HISTORICAL COMMENTS
O
ld Greeks lived from ancient times (VI millennium BC.) on the peninsula of the Balkans, on the islands
of the Mediterranean and Aegeos Seas as well as on the shores of Asia Minor. In the VI c. BC. on the sea-shore
of the Black Sea (now West Georgia) they founded some towns : Dioskuria (modern Sukhumi), Pitiunt (modern Bichvinta),
Gienos (modern Oshamchiri), Pazisi (modern Poti).
From the ancient Greeks the peoples of the world 
slearned such words as school, theater,
democracy, geometry, history, geography, medicine and many others. They are creators of all over the world
known and beloved old myths and legends. Walking along the streets one can see the buildings, most architectural
details of which were invented by the Greeks. Many scientific fields as well as famouse Olympic Games have also
originated from Greece.
Assyria. In the
III millennium BC Semitic tribes created a powerful state between Tigris and
Euphrates rivers 
with
the capital in Nineveh. It fell in the VII c. BC.
Some Assyrian and Urartu inscriptions contain important information about ancient Georgian states. On the left you see Assyrian cuneiform inscription, XII-XI cc. BC. King Of Assyria Tiglatfilesser tells that he battled against the countries on the North of Assyria including Diaochi and Colcha as far as the Great Sea.
In 1857 the British Asiatic Society gave that inscription to four different famous orientalists for decipher it. All of them deciphered it identically. Therefore this date is considered as the birth of Assyriology - the science that studies cuneiform inscriptions.
Urartu.
In the IX-VIII cc. BC Urartu became the powerful state. It was situated in the North of Assyria, near the territory
of lakes Van and Urmia. The capital was Musasir. Urartu was
destroyed by Midians in VI c.BC. Argishd, King of Urartu battled in Diaochi, burned it's capital, captured Diaochi's
King and laid under tribute - gold, silver, copper, horses and other domestic animals. King of Urartu Sardur the
II conquered Colcha. The inscription tells that the King burned the town of Colcha Ildamusa, destroyed fortresses,
captured people.
Scithians and Kimerians were Nomadic fighting tribes living on the north of the Black Sea shore.
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Herodotus (VI c. BC) -
a Greek traveler and writer called the father of history. Strabon (I c. BC) - a Greek writer, geographer and traveler. Ksenophontus (V c. BC) - a Greek writer and traveler. |
These three writers visited the Caucasus and Asia Minor themselves and described these countries, gave characteristic features of the tribes living in the Caucasus.They knew Colcha to be a rich country. |
Archeologists found many agricultural tools in the Colchian burial grounds. It gives the idea that the inhabitants of this country were mainly agriculturists (farmers).
Achaemenids VI-IV BC. Royal Dynasty in Persia.
Persia began to rule all over Asia Minor up to the shores of the Aegean and the Mediterranean
Seas. They led constant wars against Greeks for Supremacy over the sea. Alexander Macedonian destroyed Iran of
Ackemenidis in the IV century.
The royal Dynasty of Parnavasians
After King Parnavaz till VI century in Kartli Parnavazians dynasty ruled. They were relatives of Persian and Armenian royal Dynasties. In VI c. Persia abolished the monarchy in Kartli. The Dynasty stopped its existence.
Mazdeanizm (Zoroastrism, Fire-worship) was a widespread religion in Iran (Persia) and in neighbour countries in Ancient and Middle Ages. According to Mazdeanizm the supreme Deity was Ahuramazda. And this is the origin of the name of this religion. This religion is also called Zoroastrism after the prophet Zoroaster. Mazdeanizm opposes two principles - Good and Evil. The Lord of Goodness and light - Ahuramazda fights the Lord of Evil and darkness - Ahriman who is accompanied by evil spirits - Devas. Everybody may participate in suppression of the Evil and establishment of Goodness. Main means to achieve this goal are "good thought', "good word" and "good affair". Mazdeanizm considers fire as his holy manifestation, as embodiment of divine justice. From there comes another name of Mazdeanizm - Fire-worship. However Mazdeanizm originates since Achemenian epoch, but as state religion it was consecutively formed in Sassanian Iran. Mazdeanizm gradually lost his significance after invasion of Arabs and dissemination of Islam.
At the beginning of IV century Roman Empire was divided in two - Western and Eastern parts. After the Eastern part was called Byzantine Empire. The capital was Konstantinople.
From the VII century Georgia got the new cruel enemy from the South. Those were Arabs. In the city of Mecca, an Arab named Mohammed, preached the neww religion. He taught to the different tribes that they should submit to the only one God - Allah. This is how the religion of Islam was created.The word itself in Arabian means submission. Mohammed's preaching is collected into one book and is called Koran. Arabs conquered the whole Minor Asia, Iran, entered the Caucasus and seized Kartli.
Arabian state was ruled by Khalipa, their governers in conquered countries was called Amira.
It is surprising that huge Iran took conqueror's religion and script while small Kartli managed to maintain Christian religion, though paid tax to Arabs. During the Arabs control many Georgian nobles had been tortured: Konstantine, David, Abo Tbileli and others. Georgian sculptor of the XX c. Gia Japaridze devoted an impressing sculpture to them (reprodused with the author's personal permission).
