Baku - the capital of Azerbaijan Sprung on the coasts of the silvery Khazar (the Caspian), Baku as one of the holy centers of Zoroastrianism, after the discovery of oil, within a very short historical period changed into a very important commercial city. Its advantageous geographical location and abundance of valuable raw materials as oil, salt, maroon, saffron and others helped its rapid growth.

Starting approximately from the second half of the XIX century, the social and political order in Azerbaijan was characterized by a transfer from feudalism to capitalism. If in the majority of other provinces of Azerbaijan, as well as in the entire Caucasusian region, this transfer was not really felt for a long time and patriarchal relations were still remaining, but in Baku, unlike the above said, this process went very speedily. Rapidly developing industry, strengthening of economical and cultural relations with foreign countries, birth a of new class of industrialists and proletariat shortly changed Baku into one of the biggest cities of Russia arid the biggest city of the Caucasus.

There are 12 unique pictures of Baku, related to this period presented to your attention.

For related links see Regions and cities, Baku