Georgia

Georgia (Georgian: საქართველო) is a country located in Western Asia. It is also considered to be a part of Eastern Europe. Georgia is also called Sakartvelo (“The Country of Georgians”) by the locals.

During the medieval period, the Georgia was an empire. Its best period was between the 10th century and 13th century. After periods of Turkish and Persian rule, Georgia was annexed by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. An independent Georgian state emerged in 1918, but was short-lived as the Eurasian country was taken in as a part of the Soviet Union. In 1936, Georgia became a constituent (union) republic and continued as such until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Georgia declared sovereignty on November 19, 1989 & achieved independence on April 9, 1991.

The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi (Tiflis). The currency of Georgia is lari.

Georgia borders the Black Sea to the west, Turkey to the southwest, Azerbaijan to the southeast. Russia to the north, and Armenia to the south. Its connection to the Black Sea is what makes it part of the European Union.

There are about 4 million people living in Georgia according to 2012 population census. Ethnic Georgians account for 84% of the population, with other ethnicity including Armenians, Greeks, Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, Azerbaijanis, Ossetians, and Abkhazians.

The official language is Georgian. It is spoken as a first language by over 86% of the population. Georgian is divided into East Georgian and West Georgian groups that are together related to other languages spoken in the country including Laz and Svan.

Vast majority of Georgia’s population is Christian, with most belonging to the Georgian Orthodox Church; with 65% of Georgians were Georgian Orthodox, 11% were Muslim, 10% Russian Orthodox, and 8% Armenian Apostolic.

Lelo Burti is a full contact team sport that originated during ancient times in Georgia. It is literally translates to “Field Ball” in Georgian and has lots of similarities to rugby. is played between two teams with 15 players on each team, in two 30-minute periods. Players are allowed to move the ball by kicking, passing it forward or backward, or running with the ball.

The objective of the sport is to score as many goals as possible. Goals are scored by kicking or carrying the ball through a center portion of the end line (referred to as “mak”).

Uplistsikhe, literally translated to “Lord’s Fortress“, is a town carved in the rock of a cliff. The place was founded in the late Bronze Age, around 1000 BC, and continued to be inhabited officially until the 13th century AD, when the Mongols pillaged it.

The interior of monasteryis the real spectacle with intricately painted murals adorn every space and there is a giant mosaic creating the centerpiece of the church. It was founded in 1106 and was one of the first monasteries in Georgia.