Georgia is a country in the Caucasus, at the meeting point of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, on the shores of the Black Sea between Russia and Turkey. A mountainous land of ancient churches, fortified towers, and vineyards, it has one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world and a unique language and alphabet all its own. Often considered the birthplace of wine, Georgia is a proud nation whose deep heritage has survived at a crossroads of empires.
The land of Georgia was home in antiquity to the kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia, and it became one of the first nations in the world to adopt Christianity, in the early fourth century. After a medieval golden age, especially under Queen Tamar, when Georgian culture flourished, the country was fought over and dominated by the Persian, Ottoman, and Mongol empires before being absorbed by the Russian Empire. After a brief independence following the First World War, Georgia was incorporated into the Soviet Union, regaining its independence when the union collapsed in 1991.
In Greek myth, the western Georgian kingdom of Colchis was the land of the Golden Fleece, the magical ram's fleece sought by the hero Jason and his Argonauts in one of the most famous of ancient adventures. The legend reflects real memories of Colchis as a wealthy land rich in gold, where, some suggest, fleeces were used to catch gold dust from mountain streams. The voyage of the Argonauts itself, however, belongs to mythology rather than documented history.
Georgia is a strikingly mountainous country, framed by the towering Greater Caucasus range along its northern border, home to some of the highest peaks in Europe, and the Lesser Caucasus to the south. Between them lie fertile valleys and lowlands, and to the west a humid, subtropical coast on the Black Sea. This dramatic range of landscapes, from glaciers and alpine meadows to vineyards and seashore, is dotted with medieval villages and the distinctive stone defensive towers of the highland region of Svaneti.
The flag of Georgia is white, bearing a large central red cross that reaches the edges, with a smaller red cross in each of the four corners, making it the Five Cross Flag. The crosses reflect the country's ancient and central Christian heritage. The design is a medieval one, associated with the Georgian kingdom of its golden age, which was revived as the national flag in 2004, linking the modern republic to its proud and devout history.
Georgia is one of the oldest Christian nations on Earth, having adopted the faith in the early fourth century, and the great majority of Georgians belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church, an autonomous church that has been central to national identity, culture, and survival through centuries of foreign domination. Its ancient monasteries and churches, perched on mountains and built over more than a millennium, are among the country's greatest treasures. There are also Muslim and other minorities.
Georgian cuisine is celebrated as one of the most distinctive and delicious in the region, rich in herbs, walnuts, and spices. Its most famous dishes are khachapuri, a boat-shaped bread filled with melted cheese and often topped with an egg, and khinkali, large soup-filled dumplings eaten by hand. Walnut sauces, fresh herbs, grilled meats, and an abundance of vegetables fill the table. Central to Georgian hospitality is the supra, a feast led by a toastmaster, accompanied always by wine.
Agriculture is woven into Georgian identity, and above all the country is famous for wine: Georgia is widely regarded as the birthplace of winemaking, with a tradition reaching back some eight thousand years, including the unique method of fermenting wine in large clay vessels buried in the ground, recognised by UNESCO. The fertile valleys also produce hazelnuts, citrus, and tea on the humid coast, along with fruit and vegetables, while the highlands support the raising of livestock.
The ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia, the early adoption of Christianity, and the medieval golden age under Queen Tamar are sources of immense national pride. The country produced one of history's most consequential figures in Joseph Stalin, who was born in Georgia. After regaining independence in 1991, Georgia experienced conflict and instability, including a short war with Russia in 2008 over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as it pursued a pro-Western course.
Georgia has a population of around 3.7 million people, the great majority ethnic Georgians, a people with their own ancient language, which belongs to its own small family and is written in a unique and beautiful alphabet of its own. There are also Azeri, Armenian, and other minorities. The population is concentrated in the valleys and lowlands, above all in the historic capital, Tbilisi, a city famous for its sulphur baths and its blend of European and Asian character.
