SELJUK INFLUENCE ON AZERBAIJAN CULTURE

Abstract

The article explores the development of architectural art in Azerbaijan and the Middle East during the 11th–13th centuries in the context of political and cultural processes. This period is mar-ked by the rise and fall of the Seljuk Empire and the emergence of Turkic states on the political sta-ge, including the Atabeg State of Azerbaijan and the Shirvanshahs. The author connects architectu-ral development with socio-political changes and highlights the high aesthetic and functional level of the architectural monuments built during the Atabeg period. It is also noted that the migration theory proposed by some Western scholars — asserting the decisive role of nomadic tribes in sha-ping architectural styles — is not supported by the historical and cultural heritage of the region. In conclusion, the significance and uniqueness of the Turkic-Islamic architecture of the 11th–13th cen-turies in Azerbaijan and neighboring regions is emphasized within the context of the common Tur-kic cultural heritage.