History of the Caucasus

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Rock engravings in Gobustan, Azerbaijan dating back to 10,000 BC.

The history of the Caucasus region can be divided into the history of the Northern Caucasus (Ciscaucasia), historically in the sphere of influence of Scythia and Southern Russia (Eastern Europe), and that of the Southern Caucasus (Transcaucasia; Caucasian Albania, Georgia, Armenia), in the sphere of influence of Anatolia, Assyira and Persia (Southwest Asia).

In Modern times, the Southern Caucasus was part of the Ottoman Empire while the Northern Caucasus was conquered into the Russian Empire in the 19th century (Caucasian Wars).

Following the end of the Soviet Union, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia became independent in 1991.

The Caucasus region is subject to various territorial disputes since the collapse of the Soviet Union, leading to the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994), the Ossetian-Ingush conflict (1989-1991), the War in Abkhazia (1992–1993), the First Chechen War, 1994–1996 and the Second Chechen War (1999–present).