Farida Mammadova
Encyclopedia
Farida Jafar gizi Mammadova (born 8 August 1936, Shirvan) is an Azerbaijan
i historian who specialises in the history of ancient Caucasian Albania
.
She is the author of numerous research papers, articles and books on Azerbaijani ancient and medieval history. She lectures at the Baku State University
, Azerbaijan Pedagogical University, and is the head of the Department of Humanities in the Western University
in Baku
. Farida Mammadova works at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. In her research, she is known to be a disciple of the late Azerbaijani historian and the former vice-president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Ziya Bunyadov
.
Mammadova's area of focus has been the study of the development of Caucasian Albania
, its ethnic composition, political and social life, the development of Christianity
in Caucasian Albania
, Church of Caucasian Albania
, arts and literature.
. Among the critics of Mammadova's works is Russian historian V.A. Shnirelman, who dedicated a whole chapter in his book Wars of Memory to Mammadova's mistakes, misinterpretations and traced the influence of the anti-Armenian authors V.L. Velichko and Ziya Bunyadov
to her theories.
According to Thomas de Waal
, Mammadova's theories on the Albanians were formulated in such a way as "to separate the Armenians completely from the Caucasus." "She has placed Caucasian Albania on the territory of modern Republic of Armenia: all the territories, churches and monasteries in Republic of Armenia have been designated as Albanian." He describes Mammadova's theories as "an improved version of what became a very rough tool in Azerbaijan".
During her interviews Mammadova has made anti-Armenian statements, including:
And further:
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i historian who specialises in the history of ancient Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
.
She is the author of numerous research papers, articles and books on Azerbaijani ancient and medieval history. She lectures at the Baku State University
Baku State University
Baku State University is a public university located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Established in 1919 by the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the University started with faculties of history and philology; physics and mathematics; law and medicine with an initial enrollment of 1094...
, Azerbaijan Pedagogical University, and is the head of the Department of Humanities in the Western University
Western University
Western University is a private university located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Founded in 1991 by Husein Baghirov, it has six schools, 25 majors, 180 faculty and approximately 1000 students. The university took its name because it is modeled after Western universities in style of instruction and...
in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. Farida Mammadova works at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. In her research, she is known to be a disciple of the late Azerbaijani historian and the former vice-president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences , located in Baku, is the main state research organization in Azerbaijan...
Ziya Bunyadov
Ziya Bunyadov
Ziya Musa oglu Bunyadov was an Azerbaijani historian, academician, and Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. As a historian, he also headed the Institute of History of the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences for many years...
.
Mammadova's area of focus has been the study of the development of Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
, its ethnic composition, political and social life, the development of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in Caucasian Albania
Caucasian Albania
Albania is a name for the historical region of the eastern Caucasus, that existed on the territory of present-day republic of...
, Church of Caucasian Albania
Church of Caucasian Albania
The Albanian Apostolic Church or the Church of Caucasian Albania was an ancient autocephalous church under the religious jurisdiction of the Armenian Apostolic Church that existed from the fifth century to 1830 and was centered in Caucasian Albania, a region mostly located in present day Azerbaijan...
, arts and literature.
Critics
Mammadova's theories have been criticized by foreign authors for the misinterpretation of historical sources and revisionismHistorical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
. Among the critics of Mammadova's works is Russian historian V.A. Shnirelman, who dedicated a whole chapter in his book Wars of Memory to Mammadova's mistakes, misinterpretations and traced the influence of the anti-Armenian authors V.L. Velichko and Ziya Bunyadov
Ziya Bunyadov
Ziya Musa oglu Bunyadov was an Azerbaijani historian, academician, and Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. As a historian, he also headed the Institute of History of the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences for many years...
to her theories.
According to Thomas de Waal
Thomas de Waal
Thomas Patrick Lowndes de Waal , is a British journalist, writer and an expert on the Caucasus. Thomas is the son of Anglican priest Victor de Waal and of writer on religion Esther de Waal, brother of Africa specialist Alex de Waal, John de Waal, barrister and potter and writer Edmund de...
, Mammadova's theories on the Albanians were formulated in such a way as "to separate the Armenians completely from the Caucasus." "She has placed Caucasian Albania on the territory of modern Republic of Armenia: all the territories, churches and monasteries in Republic of Armenia have been designated as Albanian." He describes Mammadova's theories as "an improved version of what became a very rough tool in Azerbaijan".
During her interviews Mammadova has made anti-Armenian statements, including:
And it is known that on whole planet exactly the Armenian people are distinguished by their absence of spiritual and other human values.
And further:
There are only two nations with an identity but no state....The Jews and the Armenians. The difference is that the Jews created a state in their historical homeland; the Armenians created one not in their historical homeland.
Selected publications
- The History of Albanians by Moses Kalankaytuk as a Source on the Social Organization of Caucasian Albania, Baku,1977.
- Political History and Historical Geography of Caucasian Albania, Baku, 1986
- Le problem de l'ethnos alban-caucasien, "L'antropoloqie sovietique", Paris, 1990
- Christianity in Caucasian Albania http://www.karabakh-doc.azerall.info/ru/azerpeople/ap033.htm
- Caucasian Albania and the History of Albanians, Baku (in Russian), 2005