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CaucasusThe Inside StoryThe three countries of the Caucasus occupy a stunning stripof mountainous land wedged between the Black and CaspianSeas. Each has a border with the other two, yet they couldhardly be more different. Three unrelated languages arespoken here, and two different religions hold sway. However,the Muslims of Azerbaijan and the Christians of Armeniaand Georgia all share a love of life and a strong culture ofhospitality, home and hearth.Armenia is home to a cosmopolitan capital city, windsweptmountains and timeless villages occupied by shepherds.Azerbaijan is a country of contrasts from oil-boom citiesand Soviet architecture to mountain fortresses hidden indense forest.Georgia welcomes visitors with open arms, all the way fromthe cobbled streets of Tbilisi to the pastoral settlements highin the mountains.Storyto tell -CarlMeadowsWhy I lovethe CaucasusThe food in theCaucasus is justfantastic, from cheesykhachapuri bread inGeorgia to Armenianbarbecued meat, andif you’re feeling reallyopulent, Azerbaijan’sexquisite black caviar.For such a compactarea, the cuisine– not to mentionthe culture andarchitecture– is amazinglydiverse.783 BCArmenia’s capital –Yerevan – foundedby King Argishti I30Romans conquerthe Armenian Empire730Khazar commanderBarjik conquersAzerbaijan and Armenia1220The Mongols invadethe Caucasus16th COttoman andPersian Empirestake over most ofthe Caucasus region550 BCZoroastrianism spreadsthrough Azerbaijan301Armenia first sovereignnation to adopt Christianityas state religion11th CDavid IV initiates Georgia’sgolden age, greatlyexpanding cultural andpolitical influence1271Marco Polo travelsthrough theCaucasus1801Russia annexeseastern Georgiafollowed by thewest 9 years later