Culture and history

Azerbaijan was formed at the crossroads of the Caucasus and Western Asia, combining the Turkic language with the Persian-Islamic tradition.

Medieval centers - Derbent, Shemakha, Baku - developed under the Shirvanshahs, later in the orbit of the Safavids and Caucasian khanates.

Islam (mainly Shiite tradition) was reflected in architecture - from the Shirvanshah Palace and the Maiden Tower to caravanserais.

Iconic symbols - carpet (schools of Karabakh, Cuba, Shirvan), mugham art, Ashig poetry, Novruz, tea and pomegranate culture.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the oil boom turned Baku into an industrial and multinational center; the Soviet period brought urbanization, mass education and a strong scene of music, theater and cinema.

After 1991, the country emphasizes cultural identity, restores historic neighborhoods and develops festivals while maintaining multilingualism and hospitality traditions.