The Talyshis: An Iranian people divided by the Araxes
The Talyshis: An Iranian People Divided by the Araxes

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the Talyshi people, an Iranian ethnic group divided by the Araxes River between Azerbaijan and Iran. The division, a result of the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813), placed the Talyshis within two distinct political and cultural paradigms. The northern Talyshis, under successive rule by the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and Azerbaijan, faced a Turkish political and cultural orientation contrasting with their Iranian linguistic and cultural heritage. This led to significant identity shifts, with the Talyshis becoming minorities within a Turkic-speaking, Turkish-oriented Azerbaijan. Southern Talyshis in Iran experienced more consistent cultural development within the Iranian paradigm despite political changes. This study examines the impact of these divisions on Talyshi identity, language preservation, and socio-cultural adaptation. It discusses the challenges of assimilation and cultural preservation faced by the Talyshis, their linguistic characteristics, and the revival of Talysh self-awareness and nationalism in the face of external pressures. The paper uses a comprehensive analysis of historical, linguistic, and ethnographic data to provide insights into the resilience of Talysh identity amidst political and cultural change.

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