Georgia
Information about Georgia
The region of present day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia.
The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and
Christianity became the state religion in the 330s.
Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236.
Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region.
Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995.
New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his United National Movement party.
Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
After a series of Russian and separatist provocations in summer 2008, Georgian military action in South Ossetia in early August led to a Russian military response that not only occupied the breakaway areas, but large portions of Georgia proper as well.
Russian troops pulled back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
This action was strongly condemned by most of the world's nations and international organizations.
Above picture: View of Mtskheta from the Jvari Monastery. The town, which lies at the confluence of the Mtkvari (Kura) and Aragvi rivers, served as the capital of the Georgian Kingdom of Iberia from the 3rd century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. It was the site where Christianity was proclaimed the state religion of Georgia in 317. Although the capital was moved to Tbilisi in the early 6th century, Mtskheta continued to serve as the coronation and burial place for most Georgian kings until the 19th century.
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