419
polychrome g lazed pottery confirms the beginning of regress in its production in the
XVI century.
Archaeological records confirm decrease in the production of glass vessels,
reduction in range and decline of artistic value of the glassworks. Glass bracelets
disappeared from the range of jewelry at the end of XIV century. At the same time
production of window-glass increased. Generally, development of handicraft production
was not stable in late medieval period. Some crafts could not reach the level of the XII
century.
The territory of Azerbaijan was covered with dense network of caravan
routes. The capital city Tebriz was situated on caravan crossroad of the world transit
trade. Trade across the Caspian Sea also developed. Baku played important role in
that trade as a favorable harbor. Towns of Shirvan like Shabran, Shamakha, Baku,
Niyazabad seaport were of significance in trade relations with the North. Great
number of copper coins from a rchaeological e xcavations at the late me dieval layers of
the town sites testified the development of home trade. But coins chased at mints of
different countries, imported things, especially, Ch inese celadon faience and porcelain,
lustred ceramics fro m Iran, Czech glass, Turkish tiles, a bottle fro m England, and
Maldivian "cauri "shells confirm broad foreign trade and cultural ties of Azerbaijan
cities. The written sources and material ite ms testify trade relations of Azerbaijan
with the countries of Caucasus and West Europe, India, Ch ina, and towns on Volga
River.
Under the reign of Ilkhani dynasty Azerbaijan found a way out of silver c risis
in coinage. Silver coin system was adopted again there. Khulagis, Djalairid and Golden
Horde silver dirkhem coins were prevailing in currency circulation in XIII -XIV cc,
while Timurid, Ga ragoyunlu, Aggoyunlu and silver coins with ta mga -brand were
wide ly circulating in XV century. Silver coins shahi and abbasi chased under the
reign of Sefev id dynasty were the main means of payment in the currency c irculat ion
in XVI-XVII centuries.
The towns, especially, in the Southern Azerbaijan experienced boost of
literature and science in the result of direct patronage and strict support to art and
literature, to men of science and culture provided by ruling dynasty. Outstandin g
scientists of that period who we re invited there fro m near and far foreign countries
worked at the research centers of Maraga and Tebriz. Inves tigations in different fields
of science were carried out at the Rab-I Rashidi research center, particularly on math,
astronomy, physics, medic ine, h istory, language, literature, etc.
Ep igraphic ite ms revealed in the result of archaeological e xcavations are
featured for language variety - there were found inscriptions in Azerbaijani, Persian
and Arabic languages.
The relative, though, very relative confessional and ethnic tolerance, created
syncretism of culture and intensified cultural integration. Art was then the important
420
component of material and spiritual culture of Azerbaijan people. There arose and
achieved great success - the school of miniature in Tebriz which brightly reflected
the spirit of the epoch. As a new stage in the history of Azerbaijan fine art, Tebriz
miniature painting, without violation of art tradition exceeded the limits of national
art, reflecting also the sophisticated process of integration of Turk world into the high
artistic culture of Mosle m East.
Though Mongols had built some pagan temples and supported Christian
communities under the reign of the first Ilkhans. Isla m could not only defend its
position in the country; but even more strengthened and remained in the main
ideology. Moslem c lergy took active part in social-political and cultural life of the
country and had great impact on society. Political authorities took that into
consideration. Different doctrines and Sufi orders were spread alongside with official
Isla m in the e xa mined period. The peculia rity of the period was people uprisings
against orthodox Isla m. For e xa mple : khurifism - Sufi doctrine on the basis of Islam
became the ideology of the struggle against feudal oppression and reign of Timurids.
Among relig ious buildings of the considered period the mosque Alishakh,
Geoy Mosque in Tebriz was especially significant. The first minister - v izir Ta j ad-
Din A lishakh had built at the beginning of XIV century, magnificent mosque which
impressed with monumentality, strict pro portional lines and high quality of
construction works. It was planned as four-eyvan-gallery mosque with a large patio
with a pool "hovuz" in the centre. On the side of the main build ing were attached
wings with relig ious school-med rece-and ritual house-ziv iye. The mosque was of
tremendous size for med ieval period. Only part of the southern wall where Mikhrab -
niche - the Moslem sanctuary was, had remained of that gorgeous building. The
re mains of what probably was local residential-block mosque were e xplored at the
excavations of Medieval Ganja. The rema ins of medieval mosque were explored at
the site of old time custom house in Icherisheher-Baku. Moslem ritual dominated
throughout Azerbaijan in late medieval period. Though, local Albanian substrates
preserved Christian funeral rituals in the highlands of Garabag. Moslem ce meteries
and tombs are archaeologically investigated in the towns - Shabran, Baylagan, Kha-
raba-Gilan, Gabala and at the rural settlement sites - Alike me ktepe, Kechili,
Zayamchay and so on. Memorial monu ments -tombs and mausoleums - of the late
medieval period vary a lot. Constructions of tower-mausoleums continued up to the
XVI century. They are known in Ga rabag, Nakhchevan, Iravan and South Azerbaijan.
The mausoleum in the Djafarabad village near to Ira van was archaeologically
investigated. It is twelfth-edged construction 12 meters high and with out dome built
of local tuff and clearly reflecting traditions of the famous Adjemi Nakhchevani
school of architecture. The quadratic planned vault of mausoleu m was disclosed by
archaeological e xcavations and remains of four buried people were discovered there.
The remains of tower mausoleum with a dome, that belonged to the late XIII,