Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
History
Director of Thesis
Dr. Elena Osokina
First Reader
Dr. Lydia Brandt
Second Reader
Dr. Lydia Brandt
Abstract
The Azerbaijani carpet industry, long recognized as an important piece of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, transformed dramatically between the mid-nineteenth and twentieth centuries in response to political, economic, and social changes that took place under the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. During this period, the carpet industry began to use modern weaving techniques and materials, favored factory production over traditional hand-woven designs, and created pieces for exportation rather than personal or community use. These developments contribute to two historical schools that view the Soviet Union as either a prison of nations, stifling non-Russian cultures, or a nursery of ethnic identities, supporting these emerging groups. In addition to an array of articles and books on Azerbaijani history, art, and culture, selected Azerbaijani carpets provide visual evidence and context for readers who may be unfamiliar with the motifs and designs discussed here. Given the substantial number of sources not translated to English, there is potential for additional research on this topic in the future.
First Page
1
Last Page
46
Recommended Citation
Boggs, Jill, "Carpets as Signifiers of Historical Change: The Azerbaijani Carpet Industry from the Mid-nineteenth to Late Twentieth Century" (2021). Senior Theses. 394.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/senior_theses/394
Rights
© 2021, Jill Boggs
Included in
Asian Art and Architecture Commons, Asian History Commons, Cultural History Commons, European History Commons, Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons