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It should be noted that the territory of Karabakh khanate (1747-1822)
included the entire historical Karabakh: from Kura river in the north-east to Arax
river in the south-east and from Mt.Murovdag in the north-east to Zangezur in the
southeast; in other words, area between Kura and Arax rivers from confluence in
the east to Zangezur in the west included. It was bordered by Sheki, Gyandja,
Erivan, Nakhchivan, Karadag, Javad and Shamakha khanates.
Under world's famous political expert H.J. McKinder's terminology,
Caucasus is a "heartland" ("middle land"), or a world's geographical axis. First, if
one looks at the geographical map, it is obvious that the Caucasian land is a sort of
isthmus on the Eurasian space. Second, it is crossed by routes linking the West
with the East and the South with the North. Third, world empires and different
tribes, travelers and merchants, scholars and missionaries, geographers and persons
with civilizing missions were eager to establish themselves in the region. Fourth,
the land was notable for its natural riches, abundant flora and fauna.
Up to now, Azerbaijan remains to be the heart of Caucasus: it is rich in
natural resources, densely populated, disposes of convenient routes and adequate
infrastructures.
Note that the Azerbaijani Karabakh khanate, subject-matter of our
research, has always existed on this blissful land. By the way, Karabakh khanate,
together with Gyandja, Baku, Urmiya, Sheki, Guba khanates, belonged to powerful
political structures that existed in Azerbaijan in the second half of the 18 - earlier
19 centuries. These khanates possessed all main attributes of statehood their own
administrative apparatus and army, coinage and dynasties of hereditary rulers -
khans, pursued their independent political line and appreciably influenced the
history and political life of Azerbaijan in the second half of the 18 century. It was
no mere coincidence that US expert in Azerbaijani studies T.Swiatochevsky
termed this period in Azerbaijan's history as epoch of independence.
Both medieval and modern history of Karabakh has always been a subject
of studies by many generations of historians, both Azerbaijani and Russian,
western and eastern.
Karabakh khanate was an independent state, whose head possessed
unlimited power, i.e. was absolute monarch. Its capital was Shusha as residence of
khan, his family and near relatives, magnates, merchants, traders, townspeople,
Moslem clergy, etc. It also included principal institutions and offices of the
khanate, garrison, and mint. In the centre of Shusha there rose a khan palace,
principal mosque, administrative building and medrese.
Population of Azerbaijani khanates, including Karabakh, had hierarchical
structure. Society was divided into two estates. First, exploiters - khans, sultans,
beks with their families, dignitaries, commanders, clergy, officialdom, merchantry.