| Revision as of 22:50, 8 August 2004 view source198.81.26.80 (talk) →Historical and National Figures← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:12, 9 August 2004 view source Roozbeh (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users6,350 editsm Reverted edits by 198.81.26.80 to last version by RoozbehNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{totallydisputed}} | {{totallydisputed}} | ||
| '''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. | |||
| 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. | |||
| '''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. | |||
| ⚫ | ===Language=== | ||
| 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. | |||
| ⚫ | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| ⚫ | The Azerbaijanis speak ] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a ]. It is linguistically close to ] and ]. The standard Azerbaijani language developed from the ] onwards. | ||
| ⚫ | === |
||
| 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. | |||
| ⚫ | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| ⚫ | The Azerbaijanis speak ] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri |
||
| ===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
| ⚫ | The modern language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the ] to the ], after the Oghuz Turkic 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". | ||
| ⚫ | Some Azerbaijanis consider themselves inheritants of ancient pre-Islamic civilizations such as those of ], ], ], ], ], and ], although some of these civilizations were geographically very far from the area the Azerbaijanis currently inhibit, and the theory is not usually accepted by non-Azerbaijanis. | ||
| ⚫ | The modern language |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ===Historical and National Figures== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ===Demographics=== | ===Demographics=== | ||
| ⚫ | It is estimated that there are 16 million to 22 million Azerbaijanis in Iran, 4 million to 8 million in Azerbaijan, 600 thousand to 2.16 million in ], over 1 million in the ], about 500 thousand in each of ] and ], more that 300 thousand in ], 286 thousand in ], and 78.3 thousand to 200 thousand in ]. The total number is claimed to be around 45 million people. 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. | |||
| ⚫ | It is estimated that |
||
| ''See also'': ] | |||
| 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. | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 21:12, 9 August 2004
Azerbaijanis, Azeris, Azerbaijani Turks, or Azeri Turks, are commonly associated with the regions of the northwestern Iran (mainly the provinces of Ardabil, East Azarbaijan, and West Azarbaijan) and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as neighbouring areas. The total number is claimed to be around 45 million people.
Most historians agree that they are descendants of Iranian and Caucasian peoples who were lingually assimilated by Turkic tribes (primarily Oghuz Turks and Kipchaks), but some believe that they are descendants of various bodies of Turkic people, especially the Oghuz Turks and that they had inhabited the area since the 6th century and were a majority in the area in the 10th and 11th centuries, uniting previous Turkic inhabitants.
Language
Main article: Azerbaijani language
The Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a Turkic languages. It is linguistically close to Turkish and Turkmen. The standard Azerbaijani language developed from the 10th century onwards.
Some claim that prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkic dialects spoken across the region, and that the Book of Dede Qorqud, 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 Ottoman dialect.
Development
The modern language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the 10th to the 3th centuries, after the Oghuz Turkic 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".
Some Azerbaijanis consider themselves inheritants of ancient pre-Islamic civilizations such as those of Sumer, Elam, Urartu, Mannai, Media, and Caucasian Albania, although some of these civilizations were geographically very far from the area the Azerbaijanis currently inhibit, and the theory is not usually accepted by non-Azerbaijanis.
Demographics
It is estimated that there are 16 million to 22 million Azerbaijanis in Iran, 4 million to 8 million in 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 300 thousand in Turkey, 286 thousand in Georgia, and 78.3 thousand to 200 thousand in Kazakhstan. The total number is claimed to be around 45 million people. 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, but there are also Sunni Muslims, Eastern orthodox, and evangelical Christians, Jews, Zoroastirans, and Baha'is. Some people claim that in recent years there have been many conversions from Shia Islam to Sunni Islam.
See also: List of Azerbaijanis
Category: