Presentation of the Encyclopedia “Qizilbash Encyclopedia: 1001 Terms and Proper Names” Held at the Central Library of ANAS
A presentation of the two-volume encyclopedia “Qizilbash Encyclopedia: 1001 Terms and Proper Names” was held at the Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (ANAS). The event was organized by the Eurasian International Development Association (EIDA) and the Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology of ANAS.
According to AZERTAC, the event began with a short documentary film about the role of the Qizilbash in the history of Azerbaijan.
The presentation, attended by representatives from the scientific and public sectors, featured speeches by the President of ANAS, academician Isa Habibbeyli; Chairman of the EIDA Board, Elchin Askerov; Director General of the Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, Professor Kerim Shukurov; Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elshad Iskandarov; Member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Nagif Hamzayev; and Rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, Agil Shirinov. The speakers shared their impressions of the encyclopedia and discussed the place of the Qizilbash movement in the history of Azerbaijani statehood, the formation of national identity, and its role in the cultural revival of the Azerbaijani people.
In his speech, EIDA Chairman Elchin Askerov stated that the encyclopedia, consisting of 8 sections and 1001 entries, contains information about Turkmen tribes, shahs and sheikhs who were part of the Qizilbash, the Safavid state, its domestic and foreign policy, the Qizilbash faith, the Safavid military-political system, as well as the religion and culture of the period. He also emphasized the historical sources on the Qizilbash movement and the preparation process of the encyclopedia.
President of ANAS, academician Isa Habibbeyli, expressed his pride that today a wide readership, especially the younger generation of Azerbaijan, has the opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the Qizilbash movement, and noted with satisfaction that ANAS scholars are actively involved in this field.
Ambassador-at-Large Elshad Iskandarov stated that the Qizilbash movement is a historical legacy created by Azerbaijanis, and added that the centralized Azerbaijani state reached its peak during this period, playing a leading role in the formation of the modern Azerbaijani nation.
Professor Kerim Shukurov, Director General of the Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, highlighted the special importance of the Qizilbash movement in the history and historiography of Azerbaijan, and stressed the need for more scholarly research in this area to better illuminate Azerbaijani identity.
The “Qizilbash Encyclopedia: 1001 Terms and Proper Names” was published over the course of a year at the initiative of EIDA, with the support of the Eurasian Regional Center of the Youth Forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and is dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Shah Ismail Safavi.
