Transcaucasia is an area located south of the Main Caucasian Range. Hence the synonym for Transcaucasia is the term "South Caucasus", which has recently become widespread in international documents.
Transcaucasia includes most of the territories of the southern slope of the ridge, the Kura depression, the Colchis lowland, the Armenian Highlands, the Talysh and Karabakh mountains, and the Lankaran lowland. The Transcaucasus includes the countries of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, not fully recognized by the states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (part of Azerbaijan), not recognized by the international community.
In the north, the border lies next to the Russian Federation, the southern border belongs to Turkey and Iran.
Climate of Transcaucasia
The climatic and natural features of the western and eastern Transcaucasia are very different. Western Transcaucasia is characterized by a maritime climate and large quantity precipitation. East, on the contrary, has a continental climate and is irrigated rather poorly. Therefore, the lands of the eastern part require artificial irrigation, and some areas of the west receive an excess of moisture.
Historical development of Transcaucasia
The Caucasus and Transcaucasia are two different geopolitical regions. The South Caucasus from the most ancient times connected the eastern and western countries and was at the crossroads of the armies of invaders, migration waves, trade routes of the Near and Middle East and Europe. The countries of Transcaucasia since ancient times established broad cultural and trade relations both among themselves and with European countries, as well as with eastern states– India, Iran, China, etc.
In the 9th-6th centuries, the state of Urartu, one of the oldest world powers, functioned on the territory of the South Caucasus. On the site of Urartu, Armenia later formed, which during its heyday belonged to the entire Armenian Highlands. Later, the Kingdom of Colchis, Agvank (Caucasian Albania), Armenia were located here. Evidence of the existence of ancient civilizations are outstanding monuments of architecture and literature that have survived to this day.
Mild climate, rich lands and water resources contributed to the successful development Agriculture in particular grazing and irrigated agriculture. Being at the crossroads of trade routes, and, accordingly, participation in trade, contributed to the development of crafts, transport, and city building. In the same time, fertile lands could not but arouse greedy interest on the part of powerful and aggressive neighbors: first the Roman Empire, then Byzantium, the Arabs. Further, in the XIII-XV Transcaucasia attracted the attention of the Tatar-Mongols and Tamerlane. Wanting to have a tasty territory, Persia (Iran) and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) entered into a struggle between themselves.
The era of the Middle Ages was also marked by endless wars, aggressive campaigns and feudal strife. Foreign conquerors showed particular cruelty to Christian peoples - Armenians and Georgians. Life was a little easier for those who converted to Islam.
If this had continued further, the Christian peoples of Transcaucasia would have been physically completely exterminated. Therefore, their entry at the beginning of the XIX century. becoming part of Russia actually meant survival and perception of the best that was achieved by European civilization.
During the stay of Transcaucasia as part of the USSR, this region progressed significantly in industrial and socio-economic terms. The economic ties of the Transcaucasian republics were strengthened, the educational level of the population was raised, and a social stratum of the intelligentsia appeared. However, the available productive capacities still did not allow using all human potential (especially in villages), so the population moved to cities or left the Transcaucasus.
Political life of the late 80s - early 90s. 20th century had a liberal orientation, and besides, glasnost was developed. On this grateful soil, a rapid growth of national ideas began, for which the leaders of the Transcaucasian republics were not ready. As a result - decisions taken regarding the withdrawal Soviet Union. The collapse of the USSR was largely due to the events in the Transcaucasus. Conflicts erupted between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, during which people died.
Transcaucasia after leaving the USSR
Many Azerbaijanis are engaged in economic activities in the Russian Federation, which brings a significant part of the foreign exchange income to the republic. The construction of an export pipeline has been completed, which is supposed to bring Azerbaijan to the world hydrocarbon trading market.
In Armenia since the beginning of the 90s. martial law. Contacts of the country with the outside world are difficult, because. it is blocked by neighbors - Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The range of Georgian problems includes economic turmoil, tension in society (associated with the presence of several hundred thousand Abkhazian and South Ossetian refugees in the country), lack of access to the resort coast of the Black Sea from the territory of Abkhazia.
Art of Transcaucasia
At the beginning of the IV century. Armenia and Georgia adopted Christianity, which contributed to the formation of feudal relations. The peoples of Transcaucasia were politically dependent on Byzantium and the Sassanid state (Iran), therefore, they naturally perceived the progressive tendencies of their cultures. But despite this, the culture of the Transcaucasian peoples had distinctly original features, and in the field of architecture it itself had an influence.
General information. If from Central Asia Russia is separated by the "Kazakh cordon", then it is naked in front of the Transcaucasus, leaving it with one of its most vulnerable parts - the North Caucasus. Transcaucasia, which links the Black Sea with the Caspian, Russia with the Middle East and has energy resources (Azerbaijan), has not accidentally become an object of heightened interest of world powers. The special proximity of Azerbaijan to the key country for the West - Turkey (which is a member of NATO), the possible importance of Azerbaijan for influencing Iran also increase the importance of this region.
