Short history of Georgia

Georgia is called Sakartwelo in the native language of Georgians. The name Sakartwelo come from the combination of two words which mean „for the Georgians”.

God left the most beautiful corner for himself

There is a legend about the creation of Georgia, which Georgians are happy to share:

"God, after creating the world, gathered all the nations and declared that he would divide the earth fairly and that all nations would recieve their place on it. While all the nations were waiting in line for the best part of the earth, Georgians decided to have fun and celebrate in honor of their Creator. When they realized that God had already divided the earth, they humbly told their Creator that they drank wine and rejoiced in his honor. God thought about it and said: I have already divided the whole earth - but after a moment's thought he added - but I have decided to dedicate the most beautiful corner to you. Let it become your home, live in it as happily as you used to live.”

Homo erectus was in Georgia

It is assumed that Homo erectus (the ancestor of modern man) appeared on the territory of present-day Georgia 1.8-1.6 million years ago. The first state organisms (Diaokh and Kolcha) originated in XII - VII centuries B.C. The Kingdom of Iberia was founded in the 4th century in the present-day regions of Eastern Georgia.

In a foreign lordship

For centuries, the people of present-day Georgia have been invaded by many enemies in their populated areas, and the state bodies that have emerged there have repeatedly had to fight for their sovereignty. The most difficult periods are: Arab lesdership, the Mongol invasions and the wars over the division of the Caucasus between Turkey and Persia.

Golden Age and unification

In the XII and XII centuries comes the golden age of the development of the already united Georgian state. It later became closer to the Russian Empire, which was formally approved by the Treaty of Georgievsk. The nineteenth century was another challenge for Georgia, when the state had to submit to foreign sovereignty as the Russian Empire took over Georgia.

Restoration of independence

Georgia regained its independence in 1918. This did not last long, as in 1921 the country joined the USSR. Georgia regained its independence in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The first president of Georgia was Zviad Gamsakhurdia.

Georgia in the XXI century

Mikheil Saakashvili came in power in 2003 as a result of the "Rose Revolution". During his presidency, Georgia undertook a number of reforms, that were aimed at reducing corruption police reform.

2008 is also a year for Georgia in which Georgians must protect themselves from the aggressor. On August 8, a five-day war broke out involving the Russian Federation.

Thanks to the sharp reaction of world opinion initiated by the then President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, the Russian Federation no longer moved forward. However, the Georgians were unable to control the lost lands and therefore Abkhazia and South Ossetia are not currently under Tbilisi control and 20% of Georgia is still occupied by the Russian Federation. .

The current President of Georgia is Salome Zurabishvili, who was elected to this position in 2018.

Author of the article: Ekaterina Mantidze