1. about the subject

Creation of local historical works and poems
(early XVIII-XIX centuries)

After Nadir's death, khanates came into being in Azerbaijan. The development of historical knowledge during the khanate period, the attitude to historical events, the current situation associated with the division of Azerbaijan between Russia and Iran necessitated writing historical fiction. What are the main examples on the history of Azerbaijan?

Mohammad Razi (? –1808/09), Mohammad Sadig (late 18th – early 19th centuries), Abdurrazag Dumbuli (XIX), Karim agha Fateh (1783–1858) and others might be named among the historians of this period.
Historical insights and attitudes to the events of the period are also described in the written and oral literature. It might clearly be observed in the works by three poets of Shirvan, such as Shakir Shirvani, Aga Messih Shirvani (? –1766) and Mahjur Shirvani, in the legacy of the poet Nabi, Mullah Vali Vidadi (1709–1809), Mullah Panah Vagif (1717–1797) and others.

Attitudes towards the khanate period in Azerbaijan are recited in bayatis. The occupation of northern Azerbaijan by Russia and the struggle for Ganja, Shirvan, and Baku left a long-lasting track on written and oral literature.

The transition of history to a scientific basis
(early XIX-XX centuries)

From 1930s, the division of Azerbaijan between Russia and Iran was over, and Russian regime took control of Northern Azerbaijan.

This period is characterized with the start of new phase in the History of Azerbaijan, which was founded by Abbasgulu agha Bakukhanov.

In 1841, A. Bakikhanov wrote "Gulustani Iram". It was written in Persian and later translated into Russian by the Polish poet Tadeusz Lada Zablotsky with his participation in 1926. The book was published in Russian, while in Azerbaijani in 1951.

A lot of research were carried out about A. Bakikhanov and his work "Gulustani Iram", and we prefer to settle on the general notes.

According to A.Husseinzadeh, “Bakikhanov's novelty in Azerbaijani historiography has two main features. The first of them is the author's concept in the notion of Azerbaijan history, and the second is the research method adopted by A. Bakikhanov. Another innovation driven by A. Bakikhanov in the history of Azerbaijan is the chronology of the history of Azerbaijan (See part II for chronology).

This period was very significant in the history of Azerbaijan. Thus, along with traditional annals in the historiography, certain ideological movements arose.

The works by chroniclers might be grouped according to their subject: Karabakh, Guba, Sheki, Talysh khanates and general views on the history of Azerbaijan.
The works about the Karabakh khanate were “Qarabağnamə (Karabakhnama)” (1845) by Mirza Adiyuzal Bey (80s of the 18th century – 1848), The History of Karabakh” (1847) by Mirza Amal Javanshir (1775–1853), Tarikh-safi ”(1855) by Mirza Yusif Garabaghi, “The rule of Panah khan and Ibrahim khan in Karabakh and the events of that time”(70-80s of the XIX century) by Rzagulu bey Mirza Javanshir oghlu 1880, “Ancient and modern situation of the Karabakh region)” (1880) and others.

Haji Seyid Abdulhamid (1796-?) devoted his work to Shaki khans and their kins.

The were works on Lankaran khanate as well describes general views on the history of Azerbaijan.

Enlightening and democratic movement in the history of Azerbaijan is accompanied with Mirza Fatali Akhundov (1812-1878), Seyid Azim Shirvani (1835-1888), Hasanbay Zardabi (1842-1907) and others.

Marxism influenced the notion of Azerbaijan history, as well. It might be clearly observed in the legacy of Nariman Narimanov (1871-1825), Sultan Majid Afandiyev (1887-1938).

Along with Azerbaijani written literature, folk literature also reflected the historical notion.