The History of Georgia: Kingdoms Between Great Powers
Fexingo History · Caucasus
The History of Georgia: Kingdoms Between Great Powers
Georgia, a land of soaring Caucasus peaks and ancient stone monasteries, has for millennia been a crossroads where empires clashed and cultures converged. In this series, Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the full arc of Georgian history — from the rise of the Colchis and Iberian kingdoms, through the golden age under King David the Builder and Queen Tamar, to the brutal partitions between Ottoman and Safavid powers, and the eventual absorption into the Russian Empire. We examine the pivotal Battle of Didgori (1121), the cultural flowering of the Georgian Orthodox Church, and the unique alphabet born from missionary zeal. The narrative traces the nation’s resilience under Mongol invasions, the tragic fall of Tbilisi to the Seljuks, and the shifting loyalties of the Bagrationi dynasty. Through treaties like Georgievsk (1783) and conflicts such as the Russo-Turkish wars, we see how Georgia’s position — a Christian enclave surrounded by Islamic empires — shaped its identity. Debates over the role of the church, the legacy of Soviet rule, and the modern struggle for sovereignty echo today. This is not a simple timeline; it’s a meditation on survival, faith, and the cost of being a buffer state. Why does a small nation of four million command such outsized global attention? Join us as we uncover the roots of modern Georgia, where ancient wine traditions and mountain fortresses still whisper the stories of a people who refused to disappear.