Located at the junction of Western Asia and Eastern Europe - Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan - have exclusively ancient roots. Thus, the Armenian and Georgian alphabets appeared much earlier (by as much as 1000 years) than the Cyrillic alphabet, on which the Russian alphabet is based; and Christianity spread long (600 years) before its adoption in Russia. Not only Armenians and Georgians, but also Azerbaijanis had their own statehood even before new era(in III- 1st century BC e. in Transcaucasia, the Armenian, Iberian and Albanian states are formed). The annexation of Transcaucasia to Russia took place at the end XVIII- the beginning of the 19th century, and mainly voluntarily(contrary to the semi-literate statements of some high-ranking officials in the Georgian leadership after the collapse of the USSR).
The region is located almost entirely south of 43°N. sh. Mountain relief affects all elements of local nature: climate, river regime, soil and vegetation cover. Mountains determine the altitudinal zonality of landscapes. The relatively low transverse Likhi Range serves as an important climatic division between the moist air masses of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (Georgia) and the dry continental masses of the interior of Eurasia in the east (Azerbaijan). This has a marked effect on the specialization of agriculture.
Among the main minerals are oil and gas of the Apsheron Peninsula and the Caspian Sea, copper, molybdenum
And polymetallic ores of the Lesser Caucasus (Armenia), manganese (Georgia), etc. Medicinal mineral waters are widespread: Borjomi, Tskhaltubo (Georgia), Arzni, Jermuk (Armenia), Istisu (Azerbaijan). The Azerbaijani oil, which has been known since ancient times, is of primary importance. In the second half of the XIX century. Baku oil production acquired an industrial character, and at the beginning of the 20th century. the region became the largest oil producer in the world (over 11 million tons - more than half of world production). Foreign capital (English, Swedish, French, German) was widely attracted. A stream of kerosene and fuel oil began to flow from Baku along the Caspian Sea and further along the Volga to the interior regions of Russia, and the export of petroleum products through the port of Batumi began. Today, the center of production is increasingly shifting to the Caspian shelf, new projects are being created for transporting oil and gas to the West.
During the years of Soviet power, the republics of Transcaucasia carried out industrialization, achieving real success in building national economies. Their economic "face" today is largely determined by the production of oil and oil products (Azerbaijan), non-ferrous metals (Armenia and Azerbaijan), manganese (Georgia), products of subtropical agriculture - lemons, tangerines, oranges, tea, tung oil, bay leaves (Georgia, Azerbaijan), cotton (Azerbaijan), etc.
The disintegration of the USSR destroyed the former economic integrity of the region. The six-year war between Armenia and Azerbaijan (1988-1993) over Nagorno-Karabakh did not go unnoticed, violating relations between neighboring countries. It claimed thousands of lives, tens of thousands of people were injured and more than 1 million people left their homes, becoming refugees. The economies of both countries were paralyzed. Georgia, in its turn, faced serious ethno-political problems in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Meanwhile, the economic interests of the countries of Transcaucasia are united, the republics geopolitically gravitate towards each other, the social strata need peace in order to get out of the contradictions that arose after the collapse of the USSR.
One of the most sensitive issues for new Russia is the excessive political and economic intensification of US activities in the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea region, supported by a military presence in Georgia, which was considered a traditional Russian area of interest.
Trying to somehow disguise its own expansion in the Caucasus and reduce financial costs, the US is actively using the North Atlantic Alliance. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, on a par with the territory, airspace and coastal waters of Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, the waters of the Mediterranean, Black and Seas of Azov official
but are under the responsibility regional command United Armed Forces of NATO "South". In 2005, an agreement was signed at the Brussels headquarters of the alliance on the transit of NATO troops across the border of Georgia, which, in essence, legalized the American presence in that country.
In the "bosses of the geopolitical headquarters" of the West, a project has long been developed for the withdrawal of the states of Transcaucasia and Central Asia from the influence of Russia by creating an extensive network of automobile and railways, oil and gas pipelines and an air corridor bypassing it (the so-called silk, or rather pseudo-silk road of the 21st century).
Georgia. Georgians (self-name - cartvels) how the nation was formed from Kartlians, Kakhetians, Khevsurs, Gurians, Mingrelians, Lazs, Svans and other ethnic groups. However, the Georgian nation is not a monolithic entity, and the facts confirming this thesis are not particularly needed. In addition to Kartli, there are three more related languages in the country - Mingrelian, Svan and Laz. On the one hand, all three subethnoi recognize themselves as Georgians, but on the other hand, their remaining ethnic specificity, largely due to the "vicissitudes" of historical fate (for example, the Mingrelians lived under the rule of Byzantium and Turkey, and the Kartlians - Persia), serves as a breeding ground for the local separatism, which is not easy for eastern Georgians to cope with. And if after 1921 the Laz practically ended up in Turkey, and the Svans - no more than 40 thousand, then almost every fifth Georgian considers himself a Mingrelian. The traditional capital of the Mingrelian eristavi (principality) is Zugdidi, and without the involvement of the Mingrelians in the political mechanism of governing the country, it is hardly possible to achieve stability in the country.