The Bagration's royal Dynasty
Bagrat the III belonged to the Bagrations royal Dynasty. They ruled Georgia from
IX to XIX c.c. After establishing Russian Empire's regime in Georgia they emigrated to the Russian Empire's capital,
Petersburg. Some of their descendants now live in Italy and Spain. As every royal dynasty, Bagrations had relations
with the ruling dynasties of the neighbouring countries - Persia, Armenia, Northern Caucasus and Byzantine. Georgian
princesses used to marry Byzantine and Persian princes. It supported peaceful coexistence of the neighbouring countries.The
Bagrationi royal family were famous of their love to literature, science and art. They protected scientists, philosophers,
poets, artists and architects of their time. A lot of books were written, churches were built, and schools founded
on their orde
rs. Among Bagrations there were a lot of writers and scientists.
He is the author of poetic works, magnificent King called himself the greatest sinner in his poetic works.
One of 
his gospels "You are the vineyard" has survived to the present
day. It's dedicated to Jesus. It's sung in our churches today.
Tragic personality, King, his mother was Queen Ketevan who had been tortured to 
death in Persia.
He described it in his poetry.
He created new laws, was a writer, translator and a scientist. He wrote works in
astronomy, chemistry and history. He founded the first Georgian printing house.
He was a famous historian and geographer.
Seljuk-Turks are named after a Turkish tribe - Oguzes. From them comes the Turkish language.
In IX century Oguze established a country under Seljuk leadership, at the lower part of the Sirdaria River. In
XI century their invasion began, which is known as "Great Turkishness". Seljuks conquered Asia Minor,
Transcaucasus, Syria and Palestine. Since XIII century this nation was called Osmalia. In 1453 Osmals conquered
Konstantinople, the capital of Byzantine. In the battle for Konstantinople died the last emperor of Byzantine,
Konstantine the XI, who was going to marry the daughter of Georgian King Georgi the VIII. But because of his death
this marriage didn't come true.
Crusaders were the European knights, who aimed at liberation Jerusalem from Seljuk rule. There were eight "Crusader invasions" (1095-1270).
In the XIII century Country of Mongolia was established by Temuchin. His countrymen called
him Chingiz which means "Firm". Chingiz, becoming a great Khan, gave an oath, that he would strictly
defend the laws and obey them first. He remained faithful to this oath until his death. Chingiz established a firmly
disciplined army, which terrified its neighbours by wild severeness. On occupied territories Mongolians used to
disarm the people, then by all means, take away the people's horses and mules, so that nobody could escape. And
then they inventoried every individual. They inventoried all men from 10 years of age and set tributes.
In the second half of the XIV centuries there was created a new Mongolian military state in Middle Asia, which was ruled by Temur Leng. At battle he was wounded in leg, because of these he was named "Temur Leng", what turned into "Tamerlan" in Europe. He conquered Persia, Afghanistan, destroyed Caucasus. His biggest war was against India, Delhi was especially robbed.
The accomplices of European countries and the Rome Pope decided to create an anti-Osmalian coalition, involving Georgia from the Eastern countries as well. For this reason a representative from the Rome Pope visited Georgia. Georgia willingly met this idea but the idea left an idea.
In 480 BC. t
he King of Persia Xerkse moved to the Greece. Greeks
decided to stop Persians at Thermopile mountain narrow passage. The ruler of Greeks army was Leonide, King of Sparta.
Their brave fighters were easily defending there side from attacks of Persians. Enemies were thinking about falling
back, but a traitor told Persians the secret path that helped Persians to attack from the back. The King Leonide
ordered 300 Spartans to stay with him. He did this because there would be less loss. 300 Spartans were fighting
till the last drop of the blood. They stopped the enemy and died as heroes with their King... Many years after
this war, when Persians were banished from Greece, at Thermopile entrance a Lion from marble was erected. He reminded
the travellers the heroic death of 300 Spartans.
What kind of material was used for writing in ancient world? Long times ago when
people made writing signs the paper did not exist at all. At first they wrote on the walls of the buildings with
paints or with special tools they carved 
letters on the stone plates. Some ancient people scraped the necessary woods
on wet clay plates. It was very inconvenient and difficult to write on such materials, and what is more important
- it was impossible to send letters this way. The way out was found in Egypt. In this country at the mouth of Nile
a lot of papyrus were growing. The Egyptians learned to make writing material from it. The Egyptian papyrus was
spread in a lot of countries. Written pages were rolled and kept in this way. 700 papyrus rolls were kept at the
most famous library in Alexandria. These library was founded in the I century BC. in the period of the last Queen
of Egypt Cleopatra. Later it was mainly destroyed and the rest was burnt by Arabians.
More durable and soft material made of leather of a calf or a lamb was invented in the town of Pergamon founded by Greeks in Minor Asia. That's why papers from that place were called pergament. A huge library as in Alexandria was located in Pergamon.
Later a regular paper for writing was invented in China. The Arabians learned it
and soon Europeans followed them. The paper was cheaper, than leather and it was easier to make it. That's why
it spread all over the w
orld.
In ancient Georgia the handwritten books were made from leather. Writing material made from leather was very expensive and few. That's why sometimes the old handwritten pages were scraped and rewritten again. The old writings were not rubbed out completely and the vague trace was left on the pages. Such manuscripts are very precious for scientists, because they can read both old and new handwritings at the same time. After dissemination of paper the writers job was simplified. Ancient masters decorated the handwritten pages with various ornaments and colored pictures. The book covers were made of thick leather or precious metal, and they were decorated with beautiful ornaments and precious stones. In Tbilisi there is a building where old manuscripts are collected. It is called the Institute of Manuscripts. If you enter this building you will be surprised how our ancestors should have loved books to create so many handwritings.
Byzantine Empire
