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124-760: Goygol is situated in northwestern Azerbaijan 10 km (6 mi) south of Ganja city in the foothills of the Murovdag of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains . It is in the Kura River Basin , and the Gyandzha River ( Gandzha-chay ) runs through the city. A spur to Ganja connects it to the Baku-Kazakh railway, and there is a highway into Ganja. Goygol has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfa). July

248-535: A European-style plan by Russian authorities (Sololaki, Rustaveli Avenue, Vera, etc.) have a Western appearance, with a mix of styles popular in Europe at the time: Beaux Arts, Orientalist, and various period revival styles. Tbilisi is most notable for its abundance of Art Nouveau buildings and details (common in Sololaki and Chughureti), which flourished from the mid-1890s to through the end of Russian rule. Art Nouveau

372-517: A form of "semi-independence" and did not lose its statehood, but Tbilisi would be strongly influenced by the Mongols for the next century, both politically and culturally. In the 1320s, the Mongols retreated from Georgia, and Tbilisi became the capital of an independent Georgian state, once again. However, an outbreak of the Black Death struck the city in 1366. Between the late 14th century and

496-601: A form similar to or the same as their names for the country of Georgia ( Гуьржех Gürƶex ) as does the historical Kabardian name ( Курджы Kwrdžə ), while Abkhaz Қарҭ ( Ķarţ ) is from the Mingrelian ქართი ( Karti ). Archaeologists discovered evidence of continuous habitation of the Tbilisi suburb of Dighomi since the early Bronze Age, and stone artifacts dating to the Paleolithic age. During

620-469: A housing crisis after World War II. Entire neighborhoods (Saburtalo, Dighomi) appeared on the outskirts of the city in a matter of decades, built with advances in mass-production technology. Georgian architects produced some of the Soviet Union's most interesting architectural achievements, including Tbilisi's 1975 Ministry of Roads and the 1984 Wedding Palace . Since the collapse of the Soviet Union,

744-476: A kind of hierarchy, because most of them have lost their distinctive topographic limits. The natural first level of subdivision of the city is into the right and left banks of the Mtkvari river. The names of the oldest neighborhoods go back to the early Middle Ages and sometimes pose a great linguistic interest. The newest whole-built developments bear chiefly residential marketing names. In 19th-century Tbilisi,

868-593: A labor camp in Kazakhstan . By 1935, over 600 German families in the area had been convicted of "espionage" and sent to labor camps. In 1931 the town was renamed Yelenino, and in 1938 the town was renamed Khanlar, in honor of the Azerbaijani labor organizer Khanlar Safaraliyev , and the rayon also became Khanlar. In October 1941, the remaining German population was deported to Kazakhstan , Central Asia and Siberia on Joseph Stalin 's orders. In 2008, Khanlar

992-490: A large number of Azerbaijani refugees from Armenia and IDPs from the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. Their number was estimated to be more than 33,000 in 2011. Lezgi people in Ganja number around 20,000. In addition to Persian and Turkic-speaking Muslims, the city had a numerically, economically and culturally significant Christian Armenian community. The city's traditional Armenian name

1116-507: A limited scope of affairs. This subdivision was established under Soviet rule in the 1930s, following the general subdivision of the Soviet Union . After Georgia regained independence, the raion system was modified and reshuffled. According to the latest revision, Tbilisi raions include: Most of the raions are named after historic quarters of the city. The citizens of Tbilisi widely recognize an informal system of smaller historic neighborhoods. Such neighborhoods are several, however, constituting

1240-575: A location of the Transcaucasus interim government which established, in the spring of 1918, the short-lived independent Transcaucasian Federation with the capital in Tbilisi. At this time, Tbilisi had roughly the same number of Armenians as Georgians, with Russians being the third largest ethnic group. It was in the former Viceroy of the Caucasus's palace where the independence of three Transcaucasus nations – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan –

1364-723: A mixture of shopping opportunities in Ganja. Javad Khan Street is the traditional shopping street that is located in the old town. Constructed between 2014 and 2017, Ganja Mall is considered the city's largest mall. Other shopping centers include Khamsa Park, Taghiyev Mall and Aura Park. Ganja is one of the famous tourist destinations in Azerbaijan with its historic buildings such as Nizami Mausoleum , Ancient gates , Juma Mosque , Imamzadeh , Tomb of Javad Khan , Chokak Hamam , Shah Abbas Caravanserai and Ugurlu Bay Caravanserai. Other tourist and entertainment spots include Javad khan street, Triumphal Arch near Heydar Aliyev Center,

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1488-589: A music school was opened with pianoforte and stringed instrument classes. Various festivals, which gathered musical groups from all the Transcaucasian colonies, were often held in Helenendorf (by the 1930s there were 21 colonies). Traces of the German settlement can be seen in the school buildings and the parish church built in 1854. In the 1920 census there were 2,259 people registered. The city today

1612-599: A number of historical monuments in Goygol including the Goygol Wine Factory's champagne and wine shop, Goygol Printing House, District Music School, and Koroglu Hotel dating to the 19th century, as well as the former buildings of the District Prosecutor's Office and District Police Department, which were built in the 19th century. The History-Ethnography Museum of Goygol is located in the building of

1736-689: A population of around 335,600. The city has been a historic and cultural center throughout most of its existence. It was the capital of the Ganja Khanate until 1804; after Qajar Iran ceded it to the Russian Empire following the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813, it became part of the administrative divisions of the Georgia Governorate , Georgia-Imeretia Governorate , Tiflis Governorate , and Elizavetpol Governorate . Following

1860-545: A typical year. The absolute minimum recorded temperature is −24.4 °C (−11.9 °F) in January 1883 and the absolute maximum is 42.0 °C (107.6 °F) on 17 July 1882. Average annual precipitation is 511.5 mm (20.1 in). May is the wettest month (averaging 84.0 mm (3.3 in) of precipitation) while January is the driest (averaging 16.4 mm (0.6 in) of precipitation). Snow falls on average 15–25 days per year. The surrounding mountains often trap

1984-459: A variation of Tiflis . On 20 September 2006, the Georgian parliament held a ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the renaming. Some of the traditional names of Tbilisi in other languages of the region have different roots. The Ossetian name Калак ( Kalak ) derives from the Georgian word ქალაქი ( kalaki ) meaning simply city. Chechen and Ingush names for the city use

