Baku is one of the main centers of oil production and refining of petroleum products, located on the shores of the Caspian sea near Iran.
The first mention of Baku in historical Chronicles dates back to 885 ad,
however, archaeological surveys indicate that the city existed many centuries earlier.
In the 11th century Baku was under the rule of the Shirvan-shahs, who made it the capital of their state
in the 12th century. However in the 12-14 centuries the city was actually ruled by the Mongols. Replaced the Mongols came to Persia. In 1723, Peter the Great captured Baku, but
in 1735 the city was returned to Persia. In 1806 Baku was finally occupied by Russia.
In 1918, as a result of the collapse of the Russian Empire, Baku became the capital of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan.
In 1922, after the fall of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, in territory of Transcaucasia was created Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Republic, and Baku became its capital.
From 1936 to 1991, Baku was the capital of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Since 1991, Baku is capital of independent Azerbaijan Republic.