Comprehensive History of Georgia: Ancient to Modern Times

INTRODUCTION: LOCATION, ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE

• Geographical Location: Georgia is situated in Eurasia, east of the Black Sea. The majority lies in the South Caucasus, with a portion in the North Caucasus.

• Boundaries:

  • North: Caucasus ridge.

  • South: Lesser Caucasus Mountains.

  • West: Black Sea coast.

  • East: Azerbaijan and Daghestan (Russian Federation).

• Historical Extent: During its peak in the XII-early XIII centuries, Georgian borders extended to the Caspian Sea.

• Physical Features:

  • Mountains: Dominant feature. The Likhi (Surami) Range divides the country into Eastern and Western halves.

  • Area: Official area is $69,700$ sq. km. inclusive of historic southern territories (approx. $18,000$ sq. km.) currently in Turkey.

  • Landscape Variety: Includes lowland marsh forests, temperate rain forests, alpine zones, eternal snows, and semi-arid plains.

  • Colchis Plain: A triangular, swampy region near the Black Sea littoral.

• Hydrology:

  • Rivers: Approximately $25,000$. The main river is the Mtkvari ($1,304$ km total length). The longest and deepest river within Georgia is the Rioni ($327$ km).

  • Lakes: Approximately $860$, including Paravani and Ritsa (approx. $150$ m deep).

• Demographics:

  • Population: Totaled $4,371,500$ according to the 2002 census.

  • Ethnographic Groups:

    • Eastern Georgia: Kartlians, Kakhians, Mtiulis, Khevsuris.

    • Western Georgia: Imerians, Mingrelians, Svans, Gurians, Ajarians, Lechkhumians.

  • Minorities: Armenians, Azerbaijani, Russians, Abkhazs, Ossetians, Greeks, and Jews.

• Religion: Absolute majority are Orthodox Christians. Minorities include Muslims (largely in Turkey and Ajara) and Catholics (mostly in Meskheti).

HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

• Historical Geography: The study of the changing names of regions, ethnographic units, and the country itself.

• Central Georgia (Kartli): Consists of Inner, Lower, and Upper Kartli.

  • Upper Kartli (Meskheti): Vast land from the source of the Mtkvari to Tashiskari. Historically includes Samtskhe, Javakheti, Artaani, Erusheti, Kola, Klarjeti, Shavsheti, Tao, Oltisi, and Speri (most currently in Turkey).

• Eastern Georgia:

  • Kakheti and Hereti: United in the XI century into the Kingdom of Kakheti.

  • Highlands: Dvaleti, Mtiuleti, Khevi, Tusheti, Pshavi, and Khevsureti (historically called Pkhovi).

• Western Georgia: Historically known as Egrisi; replaced by the name Imereti in the XI-XII centuries.

  • Mingrelia (Odishi): Lay west of the Tskenistskali river.

  • Abkhazia: Historically inhabited by Kartvelian tribes; ethnic cleansing of Georgians occurred in 1993.

  • Guria: Situated between the Rioni river, Meskheti Range, and the Black Sea.

  • Highlands: Svaneti, Lechkhumi, and Racha (historically called Takveri).

• Southern Regions: Ajara and Lazistan (Chaneti). Lazis speak a language akin to Mingrelian.

MAIN HISTORICAL SOURCES

• Categories of Sources:

  • Monuments of Material Culture:

    • Archaeological (under the earth) and architectural (on the earth).

    • Ethnographic materials.

    • Numismatic evidence (coins).

  • Monuments of Spiritual Culture:

    • Written documents (Historical docs, epigraphic inscriptions, narrative literature).

    • Folklore (legends, ballads, myths).

• Significant Historical Literature:

  • "Conversion of Kartli": About the adoption of Christianity (VII century, with V century layers).

  • "The Life of Kartli" (Kartlis Tskhovreba): Core XI century. Includes works by Leonti Mroveli, Juansher Juansheriani, and Sumbat David's son.

  • "The Description of the Kingdom of Georgia": Written by Prince Vakhushti in the XVIII century; established Georgian cartography and analyzed environmental/psychological factors.

• Hagiography: "Martyrdom of St. Shushaniki" (V c.), "Martyrdom of St. Abo" (VIII c.), "The Life of Grigol of Khandzta" (X c.).

• Archaeology:

  • Dmanisi: Excavation of fossils dated to $1.8$ million years, thought to be the first Europeans.

  • Ancient Towns: Mtskheta, Vani, Urbnisi, Kutaisi.

ETHNOGENY OF THE GEORGIANS

• Definition: Origin (genesis) of the people.

• Classical Theory (Herodotus): Believed Georgians descended from Egyptians based on physical appearance and flax production habits. (Scientifically dismissed).

• Biblical Theory (Leonti Mroveli): Derives Caucasians from Togarmah (grandson of Japheth). Kartlos is the ancestor of Kartvelians.

• Migration Theory (Ivane Javakhishvili): Suggests Kartvelians migrated from the south in stages between the XIV and VIII centuries B.C.

• Alteration of National Centers (S. Janashia): Suggests Kartvelians descend from Hittites/Sumerians and that political centers shifted from south to north rather than total population flux.