2108-485: A wide variety of trees and plants in an open concept. Other prominent parks and gardens include Heydar Aliyev Park Complex, "Ganja 2016 European Youth Capital Park", "Ganja river" park-boulevard complex, Istiglal Avenue, Fikrat Amirov Park, Fuzuli Park, and Narimanov Park. Heydar Aliyev Park Complex includes an Amphitheater considered for organizing large outdoor events for up to 5000 people. The city has one professional football team, Kapaz , currently competing in

2232-526: Is Gandzak ( Գանձակ ), which derives from gandz ( գանձ ), a loan word from Old Iranian , which means treasure or riches. The founder of the Hethumid dynasty , Oshin of Lampron was an Armenian nakharar (prince) and lord of a castle near Ganja who fled to Cilicia in 1075 during the Seljuk invasion of Armenia. The city's historically important Armenian figures include: The urban landscape of Ganja

2356-602: Is also home to Nizami Ganjavi Museum , which was built in 2014. The museum contains a research section, a library, a conference room, and corners for guests and tourists' relaxation. Other museums include Heydar Aliyev Museum, House Museum of Mir Jalal Pashayev, Memorial House-Museum of Nizami Ganjavi, Memorial-House Museum of İsrafil Mammadov, Ganja branch of Museum of Miniature Books, "Ganja Castle Gates – Archaeology and Ethnography Museum" monument complex, Cultural Center named after Mahsati Ganjavi, Museum of Modern Art and Museum of Mirza Shafi Vazeh. Ganja State Art Gallery

2480-408: Is observed. Blizzard is seen in 0.2 days annually. Today, Ganja is divided into 2 rayons (administrative districts). The mayor, presently Niyazi Bayramov embodies the executive power of the city. Ganja includes 6 administrative settlements, namely Hajikend , Javadkhan, Shikhzamanli, Natavan, Mahsati and Sadilli. Kapaz District ( Kəpəz rayonu ) was established on 21 November 1980 according to

2604-427: Is overwhelmingly populated by Azeris . Starting in 1915, the town became home to a small Assyrian community, originally from Turkey and Iran. The last resident of Goygol of German descent died in 2007. The Assyrian population consisted of three families as of 2016. A large wine machinery plant which aids in the processing of grapes is located in Goygol, as was a state-owned cattle-breeding farm as of 1990. There are

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2728-486: Is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix of medieval , neoclassical , Beaux Arts , Art Nouveau , Stalinist , and Modern structures. Historically, Tbilisi has been home to people of multiple cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, though its population is overwhelmingly Eastern Orthodox Christian . Notable tourist destinations include cathedrals Sameba and Sioni , Freedom Square , Rustaveli Avenue and Agmashenebeli Avenue , medieval Narikala Fortress ,

2852-406: Is replaced with either a hawk or other small birds of prey in the legend). The king's falcon allegedly caught or injured a pheasant during the hunt, after which both birds fell into a nearby hot spring and died from burns. King Vakhtang became so impressed with the hot springs that he decided to clear the forest and build a city on the location. King Dachi of Iberia ( r.  522–534 ),

2976-692: Is shaped by many communities. Religious diversity has however greatly decreased over the last decades, with the emigration of most Armenians, Slavs, Jews and Germans. The religion with the largest community of followers by far is Islam. The majority of the Muslims are Shia Muslims , and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the second-highest Shia population percentage in the world after Iran . The city's notable mosques include Shah Abbas Mosque , Goy Imam Mosque , Shahsevenler Mosque , Qirikhli Mosque and Qazakhlar Mosque . There are some other faiths practiced among

3100-622: Is still kept in Georgia , and again after the Mongol invasion in 1231. The city was revived after the Safavids came to power in 1501 and incorporated all of Azerbaijan and beyond into their territories. The city came under brief occupation by the Ottomans between 1578–1606 and 1723–1735 during the prolonged Ottoman-Persian Wars , but nevertheless stayed under intermittent Iranian suzerainty from

3224-729: Is the Bottle house of Ganja . The Ganja State Philharmonic was established in August 1990 according to the decision of the Ministry of Culture of the Azerbaijan SSR . On 21 January 2012, president Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation of the Ganja State Philharmonic. The facility includes a 1,200 concert hall, an open-air cinema theatre, a drawing gallery, an urban center and an observation tower. The new building of

3348-865: Is the Dinamo Arena (55,000 seats) and the second-largest is the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium (24,680 seats). The Sports Palace , which usually hosts basketball games with high attendance and tennis tournaments, can seat about 11,000 people. Vere Basketball Hall is a smaller indoor sports arena with a seating capacity of 2,500. Football is the most popular sport in Tbilisi, followed by rugby and basketball . Other popular sports include wrestling , tennis , swimming , and water polo . It has several professional football and rugby teams, as well as wrestling clubs. U.S. National Basketball Association players Zaza Pachulia and Nikoloz Tskitishvili are Tbilisi natives. Outside of professional sports,

3472-469: Is the capital and largest city of Georgia , lying on the banks of the Kura River with around 1.2 million inhabitants, which is about a third of the country's population. Tbilisi was founded in the fifth century AD by Vakhtang I of Iberia . Since then, the city has served as the capital of various Georgian kingdoms and republics. Between 1801 and 1917, then part of the Russian Empire , Tiflis

3596-675: Is the Russian Quarter, the seat of the officials and of the larger business firms. This is adjoined on the south by the Armenian and Persian Bazaars. Tbilisi is located in the South Caucasus at 41° 43' North and 44° 47' East. The city lies in Eastern Georgia on both banks of the Kura River (locally known as Mtkvari). The elevation of the city ranges from 380–770 metres above sea level (1,250–2,530 ft) and has

3720-480: Is the hottest month with an average temperature of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) and January is the coldest with an average temperature of 1.1 °C (34.0 °F). The wettest month is May with an average of 69 mm (2.7 in). There has been a settlement at Goygol since at least the tenth century. An extensive cemetery was excavated in the 1990s, with many bronze weapons (swords, daggers, axes), some jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces), and clay black dishes with

