Udi people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Udis |
|---|
| Total population |
|
8,000 (est.)[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, and Armenia |
| Languages |
| Udi |
| Religions |
| Armenian Apostolic Christianity[2] |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Lezgins, Tabasarans, Avars, and other Northeast Caucasian peoples |
The Udis (also referred to as Udins or Udz) are an ethnic group who live mostly in Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Armenia. Their total population is about 8,000 and they speak Udi, a Northeast Caucasian language.[3]
The Udis are considered to be the descendants of the people of Caucasian Albania. According to the classical authors, the Udis inhabited the area of the eastern Caucasus along the coast of the Caspian Sea, and a territory extending to the River Kuba in the north, as well as the ancient province of Utik, which was named after them.[2] The Caucasian Albanians were a Christian people whose alphabet matched that of their Armenian neighbors. Even today, most Udis belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church.[4][2] Centuries of life in the sphere of Azerbaijani culture made a relevant impact on the Udi culture and mentality. The Azerbaijani trace is noticeable in Udi folk traditions and the material culture.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Sociolinguistics Situation of the Udi in Azerbaijan - John M. Clifton, Deborah A. Clifton, Peter Kirk, and Roar Ljøkjell
- ^ a b c The Red Book of Peoples: The Udis
- ^ An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires - Page 665 by James Stuart Olson, Lee Brigance Pappas, Nicholas Charles Pappas
- ^ Dictionary of Languages: The Definitive Reference to More Than 400 Languages - Page 110 by Andrew Dalby
- ^ The Red Book of Peoples: The Udis
