Georgia sits at the crossroads of ancient history and the rugged Caucasus Mountains.

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Georgia is a Transcaucasian nation with roots stretching back to the dawn of humanity. From the legendary search for the Golden Fleece in the ancient kingdom of Colchis to its modern identity as a sovereign republic, this mountainous land has endured centuries of imperial influence while maintaining a distinct cultural heritage.

The history of Georgia is exceptionally deep, with Dmanisi providing the oldest evidence of human occupation outside Africa, dating back approximately 1.8 million years. By the 6th millennium BC, early metallurgy was already emerging, and by 6000 to 5000 BC, the Shulaveri-Shomu culture had established agricultural settlements where inhabitants raised livestock and cultivated grapes. These early foundations evolved into complex tribal unions, such as the Diauehi, which first appeared in written records in the 12th century BC.

By the end of the 8th century BC, two core areas of statehood had formed: the Kingdom of Colchis in the west and the Kingdom of Iberia in the east. Colchis, famously associated with the Greek myth of the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, is considered by scholars like Cyril Toumanoff to be the earliest Georgian state formation. Meanwhile, the eastern region saw the rise of the Kartlian tribes, with the Kingdom of Kartli—known as Iberia in Greek-Roman literature—traditionally founded around 300 BC by Parnavaz I.

The medieval period marked a golden age for the unified Georgian kingdom, particularly between the 10th and 13th centuries. Despite later centuries of domination by Turkish and Persian empires, Georgia eventually sought protection from the Russian Empire, leading to annexation in the 19th century. Following a brief period of independence from 1918 to 1921, the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia has navigated a complex path, declaring independence on April 9, 1991, and managing the challenges of post-Soviet transition and internal instability.

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