Tour of the ''Old Town''

Introduction

Brief information about Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan have been a place of ancient settlements since ancient times. The
scholars in 1968 have found a jaw bone of a man which is approximately
300,000 years old. They also found ancient settlements, cave paintings and
remains of tombstones in Gobustan.

Baku has always been an integral part of the history and culture of
Azerbaijan.

About Baku.

Baku is The Land of Fire. It's name probably originates from the expression
'Badie Kubiden' which means 'The home of winds. The population of the city
began in ancient times. The favourable climate, convenient location, fertile
soil and abundant mineral resources began to attract people at the dawn of
humanity. Baku was one of the oldest cities in Caucasus region. During its
development, despite going through different phases, ups and downs it was
able to maintain its unforgettable beauty. The rate of development of Baku
city started to change after oil boom in 1872. At that time in terms of growth
and development Baku was ahead of even New York before The First World
War. The first Oil Tanker in the world in 1879, the largest port of the Russian
Empire at the turn the 19th-20th centuries.

Oil boom has also led to cultural development. The first secular girl's school
founded Zeinal-Abdin Tagiev in 1901. Tagiev was Azerbaijani national
industrial magnate and philantrophist who provided 184,000 roubles to build
the school. Shovket Mammedova - the first muslim woman on the scene in
1912. The first opera in the east ''Leyla and Majnun'' Uzeyir Hajibayov in
1908. Finally, the first democratic republic created by Mammadamin
Rasulzade in 1918. One of the first countries in the world, and the very first
Muslim nation, to grant women equal political rights with men.

Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature

In 1939, a memorial museum named after Nizami was created in this building in
connection with the 800th anniversary of the poet Nizami Ganjavi. Collection,
research and storage of scientific materials about Azerbaijani literature and culture,
presentation of these materials on expositions and exhibitions is the main goal of
the museum. There are carried out great scientific researches, published and
written books and monographs.
Monument of Mirza Alakbar Sabir

Mirza Alakbar Sabir was an Azerbaijani satirical poet, public figure,

philosopher and teacher. He set up a new attitude to classical traditions,
rejecting well-trodden ways in poetry. The monument was created in 1958.

Now we come to the origins of this city, the great fortress called the Old City
and begin our journey with Gosha Gala Gapisi also known as Shamakhi Gates
which is the main entrance of the Old City.

Prior to incorporation into Russian Empire, Baku fit in within the two walls.

First wall - built by Manouchehr in 1120-59 years

Second wall - external built by Shah Abbas I in 1608. The outer wall was two
times lower than the internal wall.

Due to the fact that outer wall was 2 times lower, it created an illusion of weakly
protected city. The enemy passing the first wall fell into the ditch, from which he
could not escape and become an easy target. Also these walls have 25 defensive
towers to protect the safety of the city and 5 inputs 1 output.

The population of the city was only 5,300 people in 1810. Because of the Oil Boom
in 1872 the number of citizens started to increase dramatically. By 1901 the
population increased almost 30 times, so the outer wall had to be dismantled in
1880. The stones of the outer wall went to the restoration of the internal wall. Baku
city walls have been restored several times. For example, in 1950 the battlements
of the walls has been restored...

Meydan - the large square in the complex area of the city.

House Khans of Baku.

Unfortunately, from the house of Baku Khans little remains, only a beautiful modest
arch. This house was the residence of the Khans of Baku. Here they had guests and
ambassadors from all over the world. The inscription above the arch is made in the
ancient Arabic inscriptions. After 1806 this building was started being used as a
military garrison.

Of course, over the years and the change history of Baku, more and more houses
were built. Among them is the house which is located opposite the entrance to
Gosha Gala and which has pretty interesting name - Zencirli ev (House with
chains).

The house was built in the beginning of 20th century. House with Chains belonged
to Haci Muhammed Huseyn Mammadov before Malikov brothers bought this in
1928. After 2 years the government confiscated the house and turned it into
sewing factory which was named after N.Narimanov. Currently, the building is
being used as a Museum of Ethnography and Archeology.

To the right of the house, there is a building of Encyclopedia which was built in
1970. Once there lived a merchant and very respected man in the fort - Anif
Zeynalovich Tagiyev. It is an effort of people like Anif Tagiyev, managed to defend
those parts of Baku in the tragic days of March 1918 against the invasion of
Dashnak.

On the front of the building we can see the monument of Hasan Bey Zerdabi who
was an Azerbaijani journalist and intellectual, founder of the first Azeri-language
newspaper named Akhinchi (The Ploughman).

