Azerbaijanis

Azerbaijanis, also known as Azeris, are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group native to the Caucasus. They form the majority in the Republic of Azerbaijan and constitute a significant minority in the Iranian region of Azerbaijan (northwestern Iran). Outside their core areas, sizable Azerbaijani communities live in Russia, Turkey, Georgia, and in diaspora communities across Europe and North America.

Language

Azerbaijani, the ethnonym’s central element, belongs to the Oghuz branch of Turkic languages. It exists in two standard varieties: North Azerbaijani, spoken in Azerbaijan, and South Azerbaijani, spoken in Iran. The two varieties are largely mutually intelligible but show regional differences. In Azerbaijan the language uses a Latin-based script, while in Iran it has traditionally been written in a Perso-Arabic script.

History

The roots of Azerbaijanis lie in the Turkic migrations into the Caucasus during the medieval period, intertwined with the region’s earlier Persianate and local cultures. The territory has been ruled by various dynasties, including the Shirvanshahs, and later became part of larger empires such as the Safavids. In the 20th century, the area was divided between empires, with the Republic of Azerbaijan declaring independence in 1918 and subsequently becoming part of the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan SSR. Independence was restored in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR.

Culture and religion

Most Azerbaijanis are Muslim, with the majority practicing Shia Islam in Azerbaijan and Iran, and smaller Sunni communities. Azerbaijani culture is known for mugham music, poetry and literature, carpet weaving, and culinary traditions such as plov and dolma. The community has contributed to science, arts, and politics in the region and beyond.