Through the entire history of Orthodox Georgia (Adjarians, Lazi profess Islam), two tasks run like a red thread: to unite the lands and principalities (Kartli, Kakheti, Imereti, Tvaladi, Tusheti, etc.) and to repel the expansion of Islamic Turkey and Iran. Asked at the turn of the XVI-XIX centuries. under the wing of the Russian "eagle", she successfully solved both of these eternal tasks, but at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. they reappeared. Just like four hundred and two hundred years ago, Georgia proved unable to be both integral and independent at the same time. As a loyal member of the world community, Russia (by helping South Ossetia to pay pensions to the elderly and salaries to state employees, and the residents of Abkhazia to receive Russian citizenship and freely cross the Russian border) could not officially recognize Georgia's sovereignty throughout the territory. But she could not refrain from participating in the fate of peoples who do not want to abruptly end relations with her.
People in Russia are accustomed to seeing in Georgia a fertile Black Sea country from all points of view, generously gifted by nature. Otcha-
Stee, this is true. Humid subtropics off the coast of the Black Sea (the Lankaran region in Azerbaijan is noticeably inferior to them in terms of land area suitable for cultivating subtropical crops and agro-natural potential); fertile plains with a favorable climate for agriculture in the central and eastern parts of Georgia; pastures abundant in forage in the subalpine and alpine meadows of the Caucasus Mountains; rivers rich in manganese and water resources (Rioni, Ingu-ri, Kura, Kodori, Bzyb, etc.); hundreds of healing springs - all this creates good prerequisites for the socio-economic development of sovereign Georgia. Indeed, within the framework of the USSR, Georgia was one of the most developed republics, having a relatively balanced economic complex (including Rustavi's ferrous metallurgy and certain branches of engineering). Agriculture was based on three branches: subtropical farming, horticulture and viticulture, and transhumance. The cultivation of perennial subtropical crops (tea, citrus fruits - oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, essential oil plants, noble laurel, persimmon, etc.) and winemaking brought Georgia a good reputation in the former USSR.
However, a significant part of Georgia is wedged into the depths of the Caucasian Isthmus (the middle reaches of the Kura, the valley of its tributary Alazani in Kakhetia, the spurs of the Greater Caucasus in the north of the country and the Lesser Caucasus in the south, etc.), and there is no longer a climatic "paradise" and fertile soils . But the main thing is that the country is experiencing a clear shortage of hydrocarbon raw materials, especially oil and gas. From the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and from Mesopotamia, the country of Meskhs (i.e. Georgia) is seen as the extreme northern periphery with a rather harsh climate and stony soils, which is partially confirmed by the obvious uncompetitiveness of Georgian wines, lemons, tea on the world market (not to mention electric locomotives, ferroalloys of Zestaponi, trucks of Kutaisi, etc.). As prices for raw materials and energy imported from Russia soar, the cost of Georgian products becomes “unbearable” even for undemanding buyers from underdeveloped countries.
Taking into account the historical past of this country, two possible scenarios for the future development of sovereign Georgia in accordance with its geopolitical position are most often discussed in the specialized literature. In accordance with the first of them, it breaks with the "empire of the North" (ie our country) and builds its future, relying on the United States and Western allies. In this case, the country of Sakartvelo will never be able to become Puerto Rico, but will return to the orbit of the Iranian-Turkish rivalry to its usual place on the northern border of the Front East, being forced
become a "foreign" part of the Muslim world. In the second case, Georgia returns to the geopolitical "bosom" of Russia, but, of course, taking into account its geopolitical and geo-economic interests.
What kind of orientation will bring prosperity and territorial integrity and inner peace to the country - the Georgian people themselves will decide. Strengthening integration with Georgia, supporting its state sovereignty (taking into account such an incredibly complex factor as Abkhaz and South Ossetian separatism) is able to have a beneficial effect on the supply of oil and gas raw materials to Georgia, and to Russia - products of subtropical agriculture, as well as on the sharing Georgian ports for transit, a joint strategy for the development of the resort industry, etc. Georgia occupies an exceptionally favorable geopolitical and geostrategic position in the Black Sea, and in this regard, it can be assumed with a high degree of probability that the relationship between the two countries will largely be determined by the "evolution" of the Abkhazian issue.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The internal political and administrative division of Soviet Georgia showed features of a federal type and included the Adjarian (Batumi), Abkhazian (Sukhumi) and South Ossetian (Tskhinvali) autonomies. After the collapse of the USSR, Georgia inherited, of course, those regions that had previously been repeatedly excluded from it: Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe.
The essence of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict rests on the unresolved issue of the status of Abkhazia, which in the former socialist Georgia was a "law-abiding" autonomy. Opposing the movement for the process of sovereignization of Abkhazia on August 13-14, 1992, the Georgian National Guard tried to solve the "Abkhaz problem" by force, provoking a bloody inter-ethnic war. The war was lost by the Georgians, and r. Enguri became a "delimitation zone" for the opposing sides. The consequences of the bloody "inter-ethnic showdown" - 100 thousand injured people from both sides, the mass resettlement of the Georgian population from Abkhazia, a radical change in the ethnic situation in the former Georgian autonomy, mutual hostility and wounded pride of the proud highlanders.
