Georgia has a fascinatingly long and complex history, referenced as far back as ancient Greek myths. Colchis, the area which now makes up the territory of West Georgia, was reference in the myth of Jason and the Argonauts and the quest for the golden fleece. The golden fleece myth may even have derived from the ancient Georgian practice of using sheep pelts to gather specks of gold from flowing rivers in the mountains.
Even since the first centuries A.D., Georgia has been home to a variety of diverse belief systems, including Mithras, Zoroastrianism, and different pagan cults (especially in the mountains). Under the rule of King Mirian III in 337 A.D. Christianity became the official state religion, leading to construction of churches and monasteries all over the country which can still be visited to this day. Because Georgia was situated right on the intersection of the Roman-Persian wars, the middle ages led to bifurcation of the empire, with different regions experience various degrees of rule from foreign powers from the north, east, west, and south. This long history of conquests with Georgia stuck right in the middle, modern day Georgia is full of fascinating artifacts, churches, fortresses, and traditions dating back to all the vital eras of history.
Constantly caught between Iranian and Ottoman invasions over the following hundreds of years, in 1783 East Georgia signed a treaty with Russia that led to the regions entrance into the Russian empire. From 1800 to 1867 different regions of Georgia were slowly annexed into the rule of the Russian Tsar. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Georgia saw independence for a brief few years before becoming incorporated into the newly created Soviet Union. Georgia led an important role in the USSR, with the country’s native son, Joseph Stalin (born and raised in the town of Gori) at the helm of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1953.
After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, Georgia encountered a tumultuous transition, with a civil war in the region of Abkhazia and overall political instability. The Rose Revolution of 2003 led to a significant change in leadership, with the countries new president, Mikheil Saakashvili pursuing a pro-Western foreign policy and furthering a tense relationship with Russia that continues to this day.
Contemporary Georgia has been going through a period of intense investment and interest from foreign travelers over the past 15 years. Voted by numerous travel organizations as one of the top 10 must see countries, there is so much history for visitors to take in, explore, and learn through trips to museums, important sites, and guided tours.
