Kartvelian people

Kartvelian people
John Wagner · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Group	Kartvelian people
Population	approximately 5 million
Regions	Georgia (country), Turkey, Russia, United States, Europe
Languages	Georgian language, Svan language, Mingrelian language, Laz language
Religions	Eastern Orthodox Church, Georgian Orthodox Church, Islam

Kartvelian people are an ethnic group native to Georgia (country), with a rich history dating back to the ancient period, and are closely related to the Colchian culture and Iberian tribes. The Kartvelian people have a distinct culture and language family, which includes Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian, and Laz. They have been influenced by various empires and civilizations, including the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Persians, and Ottomans, such as Alexander the Great, Trajan, Justinian I, Cyrus the Great, and Suleiman the Magnificent.

Introduction

The Kartvelian people have a long and complex history, with various kingdoms and empires rising and falling over the centuries, including the Kingdom of Colchis, Kingdom of Iberia, Kingdom of Kartli, and Kingdom of Georgia. They have been influenced by Christian missionaries, such as Saint Andrew, Saint Nino, and Saint George, as well as Islamic conquests, led by Caliph Umar, Caliph Uthman, and Sultan Selim I. The Kartvelian people have also had significant interactions with neighboring ethnic groups, including the Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Abkhazians, and Ossetians, such as Tigranes the Great, Shah Abbas I, Bagrat III of Georgia, and Vladimir Lenin.

Origins and History

The origins of the Kartvelian people are closely tied to the ancient Near East and the Caucasus region, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic era, including the Dmanisi archaeological site and the Kvemo Kartli region. The Kartvelian people have a rich history, with various kingdoms and empires rising and falling over the centuries, including the Kingdom of Colchis, Kingdom of Iberia, Kingdom of Kartli, and Kingdom of Georgia, ruled by Pharnavaz I of Iberia, Mirian III of Iberia, Vakhtang I of Iberia, and David IV of Georgia. They have been influenced by Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as Roman emperors, including Augustus, Trajan, and Constantine the Great.

Language and Culture

The Kartvelian people have a distinct language family, which includes Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian, and Laz, with a rich literary tradition, including the works of Shota Rustaveli, Ilia Chavchavadze, and Galaktion Tabidze. They have a unique culture, with a strong emphasis on music, dance, and cuisine, including the polyphonic singing of Guria, Samegrelo, and Svaneti, and the wine production of Kakheti and Imereti. The Kartvelian people have been influenced by Christian theology, including the works of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom, as well as Islamic philosophy, including the works of Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, and Al-Ghazali.

Geography and Distribution

The Kartvelian people are primarily found in Georgia, with significant populations in Turkey, Russia, United States, and Europe, including the cities of Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, and Rustavi. They have a strong connection to the Caucasus region, including the Greater Caucasus Mountains and the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, and the Black Sea coast, including the Colchic Plain and the Kura River valley. The Kartvelian people have also been influenced by neighboring ethnic groups, including the Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Abkhazians, and Ossetians, such as Yerevan, Baku, Sukhumi, and Tskhinvali.

Genetics and Anthropology

The Kartvelian people have a unique genetic profile, with a mix of European and Asian genetic markers, including the Y-DNA haplogroups G and J, and the mitochondrial DNA haplogroups H and U. They have a distinct anthropological profile, with a mix of Caucasoid and Mongoloid physical characteristics, including the works of Joseph Deniker, Carleton Coon, and Ludwik Hirszfeld. The Kartvelian people have been influenced by evolutionary biology, including the works of Charles Darwin, Gregor Mendel, and Stephen Jay Gould.

Society and Traditions

The Kartvelian people have a strong emphasis on family and community, with a rich tradition of hospitality and respect for elders, including the supra and the tamada. They have a unique social structure, with a mix of patriarchal and matriarchal social norms, including the works of Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Claude Lévi-Strauss. The Kartvelian people have been influenced by folklore and mythology, including the works of Georgian mythology and the epics of Georgia, such as the Amirani and the Data Tutashkhia. Category:Ethnic groups in Europe