Dilgam ismailov

until the late XVII century in Europe. However, in Azerbaijan 
this society began from the early III century and lasted until 
the second half of the XIX century. 
2.The Sassanid’s occupation of Azerbaijan and riots 
against it. 
Ardashir Babekan (224-241) – the representative of the 
Sassanid dynasty, led to the fall of the Parthian Empire in 226. 
As a result the Arshakids dynasty came to an end and a state of 

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Sassanid sprang up. The state of Sassanid (226-651) was cen-
tralized one. In 227 Atropatena joined the Sassanid state. 
Atropatena was a part of the Sassanid’s north marzbans (it 
means a successorship). During that period, Atropatena was called 
Aturpatakan, Adarbadaqan and Azerbazqan. During Khosrov I 
(531-579), Albania, Iberia (Georgia), Mughan and Daylam (South-
west of the Caspian Sea) were also included into the north 
successorship. The trade routes to China and India passed through 
Atropatena. Starting from the IV century, Atropatena was in the 
period of an economic growth. The famous cities of Atropatena 
were as follows: Ordbil, Tavares, Fraaspa, Aqnazana and 
Maragha. These cities were the centers of trade and crafts.
During the reign of the Sassanid, Zoroastrianism became 
the dominant religion. Shapur I (241-272), king of the kings, 
gave an order about the spreading Zoroastrianism by force. The 
most important Zoroastrian temples were situated in Atropate-
na. The temple in the city of Gazaka was still considered the 
main one. Atropatena was an ideological and training centre of 
Zoroastrianism. In the IV century the territory of Albania 
stretched from the Caucasus Mountains till the river of Araz, in 
the north-west and from Iberia till the Caspian Sea in the east.