Sukhumi proceeds from the fact that Abkhazia is neither de jure nor de facto connected with Georgia, and at the negotiating table they do not agree to accept any wording that would put Abkhazia in the position of a part of Georgia, even if with a special status. Tbilisi does not want to accept any formulations that would not fix the territorial integrity of Georgia. The Constitution of the new Abkhazia says that the republic is an independent
My state, subject international law. In Tbilisi, this Constitution is considered illegal, citing the fact that about 500 thousand people previously lived in Abkhazia, most of whom today are refugees who did not take part in the adoption of the Basic Law.
In April 1994, the warring parties signed a statement on measures for a political settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, as well as an agreement to send to the conflict zone (in the Gaelsky region of Abkhazia and the Zugdidi region of Georgia) a peacekeeping detachment of the CIS forces, consisting mainly of Russian military personnel (Russian troops were also deployed in the Adjara and South Ossetian autonomies). His presence was dictated by a number of circumstances - the mutual economic interests of Russia and Georgia, Russia's desire to secure its borders, to resist "foreign" influence in the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, to protect the population (which, however, practically does not feel the infringement of human rights here).
From the positions of political geography, geopolitics and geo-economics, Russia is vitally interested in a stable, but closely consolidated with the Russian Federation, Abkhazia.
According to the most common point of view, the Ossetians are the descendants of the Scythian, Sarmatian and especially Alanian tribes. The self-name of the Ossetians "Iron" exactly coincides with the self-name of the Sarmatians, who lived in the steppes of the North Caucasus as early as 2 thousand years ago. The reason for the geographical separation of the two constituent parts Ossetian ethnic group. Driven by the desire to remain independent from the Golden Horde, the Ossetian Alans were forced to go high into the mountain gorges. Some of them overcame the Main Caucasian Range, settling on its southern slopes. After the annexation of the territory of present-day North Ossetia to Russia (the last quarter XVIII c.) many Ossetians descended from the mountains and again settled on the plain, next to the Cossack villages that had already formed here. It was relatively easy for Orthodox highlanders to find mutual language with the Cossacks.
Russia's desire to participate in deciding the fate of the South Ossetians is quite justified. We are talking about the border zone of the national security of the country, inhabited by representatives of the “spun off” Russian ethnic group, who mostly have Russian passports, receive Russian pensions and benefits and are completely dependent on Russia. Here they have spread various forms Russian property (including land), business structures, etc.
Armenia. Armenians (self-name - hay) - the most ancient people with rich cultural traditions and dramatic fate. The ethnic homeland of the Armenians is the Armenian Highlands (from
Noah Big Ararat!). Many years of bloody wars with the Seljuk Turks, Tatar-Mongols, Ottoman Turks, Persians led to the extermination of many Armenians and their "dispersion" around the world (this circumstance makes them "related" to the Jews). Having lost their statehood in the Middle Ages, the Armenians fell under the rule of Iran, and then Turkey. Since several million Armenians in the XX century. continued to live in Turkey on their historical lands, they experienced strong pressure from local units (about 1.5 million Armenians became victims of the genocide). Armenians are Christians (it is believed that they were the first people who adopted Christianity as state religion in 301).
Unlike Georgia and Azerbaijan, Armenia does not have access to the sea, which (given its deteriorating relations with Azerbaijan and traditionally “cool” relations with Turkey) makes its foreign economic relations extremely difficult. 90% of its surface lies at an altitude of over 1,000 m, and consequently, its arable land (with the exception of the Ararat valley) is located much higher than in the countries mentioned. The complete absence of mineral fuel stimulated at one time the construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power stations (6 stations) on the river. Hrazdan, flowing from Lake Sevan. The economic "face" of modern Armenia is determined by non-ferrous metallurgy (mainly copper), the chemical industry (synthetic rubber, plastics, tires, etc.), and certain branches of engineering. Alpine agriculture in arid climate is impossible without irrigation. Vegetables, cotton, sugar beets, tobacco, peaches, apricots, plums, and grapes are grown on irrigated lands. Juicy summer pastures of high mountain plateaus make it possible to breed cattle, sheep, goats. Like Georgia, the Achilles' heel of the national economy is energy poverty.
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis - ancient people Turkic ethnolinguistic group, which has a complex ethnogenesis and rich spiritual culture. Being the largest ethnic group in Transcaucasia, it is among the disunited: most of the Azerbaijanis live abroad, mainly in neighboring Iran (South Azerbaijan). By religion, Azerbaijanis are Muslims (with one part of them professing Sunnism, the other - Shiism). The cultural traditions of Azerbaijanis largely date back to XII century, the era of the outstanding philosopher and poet Nizami Ganjavi.
In Azerbaijan, unlike Georgia and Armenia, there is a large area of arable land (Kura-Araks lowland, Kirovabad-Kazakh plain, etc.), but the country lies in a dry subtropical climate and, with the exception of the Lenkoran lowland, agriculture without irrigation is impossible. The main income from agriculture comes from cotton. Cultivated tea, citrus
vye, tung, tobacco, grapes, subtropical fruits (figs, pomegranate, quince, persimmon, pistachio, almonds), stone fruits (peaches, apricots).
