Culture in XIII – XIV c.

Although the first Mongol campaigns caused some

damage to the development of culture in Azerbaijan,
they could not stop its progress. During the time of
the Hulaguids, the cultural life, education and science
of the country were revived. The foreigners failed to
destroy the high culture of our people.
Education

• Education in Azerbaijan was carried out in schools

and madrassas. Sharia lessons were held in
schools, taught to read the Koran. In the
madrasah, mainly secondary education was given.
Religious and secular sciences were taught here.
• Madrasahs existed in the developed cities of
Azerbaijan. Tabriz madrasah, considered the
second higher educational institution in the East
after the Baghdad Nizamiyye madrasah, was
founded by Fazlullah Rashidaddin.
 Science.

• Fazlullah Rashidaddin was the author of dozens of works, as well as an

outstanding statesman, scientist and doctor. Along with this, he was
an expert on history, in the work "Jame attavarih" ("Anthology of
history") he described the period of the Hulaguids' reign.

• Nasireddin Tusi, created monumental works on astronomy,

philosophy, mathematics and other sciences. On his initiative, an
observatory in Maragha was created and put into operation. More
than 100 scientists conducted research on celestial bodies here.
• Nasireddin Tusi was also a statesman. He was an adviser to Hulagu
khan, and then the vizier of Abaga khan, closely participated in the
processes of state administration.
• The works of Nasireddin Tusi, who was called the "Shah of the
country of science" - "Zij Elkhani" (Tables of Elkhani), "Akhlagi Nasiri"
("Nasir's Book of Morality") are an invaluable contribution to world
science.
 Language knowledge, Philosophy

• In the 13th century, the use of the expression "Azerbaijani language" began.
• The first representative of the Azerbaijani-language classical poetry was Hasanoglu Sheikh
Izzeddin (XIII century). Two of his gazelles are known, written in his native language.

• During this period, dictionaries began to be created. The dictionaries provided

explanations for various Azerbaijani words and terms. Works on Azerbaijani grammar
began to be created. Special mention should be made of the linguistic works of
Hindushah Nakhchivani and his son Mohammed Nakhchivani.

• The works of the Azerbaijani educator Mahmud Shabustari in the field of philosophy,
logic, psychology, law and other spheres were highly valued throughout the East.
 Naimi and Nasimi
•At the end of the 14th century, a philosophical
movement - Hurufism - emerged in Azerbaijan. Its
founder was the great Azerbaijani poet and educator
Fazlullah Naimi. From Azerbaijan, Hurufism spread to
Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and other eastern countries.
•A prominent representative of Hurufism was our
great poet Imadaddin Nasimi, who lived and worked
in the XIV century. He was the closest associate of
Fazlullah Naimi.
•The Hurufis believed in the divinity of Arabic letters,
considered them one of the two incarnations of
Allah. This movement was widespread in Azerbaijan
and found a special reflection in the literature. Nasimi
promoted the ideas of Hurufism in his poems.
 Architecture
• The birthplace of oriental architecture. During the
reign of the Hulaguids, architecture began to
develop intensively in Azerbaijan. By the decree of
Gazan Khan, the city of Mahmudabad was built on
Mugan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Local
architects took part in the construction of the city.

• During this period, it became a tradition to build

new cities. In the south of Azerbaijan, a new city
was founded Sultaniye, which was one of the
capitals of the Hulaguids.
• The mausoleum of the ruler Muhammad Oljaytu
Khudabende was built in Sultaniye.
 Architecture

•The architectural monuments of Absheron -

fortresses in Nardaran, Ramana and Mardakan
were distinguished by their general structure and
ornaments.
•It has become traditional to erect magnificent
mausoleums over the graves of rulers, members of
their families, religious leaders and other prominent
figures. Mausoleums in Barda, Gulistan in
Nakhchivan, Bashtag tomb in the Garabaglar
architectural complex are striking examples of
architecture of this era.
•The Alishah Mosque in Tabriz, known as the "Erk
Fortress", being a temple of worship, was also a place
of refuge for the population. This mosque,
surrounded by powerful walls.