IRAVAN TEACHERS’ SEMINARY AND AZERBAIJANISM IDEOLOGY
Abstract. The article talks about the history of Iravan Teachers’ Seminary. Iravan is one of the cities of Azerbaijan, founded in the Middle Ages in Western Azerbaijan (now Armenia). At the beginning of the 19th century, Armenians were resettled and settled in this region of Azerbaijan after the Gulustan and Turkmenchay treaties. Until the opening of the Iravan Teachers’ Seminary, educational institutions have been operating in this region since the Middle Ages and long-term traditions have been created. In terms of the educational system, the European educational system was applied in the Iravan Teachers’ Seminary, which was established at the end of the 19th century (1881). Although the imperial policy of the Russians in this region created comprehensive conditions for the flourishing of Armenians and Armenian nationalism, the formation, and development of this education was undoubtedly the result of the great interest in the education of the local people – Azerbaijani Turks. Azerbaijani Turks, as a nation capable of valuing science and culture, showed their activity whenever possible. It is noted that the spread of the Azerbaijani ideology of life-giving was closely connected with the activities of that seminary.
Keywords: Western Azerbaijan, Iravan Teachers’ Seminary, Russian imperial political system, education, school, Azeri ideology.