Since the main natural resources of Azerbaijan are oil and gas, they determine the industrial specialization of the republic. In one way or another, ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering and the chemical industry are also connected with them (production of pipes, drilling equipment, rubber, plastics, tires in Baku, Sumgayit and other centers). Influx at the beginning of the 20th century. large Russian and Western capitals contributed to the transformation of Baku into an international city, where the integration of Eastern and Western cultures took place. The paradox was that in some respects Baku was no less a European city than Christian Tbilisi and Yerevan.
After the collapse of the USSR, many experts began to express an opinion about the possible “drift” of Azerbaijan towards Iran, taking into account the confessional and ethno-linguistic (I mean Iranian Azerbaijan) proximity of the two countries. However, the geopolitical and geo-economic interests of these states still do not coincide much.
Nagorno-Karabakh: "frozen" conflict. A cursory glance at the political and administrative map of Azerbaijan is enough to realize the main geopolitical essence of the Karabakh problem. Within the boundaries of Karabakh, during the Soviet era, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO) was formed as part of Azerbaijan, with 87% of its population being Armenians. One of the first ethnic conflicts in the USSR (1988) led to the official abolition of this autonomy. At the same time, the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh, closely coordinating its policy with Yerevan, on September 2, 1991, proclaimed the territory an independent republic within the boundaries of the former NKAR and the Shahumyan region.
Flashed at the turn of 1991 - 1992. a full-scale war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh turned out to be quite bloody. During the armed conflict, the Armenian-Karabakh formations managed to gain an advantage and not only captured almost the entire territory of the NKAR, but also occupied part of the adjacent Azerbaijani lands with the aim of turning them into a "security zone".
In addition, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict gave rise to a serious problem of refugees and "resettlement", which directly affected the interests of the Russian Federation, as part of the refugees poured into Russian territory. After the collapse of the USSR, the status of Russia as an international mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict turned out to be very unclear, which at various times prompted all participants in the conflict (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh).
mountainous Karabakh) to blame Russia either for interfering in internal affairs or for their military defeats. Nevertheless, with the mediation of the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan and the UN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, on May 5, 1994 in Bishkek, representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh signed a protocol (not a peace treaty) on a ceasefire. Unfortunately, he played the role of only a temporary respite in the fierce information and sabotage struggle of the opposing sides.
The positions of Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are well known. Official Baku proceeds from the fact that Armenia committed an act of aggression against its neighbor and tried to annex foreign lands with all the ensuing consequences. In this regard, Azerbaijan insists, first of all, on the return of seized lands outside the NKAR under international guarantees, as well as on solving the problem of refugees, and then the problem of the jurisdiction of Nagorno-Karabakh. Official Yerevan brings to the fore the problem of the security of the Armenian population of Karabakh, at the same time supporting its right to self-determination.
Control questions and tasks
1. How does the natural resource potential of the Transcaucasian countries differ? 2. Recall from the history of the circumstances of the accession of Transcaucasia to Russian Empire. What is the “absurdity” of accusing the Georgian authorities (2006) of “annexing” this state by our country? 3. Name the main branches of economic specialization of the Transcaucasian countries. 4. What is the state of the Abkhazian, South Ossetian and Karabakh "geopolitical knots" for the current year? 5. What specifically testifies in favor of the close integration of the peoples and states of Transcaucasia?
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the republics that were part of it decided on their choice, and most of them left the influence of the Russian Federation, forming separate states. Transcaucasia did the same. The countries that were part of this region in 1990 became independent powers. These are Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The characteristics of the countries of Transcaucasia are presented in the article.
The history of the region
The countries that existed in antiquity on the site of modern Transcaucasia were well known beyond its borders. For example, in the 9th century BC. e. the strong and rich Urartian kingdom was located on. The unification of tribes in this region began in the 13th century BC. e., as evidenced by Assyrian sources from the reign of King Ashurnatsirapal II. Formerly nomadic, they settled along the coast becoming artisans, farmers and pastoralists.
By the 8th century, the inhabitants of the kingdom had not only their own language and script, but also religion, and the division of the country into regions with local administration and subordination to the central authority in the person of the king and government.
Thanks to military campaigns on the territory of modern Syria and advancement to the countries of the Caucasus, Urartu significantly expanded its possessions. Fortified cities, irrigation canals and aqueducts were built on the conquered territories, and state granaries were created in case of a siege.
No less famous is the history of Colchis, located on the territory of modern Georgia. The people who inhabited it were famous for jewelers, blacksmiths and metallurgists. Their skill and wealth of the region formed the basis of the myth of the Golden Fleece, followed by the Argonauts, led by Jason.
What is surprising in the history of these ancient states that make up Transcaucasia? The countries of which it consists today were able to form their own languages and customs, leave a rich architectural and cultural heritage, being under constant pressure from outside.
Georgia
This country occupies the central and western part of the region and borders on Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia and Turkey.
The countries of the CIS, Transcaucasia, including Georgia, faced changes in the economy and the development of international relations, which had to be re-established after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since during the Soviet era, industry was not developed in the entire region, Georgia, for example, had to start developing minerals on its own, including:
- Coal deposits, which are estimated at more than 200 million tons.
- Oil reserves - 4.8 million tons.