3844-574: The Ak Koyunlu tribesmen of Uzun Hassan . As early as the 1510s, Tbilisi (and the kingdoms of Kartli and Kakheti ) were made vassal territories of Safavid Iran . In 1522, Tbilisi was garrisoned for the first time by a large Safavid force. Following the death of king ( shah ) Ismail I (r. 1501–1524), king David X of Kartli expelled the Iranians. During this period, many parts of Tbilisi were reconstructed and rebuilt. The four campaigns of

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3968-611: The Armenian Apostolic Church have significant followings as well. A minority of the population (around 1.5%) practises Islam (mainly Shia Islam ), while about 0.1% of Tbilisi's population practises Judaism . Also, a Roman Catholic church and the Yazidi Sultan Ezid Temple can be found in the city. Until the beginning of the 19th century, sports such as horse-riding ( polo in particular), wrestling , boxing , and marksmanship were

4092-576: The Avchala District to River Lochini. The part of the city which lies on the right side of the river, though, is built along the foothills of the Trialeti Range , the slopes of which in many cases descend all the way to the edges of the river. The mountains, therefore, are a significant barrier to urban development on its right bank. This type of a geographic environment creates pockets of very densely developed areas, while other parts of

4216-701: The Bottle House , Flag square, Hajikend resort zone. Goygol National Park with the sceneries of lake Goygol , lake Maralgol , Mount Kapaz and Mount Murov are located near Ganja. In 2016, Ganja was selected as the European Youth Capital by the final decision of international jury at the General Assembly of the European Youth Forum . Ganja became the first city to win the title of European Youth Capital among

4340-583: The COVID-19 pandemic , had been shelled. On 17 October, 21 civilians were killed and more than 50 injured when an Armenian SCUD B ballistic missile hit a residential area in Ganja. Ganja, located 400–450 meters (1312 to 1476 ft) above the sea level, lies on the Ganja-Dashkasan plain in the Kur-Araz lowland in the west of Azerbaijan, 375 km (233 mi) away from Baku. It is situated at

4464-974: The Eastern Orthodox world of the time. During Queen Tamar 's reign, Shota Rustaveli worked in Tbilisi while writing his legendary epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin . This period is often referred to as "Georgia's Golden Age" or the Georgian Renaissance . Tbilisi's "Golden Age" did not last for more than a century. In 1226, Tbilisi was captured by the Khwarezmian Empire under Shah Jalal al-Din , who massacred tens of thousands of Christians. The Khwarezmian occupation left Tbilisi's defenses severely devastated and prone to further attacks by Mongol armies. In 1236, after suffering crushing Mongol defeats , Georgia submitted to Mongol domination . The nation itself maintained

4588-584: The EuroBasket 2022 at the new 10,000-seat Tbilisi Arena (next to the Olympic Palace ), as one of the tournament co-hosts alongside Czech Republic (Prague), Germany (Berlin, Cologne), and Italy (Milan). The large majority of Georgia's media companies (including television, newspaper, and radio) are headquartered in Tbilisi. The city is home to the popular television channels Rustavi 2 , Imedi , TV Pirveli , Mtavari Arkhi , Formula , Maestro , and

4712-659: The Karabakh province. In 1747, Ganja became the center of the Ganja Khanate for a few decades following the death of Nader Shah , until the advent of the Iranian Zand and Qajar dynasties . The khans/dukes who de facto self-ruled the khanate, were subordinate to the central rule in mainland Iran and were from a branch of the Iranian Qajar family. From the late 18th century, Russia actively started to increase its encroachments into Iranian and Turkish territory to

4836-756: The Law on Georgia's Capital – Tbilisi (20 February 1998). Tbilisi is governed by the Tbilisi City Assembly (Sakrebulo) and the Tbilisi City Hall (Meria). The City Assembly and mayor are elected once every four years by direct elections. The Mayor of Tbilisi is Kakha Kaladze and the Chairman of the Tbilisi city Assembly is Giorgi Alibegashvili. Administratively, the city is divided into raions (districts), which have their own units of central and local government with jurisdiction over

4960-893: The Persian language . Historically an important city of the South Caucasus, Ganja has been part of the Sassanid Empire , Great Seljuk Empire , Kingdom of Georgia , Atabegs of Azerbaijan , Khwarezmid Empire , Il-Khans , Timurids , Qara Qoyunlu , Ak Koyunlu , the Safavid , the Afsharid , the Zand and the Qajar empires of Persia / Iran . Prior to the Iranian Zand and Qajar rule, following Nader Shah 's death, it

5084-629: The Romanov family and others. The main new artery built under Russian administration was Golovin Avenue (present-day Rustaveli Avenue ), on which the Viceroys of the Caucasus established their residence. For much of the early 19th century, Tbilisi's largest ethnic group was Armenian, at some point forming 74.3% of the population. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 , the city served as

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5208-561: The Russian Empire . After its incorporation into the Soviet Union , it was initially renamed back to Ganja ( Gyandzha ) in 1924, but in 1935 the name was changed again to Kirovabad (Russian: Кироваба́д , romanized : Kirovabád , IPA: [kʲɪrəvɐˈbat] ) in honor of the Soviet politician Sergei Kirov , a name which the city retained throughout most of the rest of the Soviet period. In 1989, during perestroika ,

5332-662: The Seljuks , the troops of King David IV of Georgia besieged Tbilisi, taking it in 1122. David moved his residence from Kutaisi to Tbilisi, making it the capital of a unified Georgian State , thus inaugurating the Georgian Golden Age . From the 12–13th centuries, Tbilisi became a regional power with a thriving economy and astonishing cultural output. By the end of the 12th century, the population of Tbilisi had reached 100,000. The city also became an important literary and cultural center, not only for Georgia, but also for

5456-563: The pseudo-Moorish Opera Theater , and the Georgian National Museum . The climate in Tbilisi mostly ranges from 20 to 32 °C (68 to 90 °F) in summer and −1 to 7 °C (30 to 45 °F) in winter. The name "Tbilisi" derives from Old Georgian Tbilisi ( Asomtavruli : ႧႡႨႪႨႱႨ , Mkhedruli : თბილისი ), and further from tpili ( Modern Georgian : თბილი , warm, itself from Old Georgian: ႲႴႨႪႨ ṭpili ). The name Tbilisi (the place of warmth)

