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| '''Azerbaijanis''', '''Azeris''', '''Azerbaijani Turks''', or '''Azeri Turks''', are commonly associated with the regions of the northwestern ] (mainly the provinces of ], ], and ]) and the ], as well as neighbouring areas. The total number is claimed to be around 45 million people. | |||
| '''Azerbaijanis''', or '''"Azerbaijani Turks,"''' (also reffered to as Azeri Turks or Azeris) are natives of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the northwestern Iranian region of South Azerbaijan. It is estimated that there are 45 million Azerbaijanis worldwide. | |||
| Most historians agree that they are descendants of ] and ] peoples who were lingually assimilated by ] tribes (primarily ] and ]), but some believe that they are descendants of various bodies of Turkic people, especially the ] and that they had inhabited the area since the ] and were a majority in the area in the ] and ], uniting previous Turkic inhabitants. | |||
| They are descendants of various bodies of Turks (Gokturks, Huns, Khazars, Barsils, Kurtugurs, Saragurs, Kipchaks) but primaraly the ''']''' who had inhabited Azerbaijan since the 6th century, and who in a series of mass-migrations from Central Asia during Seljuk rule in the 10th and 11th centuries created a majority population in the land, uniting previous Turkic inhabitants. | |||
| ⚫ | ===Language=== | ||
| ⚫ | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| ⚫ | ===]=== | ||
| ⚫ | The Azerbaijanis speak ] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a ]. It is |
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| ⚫ | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| Some claim that prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkic dialects spoken across the region, and that the ], a historic epic, was be written in the Azerbaijani language in the 6th and 7th centuries. Others consider the book to be written in an early ] dialect. | |||
| ⚫ | The Azerbaijanis speak ] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri Turkish) which is a ]. It is close to ] and ]. The standard Azerbaijani language developed from the ] onwards. Prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkic dialects spoken across Azerbaijan. The Book of Dede Korkut, which is the historic epic of the Oghuz Turks, was written in Azerbaijan in the 6th and 7th centuries. | ||
| ===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
| ⚫ | The modern language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the ] to the ], after the Oghuz |
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| ⚫ | The modern language and the nationhood of the Azerbaijanis developed from the ] to the ], after the Oghuz Turkish migrations and the decline of the Oghuz Yabgu state in Central Asia. This is the time span that is called Azerbaijan's cultural and linguistic "golden age". | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Azerbaijani historians consider the nation of Azerbaijani Turks the inheritants of ancient pre-Islamic civilizations such as those of ], ], ], ], ], and ] | ||
| ===Historical and National Figures== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ===Demographics=== | ===Demographics=== | ||
| ⚫ | It is estimated that |
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| ⚫ | It is estimated that more than 30 million Azerbaijanis live in Iran, more than 8 million in the Republic of Azerbaijan, 600 thousand to 2.16 million in ], over 1 million in the ], about 500 thousand in each of ] and ], more that 1 million in ], 286 thousand in ], and 78.3 thousand to 200 thousand in ]. The ], ], ], the ], ], and ] also have some populations of Azerbaijanis living there. | ||
| More than 90% of Azerbaijanis are ], but there are also ], ], and ] ], ]s, ]s, and ]s. Some people claim that in recent years there have been many conversions from Shia Islam to Sunni Islam. | |||
| More than 90% of Azerbaijanis are ], a small percentage are Sunni Muslims and in recent years there have been many conversions to Sunni Islam. There are also Jewish, Zoroastian and Baha'i Azerbaijanis as well. | |||
| ''See also'': ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 22:50, 8 August 2004
Azerbaijanis, or "Azerbaijani Turks," (also reffered to as Azeri Turks or Azeris) are natives of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the northwestern Iranian region of South Azerbaijan. It is estimated that there are 45 million Azerbaijanis worldwide.
They are descendants of various bodies of Turks (Gokturks, Huns, Khazars, Barsils, Kurtugurs, Saragurs, Kipchaks) but primaraly the Oghuz Turks who had inhabited Azerbaijan since the 6th century, and who in a series of mass-migrations from Central Asia during Seljuk rule in the 10th and 11th centuries created a majority population in the land, uniting previous Turkic inhabitants.
Language
Main article: Azerbaijani language
The Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri Turkish) which is a Turkic language. It is close to Turkish and Turkmen. The standard Azerbaijani language developed from the 10th century onwards. Prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkic dialects spoken across Azerbaijan. The Book of Dede Korkut, which is the historic epic of the Oghuz Turks, was written in Azerbaijan in the 6th and 7th centuries.
Development
The modern language and the nationhood of the Azerbaijanis developed from the 10th to the 3th centuries, after the Oghuz Turkish migrations and the decline of the Oghuz Yabgu state in Central Asia. This is the time span that is called Azerbaijan's cultural and linguistic "golden age".
Azerbaijani historians consider the nation of Azerbaijani Turks the inheritants of ancient pre-Islamic civilizations such as those of Sumer, Elam, Urartu, Mannai, Media, and Caucasian Albania
=Historical and National Figures
- Abulfaz Elchibey
- Ali Bey Huseynzadeh
- Sheykh Muhammad Khiabani
- Memed-Emin Rasulzadeh
- Rashid Behbudov
- Sattar Khan
- Jafar Pishevari
Demographics
It is estimated that more than 30 million Azerbaijanis live in Iran, more than 8 million in the Republic of Azerbaijan, 600 thousand to 2.16 million in Russia, over 1 million in the US, about 500 thousand in each of Ukraine and Germany, more that 1 million in Turkey, 286 thousand in Georgia, and 78.3 thousand to 200 thousand in Kazakhstan. The UK, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan also have some populations of Azerbaijanis living there.
More than 90% of Azerbaijanis are Shia Muslims, a small percentage are Sunni Muslims and in recent years there have been many conversions to Sunni Islam. There are also Jewish, Zoroastian and Baha'i Azerbaijanis as well.
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