- Natural gas - 8.5 billion m 3 .
- Manganese deposits occupy more than 4% of the world's reserves of this ore and amount to 223 million tons, which puts Georgia in 4th place on the planet in terms of its production.
- Among non-ferrous metals, copper is in the lead, of which there are more than 700,000 tons in the country, lead (120,000 tons) and zinc (270,000 tons).
In addition to the above, the country occupies a leading position among the CIS countries in terms of deposits, there are deposits of gold, antimony, cadmium, diatomite and other minerals. The main asset of the country is 2000 mineral springs, among which the most famous are Borjomi, Tskhaltub, Akhaltsikhe and Lugel.
Another pride of the Georgian people is the wines that are produced in the country. They are well known at home and abroad. National cuisine does not lag behind in popularity, which, according to the results of a special international jury, takes 5th place in the world.
Today Georgia is a prosperous country with the most developed tourism and resort business, winemaking, citrus and tea growing.
Armenia
This country has the least favorable geographical location, since it has no access to the sea, which somewhat affects its economy.
Nevertheless, if we take the Transcaucasus, the countries included in it, then it is Armenia that is the leader in mechanical engineering and the chemical industry. Most of the industry is engaged in the production of electronic and radio devices, machine tool and automotive industry.
It is not inferior to them and thanks to which copper, aluminum, molybdenum concentrate and precious metals are produced in the country.
The wine and cognac products of Armenia are well known abroad. In agriculture, figs, pomegranates, almonds and olives are grown for export.
A highly developed network of railways and highways allows the country to trade not only with its neighbors, but also with foreign countries.
Azerbaijan
If we take the countries of Transcaucasia, then Azerbaijan occupies one of the leading places in the extraction and processing of oil products and gas.
In this country, the richest deposits:
- oil on and offshore the Caspian Sea;
- natural gas at Karadag;
- iron ore, copper and molybdenum in Nakhichevan.
Most of the agriculture belongs to cotton growing, and viticulture occupies half of the gross turnover, which gives the whole of Transcaucasia. The countries of this region grow grapes, but Azerbaijan is the leader in this industry.
Despite differences in economic development, culture, religion and population, parts of this territory have something in common. This is geographical position countries of the Caucasus, thanks to which their natural resources and climate have similar features.
Climatic zones of Transcaucasia
This region leads the world in terms of landscape diversity in such a small area. This is due to the fact that a significant part of the land in these countries is occupied by mountains (the Greater and Lesser Caucasus), and only a third is lowland. In this regard, land suitable for agriculture is extremely limited here.
The Surami Range divides the region into 2 climatic zones. Thus, this territory is subdivided into dry subtropics in the east and wet subtropics in the west, which affects the irrigation system and crops: in some regions there is an excess of water for irrigation, in others it is sorely lacking. Nevertheless, this did not prevent Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from uniting in the Commonwealth of Subtropical Farming for growing tea, citrus fruits, bay leaves, tobacco, geraniums and grapes.
Population
If we take Transcaucasia as a whole (you already know which countries are included in it), then Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Abkhazians and Adjarians will make up 90% of the population of the region. The rest are Russians, Kurds, Ossetians and Lezgins. Today, more than 17 million people live in this region.
Plans
First question: why the Caucasus? Why Chechnya and Dagestan? It's scary, news, terrorists, explosions...
What do we know about the Caucasus? Imagine that about Moscow or St. Petersburg in the news there would be only murders, robberies, accidents, everyday life, but not a word about life. It would seem to us that living in these cities is scary. But in fact, it is true: it is more dangerous in Moscow than in the Caucasus.
The Caucasus has never scared us. Just hands did not reach properly to go there.
In February, our long-awaited daughter Nina was born. From four months m m baby, of course, it was worth going to places more convenient for travel. But here Anya's parental leave coincided with the catastrophic fall of the ruble, so there was no question of Europe for a month (and less uninteresting). All this made us look carefully to the east and to the Caucasus, where we actually looked so often. At first there were plans to go to the Tien ShanIssyk-Kul, but we were afraid of high-altitude acclimatization for a baby and wild heat. It's some other time.
We have already been to the Caucasus more than once. Cyril often visited the Elbrus region as a child, we have already traveled to Armenia, Georgia and Abkhazia, we have been to Ossetia and Adygea. This journey was supposed to fill our general idea of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia.
Gradually, a sketch of the route was formed. Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Azerbaijan. There are quite a few artistic monuments in these parts, we planned this over and above refund in Armenia. We already traveled in Armenia 12 years ago. Now we wanted to see Tavush, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor and Syunik in detail. Georgia was supposed to travel back and forth in transit, only to call on St. Nina in Bodbe.
