Azerbaijan's territory on a map is shaped reminding a bird, which flies to the east with widely opened wings. The Absheron peninsula is the head of this bird.

During millions of years Caspian waters had repeatedly and thoroughly flooded the peninsula, but every time Absheron had won this battle against the sea. It happened approximately hundred thousands of years back, that Absheron's ground at last had mounted up enough so that waters of the Caspian Sea could not flood the land any more. From that time begins its readout the history of Absheron.
We have mentioned the time of the Absheron peninsula's final come out from under the waters. But it's practically impossible to name the exact time of appearance of the city of Baku here.

Such architectural monuments as the tower of Gyz Galasi (VII c. AD) and various objects of the archeological excavations in the old city relating to 1st millennium AD - they indicate that settlements on the territory of present Baku have very deep historical roots. In opinion of experts, the Baku port's age is not less than 2.5 thousands of years and in far antique times it was the best port for seafarers. At the same time, in known written sources before the X century Baku is not being mentioned directly. However, it is possible to say with confidence, that some objects described in very old historical chronicles are nothing else but ancient Baku. Experts identify Baku with such mentioned in most ancient historical sources objects as Gangara, Akbaka, Baruka, Atesh-Baguak. Later Arabian authors frequently mention the name Bakuya, Baku; and some Persians - Bakube.

In the Middle Ages Baku - a big city located on the famous Silk Road - was one of the centers of trade between East and West. In the starting period of the medieval history, Absheron, just same as the majority of territories of this region, was under political influence of Iran. Then, as Arabian conquests had begun in VII century, Khalifat was ruling here. In the second half of the IX century, the easing of the Abbasid Khalifat had resulted in derivation of the several independent states. So, there had appeared the state of Shirvanshahs, which included Absheron.

By the end of the X century, Baku already had became one of the most influential cities of the Shirvanshahs State. The XII century is considered to be a period of further development of Baku. By this time Baku was surrounded with the ditch and the fortress walls of two rows. However, these fortifications had not protected city from the Mongolian Horde in 13th century. But by the middle of the 14th century the development of trade, production of petroleum and marine navigation were already restored. The eminence of Baku of this period in political and economic sense became visible from several historical sources, where the Caspian Sea is called the "The Baku Sea".

In the beginning of the 16th century Baku was conquered by the southern neighbors and included into the State of Sefevids. As the northern neighbor - Russia - was reaching to a military strength, Baku was more and more becoming the object of raids of this geopolitical giant, too.

On October 6, 1806, Baku Khanate was definitively conquered by Russia. From now on Russia became confidently dominating here - on the new, rich of oil, extremely expedient economically land.
In 1807 there were 500 houses in Baku, and the population was 3000 persons. The city grew fast, following development of the oil industry and increase of influx of the foreign capital. Gradually Baku became one of the largest industrial centers of Russian Empire. A railway was constructed, fleet extended. In 1886, a telephone communication was established in the city.

The end of 19th - beginning 20th century is a period of a super-fast economic development and comprehensive heyday of Baku. Oil boom was accompanied by unbelievable progress in very different areas, including the city's social infrastructure, revival of national intelligence and development of national culture. Up to this day the national memory keeps names of known Azeri benefactor - Baku's millionaires of that epoch - Haji Zeinalabdin Tagiyev, Musa Nagiyev and others. The revolutionary situation of 1917 in Saint Petersburg and other industrial centers of the Russian Metropolis was reflected in Baku. Armenian military troops seeking acquisition of Baku, have conducted enormous terrorist act: in March 1918, checking streets and dwellings they killed all met Azeri population - many thousands of all ages.

However, by provoking a disturbance of the townspeople and inhabitants of suburbs of Baku, Armenian militarism not only has not achieved its political aims, but on the contrary, has speed up the birth of the independent state in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) had been proclaimed on May 28, 1918. The state was headed by people who clearly saw the path to progressive transformations. But the sad fate was awaiting them: on April 1920 Azerbaijan was occupied by troops of the 11th Red Army; ADR was abolished, and country has become a part of the Soviet empire.
71 year Baku was the capital of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. During this period the major changes took place here. Most of them were same with changes in other parts of the USSR.
The strengthening of the National-Liberation movement in the end of the eighties has resulted in declaring of Azerbaijan's independence on October 18, 1991. Almost two-million Baku with its Absheron suburbs became the capital of the young sovereign state - Republic of Azerbaijan.