5580-704: The 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk . Despite this agreement, the city was captured and devastated in 1795 by the Iranian Qajar ruler Agha Mohammad Khan , who sought to re-establish Iran's traditional sovereignty over the region. In 1801, the Russian Empire annexed the Georgian Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti (of which Tbilisi was the capital), later cementing its rule with the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813, which ended Iranian control of Georgia. Within Tsarist Russia, Tbilisi (known then as Tiflis)

5704-415: The 1850s, Tbilisi once again emerged as a major trade and cultural center. The likes of Ilia Chavchavadze , Akaki Tsereteli , Mirza Fatali Akhundzade , Iakob Gogebashvili , Alexander Griboyedov and many other statesmen, poets and artists all found their home in Tbilisi. The city was visited on numerous occasions by and was the object of affection of Alexander Pushkin , Leo Tolstoy , Mikhail Lermontov ,

5828-464: The Arab governor of the region during the reign of the caliph Al-Mutawakkil , and so-called because of a treasure unearthed there. According to the legend, the Arab governor had a dream where a voice told him that there was a treasure hidden under one of the three hills around the area where he camped. The voice told him to unearth it and use the money to found a city. He did so and informed the caliph about

5952-635: The Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR in September 1986. Before receiving "state theater" status in 1986, it was functioning as public theater. Ganja Puppet Theater operates in the building of Lutheran church constructed in 1885 by German settlers. Ganja has many well-maintained parks and gardens, with the Khan's garden being one of the most scenic parks, and one of the city's most known landmarks. It features interesting landscaping, and consists of

6076-443: The English-language daily The Messenger , weekly FINANCIAL, Georgia Today , and the English-language weekly The Georgian Times . Out of the city's radio stations Imedi Radio (105.9 FM ), Fortuna, and Radio 105 are some of the most influential competitors with large national audiences. Radio stations in Tbilisi include 5 Lines Radio (93.8 FM), Europe +Tbilisi (99.6 FM), and Georgian Patriarchy Radio (105.4 FM). The architecture in

6200-452: The Ganja military airbase on Ganja International Airport , which they alleged was used to bombard Artsakh's capital Stepanakert and also stated that the Azerbaijani population were given warning to move away from military facilities to avoid collateral damage. Subsequently, both a correspondent reporting from the scene for a Russian media outlet and the airport director denied that the airport, which had not been operational since March due to

6324-407: The Georgian quarter was confined to the southeastern part of the city; Baedeker describes the layout succinctly: In the north part of the town, on the left bank of the Kurá and to the south of the railway station, stretches the clean German Quarter, formerly occupied by German immigrants from Württemberg (1818). To the south is the Gruzinian or Georgian Quarter (Avlabár). On the right bank of the Kurá

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6448-419: The Helenendorf colony were 127 Swabian families (ca. 600 people), who came mainly from Reutlingen under the leadership of Gottlieb Koch, Duke Shiman, Jakov Krause and Johannes Wuhrer. Initially, the colonists had to live in dugouts. For several years they lived in very difficult and even dangerous conditions; after the first winter (1818–1819) only 118 families survived. During the Russian-Persian War of 1826–1828,

6572-417: The High Commissioner to Armenia, Colonel William N. Haskell . Under the national government, Tbilisi turned into the first Caucasian University City after the Tbilisi State University was founded in 1918. On 25 February 1921, the Bolshevist Russian 11th Red Army invaded Tbilisi and after bitter fighting at the outskirts of the city, declared Soviet rule. In 1921, the Democratic Republic of Georgia

6696-438: The Lutheran church built in 1856 and has operated as a museum since 1982. The State Flag Square was inaugurated in 2014 with the Flag of Azerbaijan flying at a height of 50 m (160 ft). There is also a Museum of Azerbaijan State Symbols in the square. Ganja, Azerbaijan Ganja ( / ˈ ɡ æ n dʒ ə / ; Azerbaijani : Gəncə [ɟænˈdʒæ] ) is Azerbaijan 's third largest city , with

6820-490: The Persians ruled the city until 627, when Tbilisi was sacked by the Byzantine / Khazar armies and later, in 736–738, Arab armies entered the town under Marwan II . After this point, the Arabs established an emirate centered in Tbilisi. Arabic dirhams were brought to Georgia following the Arab conquest in the seventh century, and a mint was founded in Tbilisi that produced coins with inscriptions in both Arabic and Georgian. In 764, Tbilisi – still under Arab control –

6944-416: The Philharmonic Hall was put into use in 2017. The Goygol State Song and Dance Ensemble, the Orchestra of Folk Instruments and the Ganja State Chamber Orchestra operate under the Ganja State Philharmonic. Two regional channels, Kapaz TV and Alternativ TV, are headquartered in Ganja. Two newspapers are published in Ganja ( Gəncənin səsi and Novosti Qyandji ). The building of the Ganja State Drama Theater

7068-466: The Public Broadcasting Channel, among others. Tbilisi's television market has experienced notable changes since 2019, when changes in the ownership of Rustavi 2 prompted many of its employees to leave and partake in the creation of new television channels, namely Mtavari Arkhi and TV Formula. Tbilisi has a number of newspaper publishing houses. Some of the most noteworthy newspapers include the daily 24 Saati ("24 Hours"), Rezonansi ("Resonance"), Alia ,

7192-474: The Russian Emperor Alexander I signed a petition of 700 Swabian families for resettlement in Transcaucasia. The city of Ulm was appointed the assembly point, from which the settlers were sent on ships down the Danube to Izmail. After the quarantine, they were resettled for wintering in the already extant Black Sea German colonies Peterstal, Josefstal, Karlstal and other Swabian villages. The settlers arrived in Transcaucasus in August 1819, accompanied by Cossacks. Of

7316-445: The Russian language. In 1907, at the Elendendorf school, a boarding school was opened to accommodate children from other Swabian settlements of the Transcaucasus who studied there. In the 1920s, teachers from Germany were invited to work at the school. So, for example, Alois Melichar (Alois Melichar), future conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic , conducted music lessons at Elendendorf school. The cultural life in Helenendorf began with

7440-402: The Soviet Union. In 1980, the city hosted the first state-sanctioned rock festival in the USSR. As a major tourist destination for both Soviet citizens and foreign visitors, Tbilisi's "Old Town" (the neighborhoods within the original city walls) was reconstructed in the 1970s and 1980s. Tbilisi witnessed mass anti-Russian demonstrations during 1956 in the 9 March Massacre , in protest against

