larger region after the Ottoman empire. At that period the ethnic and political predominance of Armenians was not possible. On the contrary, the ethnic and political borders of Azerbaijan became clearer then. Sefevis established four principalities in Azerbaijan including the Karabakh or Ganja province. The detailed journals worked out in that regions creates clear picture of the administrative division of the said principality. According to the date of 1593 the Ganja-Karabakh province fell into 7 regions and 36 districts. Almost all of 1.3 thousand geographical names were taken from Azeri language. None of them belonged to Armenians.

After the Sefevids lost their strong positions, the lands of Azerbaijan became the center of wars between, Iran, Russian and the Ottoman empire.

At that period the Ganja-Karabakh lands were part of the Ottoman empire. The journals worked out in times of the Ottoman empire also prove the domination of Azerbaijanis among the region`s population. According to the census enumerations the population of the Ganja-Karabakh province totaled 122 thousand people in 1727. Azerbaijanis accounted for 80.3 thousand people (66%), Armenians (if exactly the armenified Albanians converted to gregorianism) -for 37.8 thousand people (31%), Kurds-for 3.7 thousand people (3.1%). At the reported period the Albanians that were converted to gregorianism intensified their political activity under the active support of Russia.

Nadir shah Afshar who came to power overthrowing the last Sefevi ruler Abbas the third applied cruel punitive measures to the Turkic-Muslim population of the Ganja-Karabakh province that did not recognize his government. This factor helped consolidation of the Karabakh Albanian meliks and provoked the separatism. After the death of Nadir his state fell into pieces and new states-khanates were established in Azerbaijan. In other words, Azerbaijan restored its independence through creation of such states. Two Azeri khanates Ganja and Karabakh established on the territory of the former Ganja-Karabakh province. Let us review in details the territorial claims of Armenians against Azerbaijan as they are connected with the Karabakh khanate.