Georgia is one of several countries on the Black Sea. It is bordered by the sea to the west, as well as by the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey. Its capital city is Tbilisi. Georgia Is in the South Caucasus region, where Europe and Asia meet. Georgia is sometimes considered to be part of Europe. It has joined the Council of Europe, and has requested membership in NATO and the European Union. Georgia contains two independent regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which Georgia considers to be Georgian territories under Russian occupation.
Most of Georgia is within the Caucasus Mountains, it northern boundary being the Greater Caucasus Range, while the Lesser Caucasus Range creates a geographical barrier that is responsible for cultural differences between various regions of Georgia. Some of the mountain villages of Georgia are isolated during the winter, and landslides and earthquakes sometimes change the landscape in its mountainous regions. There are about 25,000 rivers in Georgia, many of them powering hydroelectric plants. Its largest rivers are the Kura River and the Rioni River. The country's coastline, along the Black Sea, is just short of two hundred miles.
Ethnic Georgians comprise nearly 90% of the population of Georgia. It is believed that Georgians are a mixture of aboriginal inhabitants with people who moved into the region in ancient times. The Georgian language is not related to any of the surrounding languages. The remainder of the ethnic groups in Georgia are made up of people from surrounding countries, for the most part.
More than 80% of the population adheres to Eastern Orthodoxy, largely the Georgian Orthodox Church, which is an ancient Christian Church, established in the 4th Century AD. Minority religions in Georgia include Islam, the Armenian Orthodox Church, and Roman Catholicism. Although there have been incidents of violence against Jehovah's Witnesses and other minority Christian groups, the government and people of Georgia are generally tolerant of differing religions.
The government of Georgia is a representative democracy, and a semi-presidential republic. The President is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of the government. The executive branch of government is comprised of the President and the Cabinet of Georgia, with the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister, and appointed by the President. The legislative branch is made up of the Parliament of Georgia, half of which are elected to represent single-member districts, the other half representing political parties.
The area of Georgia was inhabited since ancient times. Wine jars have been discovered in Georgia that dated to 8,000 years ago, and evidence of advanced metallurgy and gold-smithing date. Back to the 7th Century BC or earlier. Early Georgian kingdoms included Colchis and Iberia, and a unified kingdom of Georgia was established by the 4th Century BC. Georgia became the the second kingdom to adopt Christianity when its king and queen were converted in the early 4th Century AD. In the 5th Century, western Georgia became part of the Byzantine Empire, and the remainder came under the control of the Persians. In 654, the Persians were displaced by the Arabs.
Resistance to Arab control came from regional Christian powers in southwestern Georgia and northeastern Turkey. By the 11th Century, most of Georgia was once again a center of Christian culture. This ended with a Mongol invasion in the 1220s. A brief reprieve was followed by the Black Death, and then a succession of attacks from Central Asia. Georgia split into four kingdoms, parts of which were made part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, while other parts were again subject to the Persians. A new Persian conqueror installed kings who ruled two parts of Georgia as semi-autonomous states.
Beginning in the late 1700s, Russian became an influence in the region, annexing the Georgian kingdoms during the 1800s. Georgia enjoyed a brief period of independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917, but it was invaded by the Russians and made part of the USSR in 1922. Joseph Stalin, who ruled the USSR from the 1920s until his in 1953, was from Georgia, but his rule was characterized by oppression. The 1960s and 1970s were a time of stability and peace, although Georgia remained part of the Soviet Union through this period. Then, in the early 1990s, the Soviet Union disintegrated.
Georgia declared its independence in April of 1991, after which a period of civil war began. A military council took over the government, but internal conflicts increased. During this period, Abkhazia and South Ossetia separated from Georgia, after which its ethnic Georgian population were expelled, and they became Russian satellites by 2011.
Today, Georgia is administered by an elected president and parliament. In some ways, its political system is in transition.
Recommended Resources
The government Agency is responsible for managing the nature reserves, national parks, natural monuments, managed reserves, protected landscapes, world heritage sites, and wetlands in Georgia, establishing regulations, to plan, create, and develop new protected areas. Biodiversity reports and other data are set forth, along with legislation, statistics, financial information, and vacancies.
http://www.apa.gov.ge/en/
American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
Organized in 1998, AmCham was formed to promote relationships between the United States and Georgia, and to improve the business environment in Georgia. Its history and goals are outlined, its board of directories, committees, membership levels and policies, bylaws, and a directory of existing members are published to the site. Investor information, labor codes, and other resources are included.
http://www.amcham.ge/
The Tbilisi, Georgia company specializes in setting events, and organizing tours, corporate meeting and conferences in Georgia, offering corporate tourism, personal tours, conference and event management, business meetings, team building programs, workshops, seminars, exhibitions, and presentations. Its tours are highlighted, including times and other details, photos, prices, and online bookings.
https://caucasuslab.com/
Based in Tbilisi, Georgia, the tour and travel company specializes in tours to Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, offering cultural tours, adventure tours, nature tours, winter tours, special interest tours, and weekend excursions. Featured is a company profile, packaged tours, guest accommodations, transportation options, guides, and custom options. Tour destinations are highlighted. Currencies and other details about Georgia are included.