7564-425: The Swabians twice had to flee to Elizavetpol and Tiflis from the advancing Persians; both times Helenendorf was burned by the Persians. In 1829–1830, mortality due to diseases (including plague and cholera) was two times higher than the birth rate. Only in the 1930s did the colonists manage to gradually regain their lives. In 1843, the population of Helendorf was 609 people, and in 1926 2,157 people (but by this time

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7688-421: The above-mentioned groups, Tbilisi is home to other ethnic groups including Ossetians , Abkhazians , Ukrainians , Greeks , Jews , Assyrians , Yazidis , and others. More than 95% of the residents of Tbilisi practise some form of Christianity (the most predominant of which is the Georgian Orthodox Church ). The Russian Orthodox Church , which is in full communion with the Georgian Orthodox Church, and

7812-481: The ancient name of the city was given back. For many years the 104th Guards Airborne Division of the Soviet Airborne Troops was based in the town. In November 1988, the Kirovabad pogrom forced the local Armenian population to leave the city. Reconstruction in the 21st century has led to dramatic changes in the city's urban development, transforming the old Soviet city into a hub of high-rise, mixed-use buildings. In 2008, Ganja Mausoleum Gates were built on

7936-449: The anti-Stalin policies of Nikita Khrushchev . Peaceful protests occurred in 1978, and in 1989 the April 9 tragedy was a peaceful protest that turned violent. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union , Tbilisi has experienced periods of significant instability and turmoil. After a brief civil war, which the city endured for two weeks from December 1991 to January 1992 (when pro- Gamsakhurdia and Opposition forces clashed), Tbilisi became

8060-446: The appointed place in the winter of 1818, so they were forced to winter in Elizavetpole. In the spring of 1819, during the Easter holidays, government officials determined the exact place of construction of Elenendorf – the former "Tatar settlement" Hanahlar, where "besides the half-buried canal and the pits in the ground, nothing reminded of the former inhabitants." The plots for the yards were distributed along two streets. The founders of

8184-573: The basis of sketches of ancient Ganja gates made by local master Ibrahim Osmanoğlu in 1063. In 2020, during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict , Ganja came under bombardment by Armenian armed forces several times, killing 32 civilians and injuring dozens more. On 11 October, a residential apartment block in Azerbaijan's city of Ganja was destroyed overnight in an Armenian missile strike, killing 10 civilians and wounding 34 others. The Armenian MoD denied that this came from its territory, while Artsakh stated that Armenian forces had targeted and destroyed

8308-434: The capital of the Elizavetpol uezd and later in 1868, the Elizavetpol Governorate. The Russian name of the city was rejected by the local Azerbaijanis, who continued call it Ganja . Ganja—known then as Yelizavetpol—was one of the main sites of the Armenian–Tatar massacres of 1905–07 . In 1918, Ganja became the temporary capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic , at which point it was renamed Ganja again, until Baku

8432-475: The city are left undeveloped due to the complex topographic relief. To the north of the city, a large reservoir (commonly known as the Tbilisi Sea) is fed by irrigation canals. Tbilisi has a humid temperate climate ( Köppen : Cfa , Trewartha : Do ) with considerable continental and semi-arid influences. The city experiences hot, humid summers and moderately cold dry winters. Like other regions of Georgia, Tbilisi receives significant rainfall throughout

8556-458: The city has a number of intercollegiate and amateur sports teams and clubs. Tbilisi's signature football club, Dinamo Tbilisi , has not won a major European championship since the 1980–1981 season, when it won the European UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and became the easternmost team in Europe to achieve the feat. The basketball club Dinamo Tbilisi won the Euroleague in 1962 , but also never repeated any such feat. Tbilisi hosted Group A matches for

8680-541: The city is a mixture of local (Georgian) and Byzantine , Neoclassical , Art Nouveau , Beaux-Arts , Middle Eastern, and Soviet modern styles. Very few buildings survived the destruction of the city in 1795, so most historical buildings in Tbilisi date to the Russian Imperial period (1801–1917). The oldest parts of the city (Kala, Abanotubani, Avlabari) were largely rebuilt on their medieval street plans, and some old houses were even rebuilt on much older foundations. The areas of downtown Tbilisi which were developed according to

8804-410: The city regained its original name of Ganja ( Azerbaijani : Gəncə ), which is known as Gyandzha ( Гянджа , [ɡʲɪnˈdʑa] ) in Russian, Gyanja ( Գյանջա ) or Gandzak ( Գանձակ ) in Armenian, and Ganjeh ( گنجه ) in Persian . According to the anonymous medieval Arabic history Tarikh Bab al-abwab , the city of Ganja was founded in 859–60 by Muhammad ibn Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Mazyad ,

8928-561: The city was followed by a massacre of up to 3,000 inhabitants of Ganja by the Russians". They also claim that "500 of them were slaughtered in a mosque where they had taken refuge, after an Armenian apprised the Russians that there might have been 'Daghestani robbers' among them". With their military superiority, the Russians were victorious in the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813. By the Treaty of Gulistan that followed, Iran

9052-484: The city was founded in 659–60, when the Arab armies first arrived in the South Caucasus . However, the Persian origin of Ganja's name suggests that there was an older pre-Islamic town there. According to some sources, it changed hands between Persians, Khazars and Arabs even in the 7th century. The area in which Ganja is located was known as Arran from the 9th to 12th century; its urban population spoke mainly in

9176-401: The city was named this after its founder discovered treasure nearby ( see below ) is considered a folk etymology . According to one view, the city may have been named after Ganzak , the pre-Muslim capital of Adurbadagan . The city was renamed Yelizavetpol (Russian: Елизаветпо́ль , romanized : Yelizavetpól' , IPA: [jɪlʲɪzəvʲɪtˈpolʲ] ) in 1813, when it was part of

9300-554: The clouds within and around the city, mainly during the Spring and Autumn months, resulting in prolonged rainy and/or cloudy weather. Northwesterly winds dominate in most parts of Tbilisi throughout the year. Southeasterly winds are common as well. As a multiethnic city, Tbilisi is home to more than 100 ethnic groups. Around 90% of the population consists of ethnic Georgians , with significant populations of other ethnic groups such as Armenians , Russians , and Azerbaijanis . Along with

