A large region south of the Caucasus mountains and west of the Caspian Sea, now divided by the River Aras (Araxes) into the Republic of Azerbaijan (north) and the Iranian province of Azerbaijan (south). Tabriz is a major city and rug production center of Iranian Azerbaijan. Rug production centers in the Republic of Azerbaijan include Kuba, Karabagh, Shirvân, and Baku. Azerbaijan is inhabited by Turks who are currently (or formerly) Shi’i Muslim in religion, but the population also includes Shi’i Persians, Sunni Kurds, and Christian Armenians and Assyrians.<br> | A large region south of the Caucasus mountains and west of the Caspian Sea, now divided by the River Aras (Araxes) into the Republic of Azerbaijan (north) and the Iranian province of Azerbaijan (south). Tabriz is a major city and rug production center of Iranian Azerbaijan. Rug production centers in the Republic of Azerbaijan include Kuba, Karabagh, Shirvân, and Baku. Azerbaijan is inhabited by Turks who are currently (or formerly) Shi’i Muslim in religion, but the population also includes Shi’i Persians, Sunni Kurds, and Christian Armenians and Assyrians.<br> |