http://www.caucasustravel.com/
Based in Tbilisi, the online news site is operated by the UN Association of Georgia, a Georgian non-governmental organization, supported by USAID, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Published in Georgian, English, and Russian, the site offers news and news analysis, commentary, interviews, election coverage, and security reports, as well as a photo archive.
http://civil.ge/eng/
For the Caucasus country of Georgia, the directory is a guide to travel information for Georgia, a country profile, tradition, food and wine businesses, its history, art and culture, tourist sites, and its capital city of Tbilisi, as well as the cities of Batumi and Kutaisi. Listings are arranged by topic, and addresses, contacts, and web addresses are set forth, and enhanced advertising opportunities are included.
http://www.countryofgeorgia.ge/
Based in Tbilisi, the travel company specializes in arranging tours to Georgia. Its site offers a profile of the country, its history, geographical features, cities, and national parks, and its pre-packaged tours are highlighted, including dates, details, photos, and costs. Information can be found by package, type, duration, season, and destination. A trip planner and contact information are included.
http://www.exotour.travel/en/
Located in the South Caucasus, where Europe and Asia come together, Georgia is on the Black Sea, south of Russia nd north of Turkey. Georgia About presents the results of its research into Georgian culture, cuisine, heritage, and attractions for tourism. A profile of the country is put forth, along with several photographs, Georgian recipes, and a guide to Georgian businesses, tour operators, hotels and hospitality businesses. Awards and accolades are included.
https://georgiaabout.com/
Georgia Commission on the Holocaust
Established by executive order in 1986, the Commission became a permanent state agency in 1998, charged with preserving the memory and history of the Holocaust through educational programs, workshops, and guidelines for teaching about the Holocaust, as well as through exhibits on aspects of the Holocaust, and other projects. A photo and video gallery are published to the site, along with contests, awards, and other features.
https://holocaust.georgia.gov/
Featuring a variety of topics centered on the nation of Georgia and the Georgian people, the site discusses the Caucasoid race, as well as the Caucasian race, as it pertains to Georgia and the Caucasus, including archaeological discoveries within the region of Georgia. The people and history of the Georgian people and the nation of Georgia, the music, language and appearance of the Georgian people, and information about visiting or investing in Georgia.
http://www.georgiacaucasus.com/
Offering a system of long-distance transfers in Georgia, the bus system features mini-buses and buses covering a large portion of the country, to Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Batumi, Mestia, and Kazbegi, as well as other places and tour packages, which are highlighted here, along with group transfers. General information about the bus system, a timetable, and a gallery of photographs. Announcements are posted to the site.
http://www.georgianbus.com/
Established in 1872, Georgian Railway is the national railway company of Georgia. Linking the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, GR was built to standard Russian gauge. Its history, management, board of directors, and vacancies are posted to the site, along with its strategic projects, financial reports, auctions, tenders, and social programs. Passenger trains are highlighted, and tickets may be purchased online.
http://www.railway.ge/?lang=eng
The official government website offers a history and profile of the country, its constitution, state symbols, regions, and occupied territories of Georgia. Along with a gallery of photographs, an overview of its government, programs, strategies, and action plans, a biography of the prime minister, a schedule of the prime minister's visits and meetings, and a list of former prime ministers. Administrative contacts and office hours are included.
http://gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG
Gudauri is a ski resort in the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia. Directions to the resort are put down, with a profile of the accommodations, ski lifts and trails, trail maps, ski tracks, ski schools, restaurants and bars. Weather information, up-to-date road conditions, a live web cam, and a photo gallery are included, with an overview of its seasonal activities. The site is presented in Georgian and English.
http://www.didveli.com/
Maintained by Georgian National Investment Agency, which is under state control, and accountable to the Prime Minister of Georgia, the site provides up-to-date news related to investments, as well as statistical data, sector highlights, a summary of new projects, initiatives, and events. Promotional information about market access and political stability in Georgia, its lack of corruption, low taxation, and availability of labor.
http://www.investingeorgia.org/en/
Situated next to the Central Park in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia, and within walking distance of Rabati Castle, the hotel features nine single rooms, thirteen doubles, thirty-four twins, six suites, and an apartment, each furnished with a bath and shower, satellite television, and high-speed Internet. Photos and room descriptions are offered, with a list of services and amenities, special offers, and online bookings.
http://www.lomsiahotel.ge/index.php/en/
The official website of the President of Georgia offers a biography and an introduction to the First Lady, and an outline of the administrative structure of the office, administration news, budget data, and the President's administrative heads, deputy heads, and advisors. The presidents of Georgia are highlighted, along with state symbols, independence acts, state rewards, and a profile of the country.
https://www.president.gov.ge/en-US/
Initiated by the Georgian government, and administered through the Ministry of Education and Science, the program recruits native English, French and German speakers to work alongside local teachers in Georgia's public schools, enhancing its foreign language proficiencies. An overview of the project is set forth, including its use in all levels of the country's educational system, and a gallery of photographs is included.
http://www.tlg.gov.ge/
A history and introduction to Georgia is presented by the United States Central Intelligence Agency, including its geographic features and natural resources, people, culture and language, governmental structure, economy, and energy infrastructure. Transportation data, its communications system, security issues, foreign missions and international relationships are highlighted.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gg.html