Next we pass to the famous House of Mariner. The name of this house is
connected with its original owner Abdul Manafov Alekberov who was a keen sailor
and professional skipper. After the city was known by not only artisans and
merchants, but also many experienced navigators, one of them was Abdul
Manafov. In 1893, at the age of 22 he finished studying Baku branch of the
specialty classes Navy navigator. And in March, 1901 as skipper of the ship
'Mubarak' he was awarded for saving many sailors from drowning in the Caspian
Sea, as well as for help with the crash of a sailing ship called 'Alexander'. Now this
building is being used as a carpet workshop. The art of carpets was known in
Azerbaijan from 9th century before christ. It is 3,000 years ago. Carpets were used
as decorations and as a cover for the ground. Carpets were also used as a currency.
People traded carpets with other goods.

Continuing our way to Tower street, we pass to the caravanserai, the Market Square
and all that reminds as of the commercial life of Inner city. Tower street is also one
of the main streets of the Old city due to the fact that it led from the main gate to
the Gosha Gala Caravanserai, the most important attractions and Maiden's Tower.

Caravanserais were the main part of town, where people traded. Baku was an
ancient trade route linking West to the East, the trading route called the Silk Road.
Baku, from the 16th century had a significant role in the trade of the North with the
South. During this period, caravans mastered this route which passed from the
White sea, Volga, near the Caspian sea, passing through Baku. Thus, Baku
acquired greater importance in the transit trade.

At the Tower street there are two caravanserais. They are arranged symmetrically
to the each other. One of them is called Bukhara(right), another Multani(left).
Despite their proximity and similarity of the two outer caravanserai differ sharply
from each other.

Bukhara - It was constructed in late 15th century over the trade highway of
Icherisheher. The caravanserai has a quadratic shape and its yard is octagonal. The
octagonal comfortable yard was a special hall under open sky where travellers and
merchants were gathering after daily commercial operations. The restoration works
implemented in 1964 completely discharged the caravansary building from the
constructions and layers added later and it promoted to discover its large-scale
structure on the background of the surrounding buildings.

Multani - It is located opposite to the Bukhr cravnsry. It was constructed in

15th century and acted as shelter for Indian merchants and palmers visiting the
temple of fire worshippers in Absheron. Presently Multan is a city in Pakistan. The
name of the caravanserai is connected with the frequent visits of fire worshippers
from Multan city to Baku. Its known that they had constructed the Ateshgah
temple in Surakhani. The monument has quadratic shape and yard and, is
constructed over old buildings.

Part 2

The Maiden Tower

The Maiden Tower was built as some sources indicate in VIII-VII B.C. Other scholars
argue that the construction was finished approximately at the 12th century. This
Tower is the symbol of Baku city and it keeps many secrets and mysteries.

I would like to talk about its construction. The building is 28 meters high. This part
of the tower was built later and is connected to the tower from the eastern side.
But, no one knows it's purpose. Some think that it was a breakwater, but studies
have shown that breakwater doesn't have to be this tall. It is only 2 meters shorter
than the main tower.

On the purpose of the tower, there are many mysteries. Building such a huge
defensive tower would have been useless. Some argue that it was build as an
observatory, others argue that it was built as an ancient temple zorastrisky.

The bottom of the tower is smooth as you can see, but the rest is not. This is
because the top of the tower was built some time after the bottom part. The wall of
the tower is 5 meters thick, but it was narrowed down as they built the tower
higher.

There are many versions about the name of this tower. The most famous of them is
that there was a very beautiful girl who was loved by Baku Khan. The girl rejected
his love and therefore was kept in this tower. But the girl's heart belonged to
another. She did not bear the separation from her loved ones, so she killed herself
throwing down.

-wiki copy:

The site was believed to have been used originally during the Sasanid era as a
Zoroastrian temple.,[14] An inscription located 14 metres high on the south wall
which in old Kufic script mentions Qubbeye Masud ibn Davud or Kubey Mesud ibn
Daud, an architect active during the 12th century; he is the father of the architect
who built the Mardakan Round Tower.[15] However it is disputed as the inscription,
unlike the Madakan Tower does not actually reveal him to have been the architect,
although it is generally agreed that much of the modern tower dates back to the
12th century

Sisianovun irvan xanl il ii baa vurmaa tlsmsi bununla bal idi.

1806-c ilin yanvarnda o, Bakya yetidi. Xzrd indiy kimi uursuz
vurnuxan Zavaliin donanmas da yenidn buraya glib Sisianovun buyruu
altna kedi. Yubanmadan Baknn verilmsi bard znn hazrlad
mqavil rtlrini Hseyn-quluxana gndrdi. Bu layihd ox ar rtlr
irli srlrd: Baknn btn gliri Rusiya xzinsin verilmli, xan yalnz
Rusiyann onun n ayrd aylqla keinmli, Bak hri ruslarn yaratd
ayrca idar altna kemli, qalada 1000- yaxn rus sgri v toplar
yerldirilmli idi. Hseynqulu xan rtlri qbul edcyini bildirdi. Gr
qoa qala qaps yaxnlnda fevraln 8-d oldu. Qala aarlar Sisianova
verilrkn o, xann xalas olu brahim byin tapana ati il ldrld.