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produced here were of great demand everywhere. Merchants coming from Iran,
India, China, the Middle Asia, the Khazar Khaganate, Georgia, Turkey, Byzantium
and other European countries showed high interest for the top-quality handicraft
goods produced in Qabala, Qyrlartapa, Mehravan, Qalagah, Lahych, Basgal etc.
populated areas. A number of rare art pieces discovered in Ghirdman monuments
also betoken existence of intensive commercial links with the countries. Fine glass
items discovered in Qabala and Qalagah, China-made silk cloth items - in
Mingachevir, Rome-made silver needle - in Qyrlartapa, silver piala occasionally
discovered on building Ismayilly-Mughanly highway and a lot of similar
discoveries were brought to Albania namely in result of the commercial links.
Coin treasuries discovered in different times and different monuments give
clear idea about level of Ghirdman's external commercial links. In monuments
surrounding Qabala alone there were discovered several coin treasuries dating back
to the Early Middle Ages. For ex., most coins from treasury discovered in 1964
near Tovla village were minted in VI century on Sasanid rulers' behalf. The fact
itself enables to assert that in the period until Arab invasion at Albania territory
Sasanid coins had been particularly widely used. And beginning from VIII century
in trade specific weight of Arab coins had increased.
The work's chapter VI deals with role of Ghirdman province in
economic, political, religious and cultural life of Albania. The subchapter I
analyses the economic life. It's pointed out that proprietary right over a land mainly
had hereditary character. When the time came, properties belonging to a father
were distributed among his children. For ex., when in V century king Vache gave
up his power over the country, he took under his tutelage thousand families
interitted to him from his father.
Due to notes of M.Kalankatuisky, Ghirdman province was presented to
Mehranis by shah Khosrov. That's why rulers from Mehranis dynasty were also
possessors of Ghirdman. It's not occasional that in his letter, addressed to
Cavanshir, Byzantian emperor Constantine II called him «Ghirdman possessor.
According to the Albanian historian, when Cavanshir was dying he «called his
sons, appointed treasure share and ranks of each of them, allotted properties for
each of them....
Feudals, who obtained, a land by hereditary way in Albania, were called
«Dastakets. Mehranis who first were Dastakets of only Ghirdman had turned to the
greatest Dastakets of Albania as a whole from the middle VII century. There was
also increasing number of feudals who gained, a land from State for these or other
services as award (Khostaks). Among them military men and religious workers
made up majority. Thus, if on primary stage of feudalism lands mainly belonged to
State, beginning from the early VI century number of feudals who won hereditary
possession right for a long time had been rapidly growing. And this, surely, was a
tendency resulting from essence of feudalism society.
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In estates belonging to feudals there worked many people. By the mode
lands were sown, gardens - grown, cattle and sheep herds - grazed and in towns by
means of the territory's rich crude resources there were made different handicraft
products. And all the activities were implemented by villagers who made up high
majority of the population, artisans, urban poors and partially slaves. Due to
historical sources, under shah Qubad «there had been conducted registration of all
fields, sown areas, valleys and mountains, the population was put to a list. On its
basis land and king's taxes were defined. According to Aguen laws, «rich man is to
give four sacks of wheat, six sacks of barley and sixteen jugs of sweet wine.
Besides, that one who has a sheep in his farm, he is to give one sheep, wool of
three sheeps and one bag of cheese. That one who has a horse is to give one
stallion and who has a big-horned animal - one calf. Though, just like in other
places of the country, in Ghirdman province most population lived in villages, the
towns went on being thoroughfare of economic, political, religious and cultural
processes. Because along with key handicraft areas and trade centres, the country's
political elite also was concentrated namely in the towns. The researchers divide
Albanian towns on three groups:
1) giantic and famous; 2) closed; 3) administrative-central towns of the
provinces.
By the principle among Ghirdman towns Qabala can be related to the 1 st
group, Qyrlartapa, Qalagah and Lahych - to the 2nd, and Mehravan - more to the
3rd group.
Role of Ghirdman province and Mehranis in the country's political life
is investigated by the subchapters II and III. The author substantiates
importance and role of Ghirdman in Albanian political life by the below factors:
1. Its favourable natural-geographical position and wealthy natural
resources. 2. Relative independence of Ghirdman feudals from Marzbanate by
blessing of Sasanid rulers. 3. Taking possession of political power in Albania as a
whole from 630 by Mehranis.
In view of studying the reviewed period's political situation documents of
Aguen Meeting are particularly valuable source. Among those who took part in it
and signed documents adopted there, along with Albanian king Vachagan, there
are mentioned general bishop of Barda, bishops of Qabala, Hachin, Uti and Tsri
provinces, priests, nobles, military chiefs and tribe leaders of Kalankatuk village,
Barda, Goychay etc., populated areas, viziers of the king, Ghirdman's possessor,
patriarches and nobles. Among them patriarch, general bishop, bishop and priest
are religious ranks. And king, his vizier, prince, noble, military possessor are
worldly ranks. As it's seen, among those who signed Aguen Church laws from
Albanian provinces there was mentioned only prince of Ghirdman. In our view, the
fact itself alone betokens leading role of Ghirdman province in Albanian political
life even at pre-Mehranid period.