Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh is a land with big mountains.

It sits in a country called Azerbaijan. The area has many green forests.

Many people lived there for a very long time. They built old stone buildings.

One is a place called Amaras. It has a very old school.

In the past, some leaders ruled five small lands. These were called principalities. They were led by princes.

Later, a leader built a strong fort. It is in a place called Shusha.

The fort helped keep people safe.

Today, the land has changed a lot. It is still a place with tall peaks.

Many people remember its long history.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a land of mountains and forests.

It sits in the country of Azerbaijan. The area is part of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range.

The name "Nagorno" means "highland." This is because the land is very high up.

People have lived here for thousands of years. Long ago, the area was a part of the Armenian Kingdom. In the 5th century, a school was opened at Amaras Monastery.

Later, five small lands were ruled by Armenian princes. These were called principalities.

In the 1700s, a leader named Panah Ali Khan built a fort. This fort is in the town of Shusha.

The region has seen many changes and wars. For a long time, many ethnic Armenians lived there. They had their own group called the Republic of Artsakh. However, after new wars in 2020 and 2023, things changed. Azerbaijan took control of the land. Most of the Armenian people left the region. The old republic ended in early 2024.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a beautiful and rugged region.

It sits inside the country of Azerbaijan. The land covers part of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range.

Most of the area is made of high mountains and thick forests. The name "Nagorno" actually means "highland" in Russian. This describes how the land sits high above the surrounding areas. It is part of a larger area known as Karabakh.

This place has a very long and deep history.

People have lived in these mountains for thousands of years. Long ago, it was a part of the ancient Armenian Kingdom. In the 5th century, a special school was opened at Amaras Monastery.

This school used a new alphabet made by Mesrop Mashtots. Later, the region was ruled by five Armenian noble families. These groups were called principalities and were known as the Country of Khamsa.

Many different leaders have ruled this land over time. In the 1700s, a leader named Panah Ali Khan formed the Karabakh Khanate.

He built a strong fortress called Panahabad, which is now the town of Shusha.

There was even a beautiful palace built for the ruler's daughter.

In the 1800s, the Russian Empire became involved in the region. This led to many changes in how the land was governed by different empires.

Recent years have brought big changes through conflict.

In 2020, a second war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During this war, Azerbaijan gained control of some important areas.

This included the towns of Shusha and Hadrut. Another large military event happened in September 2023. After this event, the Republic of Artsakh began to dissolve. This was the group that had governed much of the area for many years.

The way people live in the region has changed a lot.

For a long time, many ethnic Armenians lived in the mountains. After the events of 2023, almost all the Armenian people left the region. This was a very big move for the local people. On January 1, 2024, the Republic of Artsakh formally ended. Now, Azerbaijani security forces are in the capital city of Khankendi.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region located within the territory of present-day Azerbaijan.

It occupies the southeastern portion of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. The land sits between the areas of Lower Karabakh and Syunik. Most of the terrain consists of high mountains and thick forestland.

The name "Nagorno" is a Russian adjective meaning "highland." This term describes the elevated nature of the territory. In Azerbaijani, the region is also called mountainous or upper Karabakh. The name "Karabakh" itself can be translated as "mountainous black garden" in various local languages.

The history of this region stretches back thousands of years.

Archaeologists believe the Kura-Araxes culture lived here between two rivers. Later, the region became part of the Armenian Kingdom around 180 BC. It was known then as the province of Artsakh. During the 5th century, the area became a center for Armenian culture. St. Mesrop Mashtots established the first school to use the Armenian alphabet at Amaras Monastery.

This monastery remains a significant historical site from that era.

During the Middle Ages, different powers competed for control of the mountains. In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs conquered the region. Later, the House of Khachen emerged as a local ruling power. This house ruled Artsakh as a principality for many centuries. By the year 1000, the Kingdom of Artsakh was proclaimed. The region also saw the rule of the House of Aranshahik in the south. These various dynasties shaped the political landscape of the Caucasus for a long time.

By the 15th century, the territory was part of Turkic tribal confederations. However, Armenian noble families, known as meliks, maintained local leadership. These five families ruled the area known as the Country of Khamsa.

The meliks held their power through various empires. In the 18th century, the Karabakh Khanate was formed under Panah Ali Khan Javanshir. He built the Shusha fortress in 1751 to strengthen his rule.

This fortress is located in the modern town of Shusha. A beautiful palace was also constructed there for the khan's daughter.

The modern era brought intense conflict over the status of the region.

From 1994 to 2023, much of the area was governed by the Republic of Artsakh. This was a breakaway state run by ethnic Armenians. The two sides, Armenia and Azerbaijan, held many peace talks. These talks were mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group but remained inconclusive. The population's goals varied between seeking full independence or joining Armenia.

Major military shifts occurred during the 21st century. In September 2020, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War began with an Azerbaijani offensive.

Azerbaijan regained control of the territories surrounding the region. They also captured one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh, including Shusha and Hadrut. A trilateral ceasefire was signed on 10 November 2020. This agreement involved Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia. Following this, the Republic of Artsakh became a small, isolated territory. It was connected to Armenia only by a narrow Russian-controlled corridor.

The final major change happened in late 2023. After a several-month blockade, Azerbaijan launched a new military offensive on 19 September 2023.

The Artsakh forces collapsed quickly, leading to an Azerbaijani victory. This caused almost the entire Armenian population to leave the region. Azerbaijani security forces entered Stepanakert, which is known as Khankendi in Azerbaijan. On 1 January 2024, the Republic of Artsakh was formally dissolved. This marked the end of a millennia-old Armenian presence in the area. Some residents and analysts have accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing during this period.