Some conclusions and impressions
Traveling with three children, one of whom is a baby, is a rather troublesome task. When we went to the Balkans with two-month-old Ksenya, we had several teenagers with us who could always pick up a crying baby in their arms and free adults for cooking, gathering, etc. Now we were alone, on the shoulders of adults and children lay much more worries than on previous trips. Yes, and our camp farm has grown: Sanya moved to his own tent, Kirill gave me a Decathlon field kitchen for Christmas. All this needs to be set up, assembled and disassembled later, the time for setting up the camp has increased. Every day Sasha set up his tent, kitchen and inflated all three mattresses. Ksenya set the table, chairs, carried all the things, helped in the kitchen. The children took turns on duty and washed the dishes themselves every day. It would seem that what adults should do, everything has already been done, but not here and there It was. Previously, after putting the children to sleep, we always managed to sit in silence together to talk over tea or wine, discuss the day we lived and plans for the future. Now, after putting the kids to bed, we did the laundry. Also unites, but not so oar. Tired decently, that's already there. Nina chose a specific routine for herself, waking us up every day at 6 in the morning. This is very convenient on a trip to hot countries, we had time to leave before the fierce sun, but we also had to go to bed early, otherwise we would not get up later with the younger lark. The conclusion is simple - children during nomadic life should help along with adults, otherwise the trip will not be a joy to anyone, and for this they need to be properly organized, which again requires strength, strength and strength from parents. I'm afraid this paragraph may look too bleak. Everything is not so bad, but you need to properly tune in in advance and realize your real opportunities so as not to be disappointed later. We, for example, overestimated them. It turned out that with a baby, we can’t go far from the car: she doesn’t sit in an ergo backpack for a long time, and the stroller doesn’t drive through the mountains. Our favorite forays into the mountains with an overnight stay have disappeared so much, backpacks were transported just like that. But on the other hand, they compensated this for the children with life at sea and in Sevan. So you need to prepare in advance for bad scenarios. We were very sorry for Ninochka and constantly adjusted everything to her, so she endured the trip perfectly. No diseases, scandals and problems. On the second row in the chair all month lay unconditional happiness, blooming with a smile at the first opportunity.
It was all about the peculiarities of traveling with three children, one of whom is not even sitting yet. Now about the Caucasus.
The first general impression is difficult to formulate. You drive for many days through gorges that are completely different from each other, walk around the villages, meet both temples and mosques, talk to people and be amazed that all this incredible diversity and often even completely incompatible and opposite reality, everything This- Russia . But this unity, of course, was won by the sweat and blood of many generations of Russian people, as evidenced by the Caucasus Mountains themselves: there is no place where battles did not take place during the Chechen wars or the Caucasian wars of the nineteenth century. This is the land of heroes. For the Russian ear, many village names have an overtone of grief. In every village, even in high-altitude abandoned villages, there are monuments to those who died in the Great Patriotic war, even our children fell silent at the lists of the dead and were amazed, crushed by the conscious truth. Whether it's Dagestan, Chechnya or Azerbaijan, the heroes of that war are everywhere.
You can’t describe the beauty of the mountains, you can try to convey in the pictures, but it’s better to see with your own eyes. The Caucasus is amazing and diverse, it is not inferior to the Alps in one iota, but it does not attract so many travelers. Here there is something to discover than to admire alone.
Many borders and terrible roads give the journey through the Caucasus the taste of an expedition.
This region includes three countries, former republics. Soviet. Union. One side,. Georgia,. Armenia and. Azerbaijan is quite different from each other. In addition, they are close not only geographically, they are united in one region, but also by a common history of the last centuries and many acute problems that have in common. The key country of this part. Asia is a cargo museum.
611 Georgia
General information. Official name -. Republic. Georgia. Capital -. Tbilisi (1.2 million people). The area is more than 69 thousand km 2 (118th place in the world). Population - 5 million people (106th place). The state language is Georgian. Monetary unit - l ari
Geographical position. The country is located in the central and western parts. Transcaucasia. West Side. Georgia wide access to the Black Sea. It directly borders four countries. In the north and half of the night east it is. Russia, east and southeast -. Azerbaijan, south -. Armenia and. Turkey. current geographic location. Georgia is not very favorable. It is surrounded by crisis countries and their individual territories, where the war continues almost continuously. Especially extreme is the border. Georgia s. Northern. Caucasus. Russian. Federation of the Federation.
The history of the emergence and development of BC in the territory of modern. Georgia emerged states. Colchis and. Iberia. In the 1st century BC, they became dependent on. The Roman Empire in the 4th century accepted Christianity. In the 5th century. Iberia (Kartli) was annexed to Persia. From the VIII century it turned into an independent state, which reached its peak in. HP in during the reign of the queen. Tamara. Later split into. Kartli. Kakheti and I Mereti. In the 19th century it was annexed to Russia. The growth of the national liberation struggle led to the revival of an independent state in 1917. However, in 1921 Georgia was occupied by the Russian Soviet eiskama 31922 r entered into. USSR included. Transcaucasian. Federation (together with Azerbaijan and Armenia). In 1936 it became a union republic. After the declaration of independence in 1991, acute internal conflicts constantly linger in the country due to attempts to separate the autonomies (Abkhazia, Adzharia, South Ossetia), which escalated into a civil war with intervention. Russia. The conservation of the conflicts has passed into the chronic stage. Georgia is always trying to get out of the guardianship. Russia and enter. EU and. NATOsії ta go to ЄС і. NATO.