• Autochthonous Theory: Prevalent in modern historiography; argues Georgian tribes originated and developed continuously on their current territory for millennia, supported by the Dmanisi findings.

• Language Groups: Georgian belongs to the Ibero-Caucasian family. Sub-groups include Kartvelian (Georgian, Zanian/Mingrelian-Laz, Svanian). Svanian is believed to have separated in $3000$ B.C.

GEORGIA FROM THE ANCIENT TIMES TO CHRISTIANITY

• Stone Age (Paleolithic):

  • Lower Paleolithic: Ended $35,000$ years ago. Discovery of fire and stone tools.

  • Upper Paleolithic: Began $30,000$ years ago. Development of bows, arrows, and matriarchal clans.

• Neolithic Revolution: ($12,000 - 6,000$ years ago). Development of agriculture, livestock, and permanent settlements. Transcaucasia is cited as the cradle of cereal crops.

• Copper-Stone Age: ($7,000 - 4,000$ B.C.). Transition from matriarchy to patriarchy due to agricultural advancements (plowing/irrigation).

• Bronze Age: ($3500-1500$ B.C.).

  • Early: Mtkvari-Araks culture.

  • Middle: Trialeti culture; emergence of rich burial barrows for tribal chiefs.

• Ancient Kingdoms:

  • Diaochi (Taochi): Mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions in $1112$ B.C. (King Syen). Fought Urartu (King Utuphurs). Conquered in the VIII century B.C. by Colchis.

  • Colchis (Egrisi): Myth of the Argonauts (Jason and Medea) reflects ancient prosperity. Renowned for iron production (~$1500-1000$ B.C.) associated with the Khalybes tribe.

• Hellenistic Period: Foundation of the Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia) by King Parnavaz (Parnabazus).

  • Unification of Georgian tribes.

  • Established Georgian as the official language.

  • Created the state cult of the deity Armazi.

• Pompey's Invasion: ($65$ B.C.). Roman commander Pompey defeated King Artag of Kartli. Iberia became a "Friend and Ally" (vassal) of Rome.

• Farsman II the Good: Reached peak power in the II century A.D.; defied Emperor Hadrian but established cordial relations with Antoninus Pius (equestrian statue of Farsman was erected in Rome).

INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY

• Official Adoption: $337$ A.D. (some sources say $326$ A.D.). Under King Mirian III and Queen Nana.

• Saint Nino: A girl from Cappadocia who preached the Gospel in Kartli, performing miracles (curing Queen Nana).

• Political Context: Mirian adopted Christianity to align with the Roman Empire (and later Byzantium) against Sasanian Persian pressure.

• Significance: Accelerated feudalism, central consolidated the Georgian nation, and improved cultural links with Europe.

KING VAKHTANG GORGASALI (V CENTURY)

• Rebellion against Persia: Headed the struggle for independence from the Sasanian yoke.

• Religious Reform: Reorganized the church and installed the first Catholicos (Peter).

• Construction: Founded Tbilisi, moving the capital from Mtskheta. Built Ujarma and Artanuji fortresses.

• Death: Fatally wounded by a traitor in $502$ A.D. during a battle against Persians.

THE ARAB AND MONGOL DOMINATIONS

• Arab Rule: First appeared in $645$ A.D.

  • Habib-Ibn-Maslama's "Deed of Protection" established the Tbilisi Emirate.

  • Murwan the Deaf ($735$ A.D.): Devastating invasion that slaughtered thousands.

  • Collapse of rule: IX century due to the rise of new Georgian principalities (Abkhazia, Tao-Klarjeti, Kakheti).

• The Mongol Invasions: ($1220$ A.D.).

  • Devastated the unified monarchy reaching its peak under Queen Tamar.

  • Demetre II the Devoted: Sacrificed his life to the Khan in $1289$ to save his people from massacre.

  • Giorgi V the Brilliant: Liberated Georgia from the Mongols in $1335$ and unified the country.

• Tamerlane: Invaded Georgia 8 times ($1386-1403$), causing unprecedented destruction.

RUSSIAN ANNEXATION AND NATIONAL MOVEMENT

• Treaty of Georgievsk ($1783$): Russia recognized as the protector of Kartl-Kakheti.

• Abolition of Monarchy: Russia violated the treaty in $1801$ and annexed Eastern Georgia, later abolishing the Imereti Kingdom ($1810$) and church autocephaly ($1811$).

• Conspiracy of 1832: Abortive noble plot to restore Georgian independence.

• Samotsianeli (Tergdaleuli): 1860s generation led by Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli who fought for national identity, literacy, and future independence.

THE FIRST REPUBLIC AND SOVIET ERA

• Independence: May 26, $1918$. Following the Russian Revolution. Led by Social-Democratic government (Noe Zhordania).

• Soviet Invasion: February 25, $1921$. The Red Army occupied Tbilisi, establishing the Georgian SSR.

• Restoration of Independence: Following the events of April 9, $1989$ and the referendum of March 31, $1991$. Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected the first president.

• Modern Conflicts: Civil war ($1991-1992$), loss of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian aggression in August $2008$.