| Revision as of 21:28, 9 August 2004 view sourcePoccil (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users21,609 edits →Language← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:51, 9 August 2004 view source Wetman (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers92,066 edits "lingually associated" is cuter, but... ;removed bone of cultural-pride contention to Discussion. Is this NPOV now?Next edit → | ||
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| '''Azerbaijanis''', '''Azeris''', '''Azerbaijani Turks''', or '''Azeri Turks''', are commonly associated with the regions of 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''', '''Azeris''', '''Azerbaijani Turks''', or '''Azeri Turks''', are commonly associated with the regions of northwestern ] (mainly the provinces of ], ], and ]) and the ], as well as neighbouring areas in the ]. The total number of Azerbaijanis is claimed to be around 45 million people, but census figures are inaccurate in this part of the world. | ||
| Most historians agree that they are descendants of ] and ] peoples who were |
Most historians agree that they are descendants of ] and ] peoples who were linguistically assimilated by ] tribes (primarily ] and ]). A minority among professionals believe instead that they are descendants of various Turkic peoples, especially the ] and that they had inhabited the area since the ] and were a majority in the area in the ] and ], uniting with previous Turkic inhabitants. The ] is unlikely to be settled, even by archaoloical evidence from controlled, professionally excavated sites, which would establish cultural connections at inhabited sites, or by ], which would offer clues to the waves of ] that have repeatedly tranformed the ]. Official ideologies and local social unrest have rendered neutral, scientifically-based resolution difficult. | ||
| ===Language=== | ===Language=== | ||
| ''Main article: ]'' | ''Main article: ]'' | ||
| The Azerbaijanis speak ] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a ] |
The Azerbaijanis speak ] (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a ], 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 written in the Azerbaijani language in the 6th and 7th centuries. Others consider the book to be written in an early ] dialect. | Some claim that prior to the 10th century, there were various Turkic dialects spoken across the region, and that the '']'', a historic epic, was written in the Azerbaijani language in the 6th and 7th centuries. Others consider the book to be written in an early ] dialect. | ||
| ===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 |
The modern written language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the ] to the ], after the Oghuz Turkic migrations and the decline of the ] state in Central Asia. This is the timespan 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 generally accepted by non-Azerbaijanis. | |||
| ===Demographics=== | ===Demographics=== | ||
Revision as of 21:51, 9 August 2004
Azerbaijanis, Azeris, Azerbaijani Turks, or Azeri Turks, are commonly associated with the regions of northwestern Iran (mainly the provinces of Ardabil, East Azarbaijan, and West Azarbaijan) and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as neighbouring areas in the Caucasus. The total number of Azerbaijanis is claimed to be around 45 million people, but census figures are inaccurate in this part of the world.
Most historians agree that they are descendants of Iranian and Caucasian peoples who were linguistically assimilated by Turkic tribes (primarily Oghuz Turks and Kipchaks). A minority among professionals believe instead that they are descendants of various Turkic peoples, 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 with previous Turkic inhabitants. The controversy is unlikely to be settled, even by archaoloical evidence from controlled, professionally excavated sites, which would establish cultural connections at inhabited sites, or by population genetics, which would offer clues to the waves of human migration that have repeatedly tranformed the Caucasus. Official ideologies and local social unrest have rendered neutral, scientifically-based resolution difficult.
Language
Main article: Azerbaijani language
The Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani (sometimes called Azerbaijani Turkish or Azeri) which is a Turkic language, 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 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 written language of the Azerbaijanis developed from the 10th to the 13th centuries, after the Oghuz Turkic migrations and the decline of the Oghuz Yabgu state in Central Asia. This is the timespan that is called Azerbaijan's cultural and linguistic "golden age".
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, Zoroastrians, 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
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