State structure and form of government. Georgia is a unitary state and a presidential republic. The president is the head of state and head of the executive branch. The government is headed by the prime minister. The highest legislative body is the parliament. It is unicameral and consists of 235 deputies elected for a term of 4 years. Administrative-territorial. Georgia is divided into 10 regions, 2 autonomous republics and 1 autonomous region.
Natural conditions and resources. Relief. Georgia is very diverse. Mountains and plateaus predominate. The highest point in the country is a mountain. Shkhara (5068 m) is located in the north. Georgia in the mountains. Big. Caucasus. In the south, n to a height of more. A volcanic highland rises from a thousand meters above sea level. In the east of the country, mountain systems are not higher than 2 thousand meters. The western part is flat. Colchis lowland is to blame.
Most of. Georgia lies in the subtropical climate zone. To the west along the coast. The Black Sea are humid subtropics. In winter, the temperature of the coldest month (January) is up to 6 °. C. The amount of precipitation up to 2000 mm per year. Further to the east, the continentality of the climate increases. The rainfall is getting smaller. Winter is cold and summer is warmer.
The densest river network and full-flowing rivers are where there is a lot of precipitation, that is, large rivers in the west. Rioni and. Kura belong to the basins of different seas. On the rivers Western. Georgia frequent floods. There are few lakes in the country.
Soil cover. Georgia is very motley. Red and yellow soils dominate in the west. In the east - chestnut, brown and black soils. Under the mountain forests formed brown forest soils. On the. Colchis lowland and subtropical podzolic and marsh soils are common.
Peculiar and rich flora. There are endemic and relic species, such as cherry laurel, boxwood, persimmon, etc. Significant forest cover of the territory reaches 35%. There are valuable species of trees - beech, oak, hornbeam, spruce, pine, etc. Roe deer, red deer, lynx, brown bear are found in the forests. In the mountains. In the Caucasus, there are still chamois, bezokar and goats, tour turi.
The main minerals are manganese ore and coal. There are significant deposits of copper and polymetallic ores. Rich stocks of valuable building materials, in particular tufa and marble. There are numerous sources and thermal waters rivers have significant reserves of hydropower resources.
the largest natural wealth. Georgia is a world-class recreational resource. Among them, unique mineral healing waters stand out.
Population. Population density in. Georgia is 72 people per 1 km 2. natural conditions determine the unevenness of its distribution, settlements are rare in mountainous areas. Almost 90% of the population lives at altitudes not exceeding 1000 m. They occupy only 46% of the country's territory. The urban population prevails - 59%. In addition to the capital, the largest cities include. Kutaisi (240 thousand people). Rustavi (156 thousand people). The country is experiencing a slight increase in population - 2.8% c. Except December. Uzin (72% of the population) is inhabited by Armenians (8%) and Russians (6%). Orthodox believers prevail (66%). Muslim Georgians live in Adzharia (11% Mani (11%).
Economy. Georgia is an industrial-agrarian state with a specific combination of economic sectors, which has developed historically. First of all, these are the extraction of manganese ore, the food industry, subtropical farming and the recreational complex.
The industry is represented by energy, which is based on the extraction of coal in. Tkibuli and. Tkvarcheli, production of electricity at thermal and hydroelectric power plants. The largest among the latter. Inga. Urskaya. HPS.
Ferrous metallurgy is represented by Rustavi Metallurgical Plant and Ferroalloy Plant c. Zestaponi. They work on local manganese and imported iron ores. There are enterprises for the extraction and processing of copper and polymetallic ores. V. Rustavi operates a powerful chemical plant that produces nitrogen fertilizers, synthetic resins, fibers, caprolactam. There are several woodworking, furniture and pulp and paper industries.
There are six large factories in the country light industry. They produce silk, cotton fabrics, knitwear, carpets and shoes.
most part of the economy. Georgia has an extensive agro-industrial complex. Here they grow tea, citrus fruits, wheat, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, grapes, tobacco, breed cattle (1 million heads) and sheep. Processing branches of the food industry are represented by enterprises of the tea, wine-making and fruit and vegetable canning industries. Famous Georgian wines, which do not have a tax in the world, are produced in. Kakheti and. Imereti, cognac and champagne - c. Tbilisi. Numerous factories producing canned fruits and vegetables are located throughout the territory. Other branches of the food industry include bottling mineral waters, production of tung essential oil, tobacco and butter and cheese industries.
transport network. Georgia is represented by railways (about 1500 km) and highways(11 thousand km). There are significant seaports. Poti. Batumi. Sukhumi and the oil pipeline. Baku -. Supsa
Culture and social development in the country 99% of the population is literate. There are 19 higher educational institutions in Georgia, 32 theaters and 10 museums. It belongs to the world-class historical and cultural heritage. Gelati Monastery. Total on the list. UNESCO -. With objects. The average life expectancy is 76 years, for men - 69 years. The largest newspaper is "Sakartvelos respublika respublika".
July 22, 1992 established diplomatic relations between Ukraine and. Republic. Georgia by exchange of notes. There is an embassy and a trade and economic representation in Kyiv. Republic. Georgia
Questions and tasks
1. Justify why. Georgia is given a key place among the countries. Transcaucasia
2. Why the population. Georgia is placed so unevenly?
3. What resources of economic development do you have. Georgia?