9424-578: The colony numbered eight workshops for the production of horse carts (also supplied to the Russian army), six for barrels, nine forges, nine carpentry and six carpentry workshops, four sewing masters, four painters and four stoves, three locksmith workshops, and one shoe master. The Schwabs who settled in the Russian Empire were Lutherans but belonged to the Pietistic movement, which, in fact,

9548-442: The decision of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR . The district consists of 2 administrative territorial units and 6 administrative settlements. It has an area of approximately 70 square kilometers (27 sq mi) with the population of 178,000. Nizami District ( Nizami rayonu ) was also established on 21 November 1980 according to the decision of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR as Ganja raion of Kirovabad city. When Ganja's historic name

9672-698: The different ethnic groups within the country. The other faith worshipping places include Alexander Nevsky Church , German Lutheran Church , Saint John Church and Saint Sarkis Church. Before the Kirovabad pogrom in 1988 a significant community of Armenian Christians existed. According to the State Statistics Committee , as of 2018, the population of city recorded 332,600 persons, which increased by 31,900 persons (about 10.6 percent) from 300,700 persons in 2000. 162,300 of total population are men, 170,300 are women. More than 26 percent of

9796-749: The dissolution of the Russian Empire and the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic , it became a part of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic , followed by Azerbaijan SSR , and, since 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan . The name Ganja derives from the Persian word ganj ( Middle Persian : ganj ), meaning "treasure" or "treasury". It was called Janza in Arabic sources and Gandzak in Armenian sources. The explanation that

9920-460: The earliest 16th century up to the course of the 19th century, when it was forcefully ceded to neighbouring Imperial Russia. For a short period, Ganja was renamed Abbasabad by Shah Abbas after war against the Ottomans. He built a new city 8 kilometres (5 miles) to the southwest of the old one, but the name changed back to Ganja during the time. During the Safavid rule, it was the capital of

10044-404: The fact that there was also a teacher among the arrivals, the children of the colonists had the opportunity to study reading, writing, and arithmetic, and later geography and history. In 1823 the first school was built, in which children were educated in two classes. As the population grew, the school expanded, and the number of subjects offered expanded. From the 1890s, it became compulsory to study

10168-482: The formation in 1893 of the German Society ( Deutscher Verein ), originally a male club with a library, a reading room, and a bowling alley. Later on, the amateur wind and string orchestras and theater studio were organized, which held concerts and performances in the society's hall, where up to 400 spectators could be accommodated at various festive events, including in the public garden of Helendorf. In 1930,

10292-498: The former Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) and non-EU cities. It was an event with a budget of 5.7 million euros, projected to boost tourism by about one-fifth. Some of the city landmarks include Gates of Ganja . As of 2012 , the city along with Baku and Lankaran participates in Earth Hour movement. Ganja State History-Ethnography Museum is the oldest museum in the city, with over 30,000 artifacts. The city

10416-402: The geometric designs, some of which are on display at the local museum. Under the Ganja Khanate a Tatar town on the site was known as Hanahlar. Subsequently, in 1795 it was conquered by the Qajar dynasty . It was abandoned during the Russian occupation of the area which began in 1804 and was formalised by the Treaty of Gulistan (Gyulistan Peace Treaty) in 1813. Helenendorf was founded on

10540-702: The government credit (2000 rubles per family), which they received in 1818 for the relocation and arrangement of the farm. By this time, the colonists' main occupation was the cultivation of grapes and the production of spirits – various varieties of vintage and table wine, cognac, and champagne. The products produced in Elenendorf were sold by the local firms Brothers Hummel, Brothers Forehrer and Concordia not only in Russia – in particular in Moscow and St. Petersburg , but also in Europe. Crafts were also developed. By 1908,

10664-646: The heart of the Caucasus between Europe and Asia, Tbilisi became an object of rivalry among the region's various powers such as the Roman Empire , Parthia , Sassanid Persia , Muslim Arabs , the Byzantine Empire , and the Seljuk Turks . The cultural development of the city was somewhat dependent on who ruled the city at various times, although Tbilisi was fairly cosmopolitan. From 570 to 580,

10788-520: The intrusion of cold air masses from Russia, Tbilisi has a relatively mild microclimate compared to other cities that possess a similar climate along the same latitudes. The average annual temperature in Tbilisi is 13.8 °C (56.8 °F). January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 2.7 °C (36.9 °F). July is the hottest month with an average temperature of 25.4 °C (77.7 °F). Daytime high temperatures reach or exceed 32 °C (90 °F) on an average of 22 days during

10912-460: The king Tahmasp I (r. 1524–1576) resulted in the reoccupation of Kartli and Kakheti, and a Safavid force was permanently stationed in Tbilisi from 1551 onwards. With the 1555 Treaty of Amasya , and more firmly from 1614 to 1747, with brief intermissions, Tbilisi was an important city under Iranian rule, and it functioned as a seat of the Iranian vassal kings of Kartli whom the shah conferred with

11036-460: The late 18th century, Tbilisi would again be under the rule of various foreign powers. On several occasions, the city would even be completely burned and razed to the ground. In 1386, Tbilisi was invaded and sacked several times by the armies of Tamerlane . In 1440, the city was invaded and destroyed by Jahan Shah (the Shah of the town of Tabriz , Persia ). From 1477 to 1478, the city was held by

11160-407: The late Bronze Age to early Iron Age, it was the largest settlement in the Caucasus. According to legend, the present-day territory of Tbilisi was covered by forests as late as 458. One widely accepted variant of the Tbilisi foundation myth states that King Vakhtang I of Iberia ( r.  c. 447/49 – 502/22 ) went hunting in the heavily wooded region with a falcon (sometimes the falcon

11284-563: The local language. In addition, the Georgian-language form Ṭpilisi was modernized on the basis of a proposal by Georgian linguists; the ancient Georgian component ტფილი ( ṭpili , 'warm') was replaced by the newer თბილი ( tbili ). That form was the basis for the new official Russian name ( Тбилиси Tbilisi ). Most other languages have subsequently adopted the new name form, but some languages, such as Turkish, Persian, Greek , Spanish , and German , have retained

11408-559: The money and the city. The caliph made Muhammad the hereditary governor of the city on the condition that he would give the money he found to the caliph. The foundation of the city by the Arabs in the 9th century is supported by the medieval Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi , who mentions that the city of Ganja was founded in 846–47 in the canton of Arshakashen by "Mahmed son of Xałtʿ" (i.e., Muhammad ibn Khalid). The 14th-century Persian historian Hamdallah Mustawfi instead claims that

