The history of Azerbaijan is one of the oldest and richest in the region, stretching back thousands of years. In ancient times, the lands of present-day Azerbaijan were home to powerful states such as Mannaea, which existed in the 9th to 6th centuries BCE in the south of the country. Mannaea was known for its developed agriculture, craftsmanship, and early forms of state organization. From the 6th millennium BCE, the lands of modern Azerbaijan were part of the powerful kingdom of the Medes. The Medes established a vast state in the 7th century BCE that included territories south of the Caucasus, encompassing much of present-day Azerbaijan. Some historical sources and modern scholarship view the Medes as the ancestors of several peoples of the region, with their political and cultural influence laying the foundations for later Azerbaijani identity. The Median state played a crucial role in defeating the Assyrian Empire and shaping early statehood traditions in the region.

Following the Medes, Azerbaijan became part of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE. Under the Achaemenids, the area was organized into satrapies (provinces) and integrated into one of the first great empires of the ancient world. Persian cultural, administrative, and religious practices, including early forms of Zoroastrianism, spread widely. Despite imperial rule, local traditions remained strong, and many aspects of Azerbaijani heritage can trace roots back to this early blending of indigenous and imperial cultures. After the fall of the Achaemenid Empire to Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE, the independent state of Atropatena established in southern Azerbaijan. Named after Atropates, a former satrap, Atropatena became a bridge between Greek, Persian, and newly emerged local azerbaijani traditions. 

Meanwhile, in the north of Azerbaijan, the kingdom of Caucasian Albania established. Existing from approximately the 4th century BCE to the 8th century CE, Albania was a flourishing and multi-ethnic state. It had its own writing system, practiced Christianity from the 4th century, and maintained independence for centuries despite external pressures. Its capital cities, like Kabala, became centers of political and cultural life.

During the early centuries CE, Azerbaijan fell under the influence of the Sasanid Empire of Persia. This period saw the spread of Zoroastrianism, along with Persian administrative and cultural influences. However, the Albanian state continued to exist under Sasanid suzerainty until the Arab invasions in the 7th century. The arrival of the Arab Caliphate brought a major shift: Islam gradually replaced Christianity and Zoroastrianism, and Arabic became the language of administration and scholarship for a time. Azerbaijani lands were organized into several administrative units under the Caliphate, but local rulers retained a degree of autonomy.

In the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks swept across the region, bringing new Turkic-speaking populations and reshaping the ethnic and cultural landscape. The Seljuk era was marked by the growth of feudalism, the flourishing of cities, and the strengthening of Islamic culture and Turkic traditions. After the Seljuks, Azerbaijan became a battleground during the Mongol invasions in the 13th century. The Mongol conquest caused destruction but also brought Azerbaijan into the large network of the Mongol Empire, facilitating trade along the Silk Road.

In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, before the Mongol invasions, Azerbaijan witnessed a period of strong local rule under the Eldeniz (Atabeg) state. The Eldenizids managed to unite much of the South Caucasus under their control and turned cities like Nakhchivan and Ganja into thriving cultural centers. After the weakening of Mongol rule, the region entered a new era with the rise of the Safavid Empire in the early 16th century. The Safavids, who were of Azerbaijani origin and Turkish-speaking, established one of the most powerful empires in the Islamic world. Under Shah Ismail I and his successors, Azerbaijan became a core part of the Safavid state, and Shia Islam was established as the dominant faith.

Following the decline of the Safavid Empire in the 18th century, Azerbaijan fragmented into a number of semi-independent khanates, such as the Baku, Karabakh, Ganja, Sheki, and Shirvan khanates. Each khanate had its own ruler, military, and political system but shared language, religion, and cultural traditions. Trade, craftsmanship, and architecture flourished during this time, even as the region faced internal conflicts and external pressures from neighboring powers like Persia and Russia.

This complex and rich history has left a deep imprint on Azerbaijan’s culture, traditions, and national identity, making it one of the most historically layered destinations for travelers who wish to explore a land where ancient civilizations, great empires, and vibrant local traditions all meet.