11532-742: The most popular city sports. Influence from the Russian Empire brought more Western sports and activities (billiards, fencing) to Tbilisi. The Soviet period brought an increased popularization of sports that were common in Europe and, to a certain extent, the United States. At the same time, Tbilisi developed the necessary infrastructure for professional sports. By 1978, the city had around 250 large and small sports facilities, including, among others, four indoor and six outdoor Olympic-sized pools, 185 basketball courts and halls, 192 volleyball facilities, 82 handball arenas, 19 tennis courts, 31 football fields, and five stadiums. The largest stadium in Tbilisi

11656-558: The nation in general). Mass protests took place in November 2003 after falsified parliamentary elections forced more than 100,000 people into the streets and concluded with the Rose Revolution . Since 2003, Tbilisi has experienced considerably more stability with decreasing crime rates, an improved economy, and a real estate boom. During the 2008 South Ossetia war , the Tbilisi area was hit by multiple Russian air attacks. After

11780-422: The natives of Elenendorf had founded two more colonies – Georgsfeld [936 inhabitants] and Traubenfeld [393 inhabitants]). They also moved to other subsidiary colonies, formed at the beginning of the 20th century. In October 1941, during the forced eviction of German colonists from Transcaucasia, the number of Germans living in Elenendorf and subject to eviction was 2,675 people. By 1875, the colonists had fully paid

11904-709: The north-eastern foothills of the Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges on the Ganjachay river. The city borders on the administrative rayons of Goygol to the south, west and north-west and Samukh to the north-east. Ganja has a cool semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification : BSk ), with an average annual precipitation of 241 millimetres (9.5 in), though annual precipitation varies in different years, ranging from 160 mm (6.3 in) in 1932 to 1,133 mm (44.6 in) in 1988. Winters are cold and may see snow, with 5 days per year in which snow cover

12028-428: The population (about 86,500 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29. The economy of Ganja is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some industries in operation. Ore minerals extracted from nearby mines supply Ganja's metallurgical industries, which produces copper and alumina. There are porcelain , silk and footwear industries. Other industries process food, grapes and cotton from

12152-475: The scene of frequent armed confrontations among various mafia clans and illegal business operators. During the Shevardnadze Era (1992–2003), crime and corruption were rampant. Many segments of society became impoverished because of unemployment caused by the crumbling economy. Average citizens of Tbilisi started to become increasingly disillusioned with the existing quality of life in the city (and in

12276-635: The second-flight of Azerbaijani football, the Azerbaijan First Division . The club has three Azerbaijani league and four cup titles. Tbilisi Tbilisi ( English: / t ə b ɪ ˈ l iː s i , t ə ˈ b ɪ l ɪ s i / tə-bil- EE -see, tə- BIL -iss-ee ; Georgian : თბილისი , pronounced [ˈtʰbilisi] ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( / ˈ t ɪ f l ɪ s / TIF -liss ), ( Georgian : ტფილისი , romanized : t'pilisi )

12400-596: The seven hundred families that left Ulm, only about four hundred reached their destination. Some of the settlers died on the way from illnesses, while others stayed in the Black Sea region. At the same time, about one hundred families from the Black Sea colonies joined the settlers. Six settlements in Georgia and two (Annenfeld and Elenendorf) in Azerbaijan were founded in the Transcaucasus . The colonists arrived at

12524-586: The shape of an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains on three sides. To the north, Tbilisi is bounded by the Saguramo Range , to the east and south-east by the Iori Plain , to the south and west by various endings (subranges) of the Trialeti Range . The relief of Tbilisi is complex. The part of the city which lies on the left bank of the Kura River extends for more than 30 km (19 mi) from

12648-583: The site in 1819 by Germans from Württemberg , as ordered by Czar Alexander to help settle the region. The region was known as Narimanov under the czar. In 1930 the rayon (district) was established with Helenendorf as its administrative centre . Expropriation of the colonists property and collectivization in Helenendorf began in 1926 with the show trial of three community leaders, Gottlob Hummel, Heinrich Vohrer and Fritz Reitenbach, on charges of counter-revolutionary and nationalist activities. They were convicted, their property confiscated and they were sent to

12772-530: The skyline of Ganja, building towering mosques and houses from red bricks. Among the oldest surviving examples of Islamic architecture in Ganja are the Nizami Mausoleum and Shah Abbas Caravanserai , which assisted the Shahs during their siege of the city. The area around and inside the mosques, contains many fine examples of traditional architecture like Chokak Bath . Another interesting building

12896-488: The south. Following the annexation of eastern Georgia in 1801, Russia was now keen to conquer the rest of the Iranian possessions in the Caucasus . Russian expansion into the South Caucasus met particularly strong opposition in Ganja. In 1804, the Russians, led by General Pavel Tsitsianov , invaded and sacked Ganja , sparking the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813 . Some western sources assert that "the capture of

13020-449: The successor of Vakhtang I, moved the capital of Iberia from Mtskheta to Tbilisi and began construction of the fortress wall that lined the city's new boundaries. From the sixth century, Tbilisi grew at a steady pace due to the region's strategic location along with important trade and travel routes between Europe and Asia. Tbilisi's favorable trade location, however, did not necessarily bode well for its survival. Located strategically in

13144-574: The surrounding farmlands. The city has one of the largest textile conglomerates in Azerbaijan and is famous for a fabric named Ganja silk , which received the highest marks in the markets of neighboring countries and the Middle East . People are mainly employed in manufacturing, education, transportation, service sectors and catering. Det.Al-Aluminium is the largest employer operating in Ganja, followed by Ganja Auto Plant and Ganja Winery Plant 2. Traditional shops, modern shops and malls create

13268-624: The title of vali . In 1718, the Venetian senate implored the Safavid emperor Soltan Hoseyn to protect the Catholic Armenians and Capuchin missionaries in Tbilisi from the Gregorian Armenians. Under the later rules of Teimuraz II and Heraclius II , Tbilisi became a vibrant political and cultural center free of foreign rule—but, fearful of the constant threat of invasion, Georgia's rulers sought Russian protection in

13392-476: The war, several large-scale projects were started, including a streetcar system, a railway bypass and a relocation of the central station , and new urban highways. In June 2015, a flood killed at least twenty people and caused animals from the city's zoo to be released into the streets. The status of Tbilisi, as the nation's capital, is defined by Article 10 of the Constitution of Georgia (1995) and

13516-502: The year with no distinct dry period. The city's climate is influenced both by dry (Central Asian/Siberian) air masses from the east and oceanic (Atlantic/Black Sea) air masses from the west. Because the city is bounded on most sides by mountain ranges, the close proximity to large bodies of water (Black and Caspian Seas ) and the fact that the Greater Caucasus Mountains Range (further to the north) blocks

13640-691: Was occupied by the Soviet Bolshevik forces from Russia, and until 1936, Tbilisi functioned first as the capital city of the Transcaucasian SFSR (which included Armenia, Azerbaijan , and Georgia), and afterward until 1991 as the capital of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic . During Soviet rule, Tbilisi's population grew significantly, the city became more industrialized, and it also came to be an important political, social, and cultural centre of

13764-573: Was built by the German entrepreneur Christofor Forer in the 1880s. Ganja Drama Theater was established in 1921 in Baku as "Tənqid-təbliğ" (literally means "Criticism-propaganda"). In 1935 the theater moved to Ganja with its staff and continues its activity here under different names until 1990. The theater has been called the Ganja State Drama Theater since 1990. Ganja State Puppet Theater was established according to Decree No. 299 of

13888-708: Was declared by their respective national councils on 26 to 28 May 1918. After this, Tbilisi functioned as the capital of the Democratic Republic of Georgia until 25 February 1921. From 1918 to 1919, the city also consecutively served as the headquarters of the country's German garrison and later the British 27th Division ; Tbilisi was also the main office of the British Chief Commissioner in Transcaucasia, Oliver Wardrop and

14012-588: Was decreed as bourgeois by communist authorities, who introduced experimental modern architecture. The more conservative and historically inflected Stalinist architecture in Georgia is embodied by the 1938 Marx-Engels-Lenin Institute building ("Imeli"), now housing the Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi . Tbilisi's postwar architecture is similar to the brand of midcentury modernism found across the Soviet Union. The city expanded dramatically in response to

14136-523: Was established in April 1984 according to the decision of Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan SSR . The Gallery is headed by the carpet-artist Faig Osmanov. Ganja is primarily known for its Azerbaijani and Islamic architecture , but its buildings reflect the various peoples and empires that have previously ruled the city. During the Ganja Khanate period, the Khans proceeded to make an indelible impression on

14260-463: Was forced to cede the Ganja Khanate to Russia. The Iranians briefly managed to oust the Russians from Ganja during the 1826 offensive during the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828 , but the resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay made its inclusion into the Russian Empire permanent. It was renamed Yelizavetpol ( Елизаветполь ) after the wife of Alexander I of Russia , Elizabeth , and in 1840 became

14384-621: Was included within the Tiflis Uyezd county in 1801, and became the administrative center of the Tiflis Governorate ( Gubernia ) following the latter's establishment in 1846. Russian Imperial administrators implemented a new European-style city plan and commissioned new buildings in Western styles. Roads and railroads were built to connect Tbilisi to other important cities in the Russian Empire , such as Batumi and Poti . By

14508-645: Was once again sacked by the Khazars. In 853, the armies of Arab leader Bugha Al-Turki invaded Tbilisi in order to enforce its return to Abbasid allegiance. The Arab domination of Tbilisi continued until about 1050. In 1065, the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan campaigned against the Kingdom of Georgia , subjugated Tbilisi, and built a mosque in the city. In 1121, after the Battle of Didgori against

14632-513: Was one of the reasons for their resettlement to the Caucasus. In 1832 a pastor arrived from Hannover to the colony, and before that, from the time of the founding of Elenendorf, divine services, the sacraments, and rituals were conducted by a local teacher. In 1857 the stone church of St. John was built and consecrated in the village. In the 1930s, two newspapers were published in the German language , Bauer und Arbeiter and Lenins Weg . Due to

14756-533: Was recaptured from the British -backed Centrocaspian Dictatorship . In April 1920, the Red Army occupied Azerbaijan. In May 1920, Ganja was the scene of an abortive anti-Soviet rebellion , during which the city was heavily damaged by fighting between the insurgents and the Red Army. In 1935, Joseph Stalin renamed the city Kirovabad after Sergei Kirov . In 1991, Azerbaijan re-established its independence, and

14880-570: Was renamed Goygol after the nearby lake , and the rayon became Goygol District . Helenendorf (German Helenendorf) is a German settlement founded in 1819 by settlers from Swabia in Transcaucasia (now the territory of Azerbaijan). Named in honor of the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, the daughter of the Russian Emperor Paul I . In 1938, its name was changed to Khanlar and in 2008 to Goygol. On May 10, 1817,

15004-419: Was restored and the city was renamed as Ganja instead of Kirovabad in 1989, the district was also renamed as Nizami rayon . The district consists of 2 administrative territorial units. The area of the district is roughly 39 square kilometers (15 sq mi) and population is 148,000. Ganja is the third largest city of Azerbaijan after Baku and Sumqayit with about 335,600 residents. The city is also inhabited by

15128-453: Was ruled locally for a few decades by the khans of the Ganja Khanate , who themselves were subordinate to the central rule in mainland Iran and were a branch of the Iranian Qajar family. Ganja is also the birthplace of the famous Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi . The people of Ganja experienced a temporary cultural decline after an earthquake in 1139 , when the city was taken by king Demetrius I of Georgia and its gates taken as trophies which

15252-528: Was the seat of the Caucasus Viceroyalty , governing both the northern and the southern parts of the Caucasus . Because of its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, and its proximity to the lucrative Silk Road , throughout history, Tbilisi has been a point of contention among various global powers. To this day, the city's location ensures its position as an important transit route for energy and trade projects. Tbilisi's history

15376-565: Was therefore given to the city because of the area's numerous sulfuric hot springs . Until 1936, the name of the city in English and most other languages followed the Persian pronunciation Tiflis , while the Georgian name was ტფილისი ( Ṭpilisi ). On 17 August 1936, by order of the Soviet leadership, the official Russian names of various cities were changed to more closely match

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