The Tat migrated from Persia to the Transcaucasus long ago. Their language comes from the southwestern group of the Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. Some say they moved

here after the great city of Babylon was overthrown by Cyrus The Great in 540 B. C. Yet others believe they have only been in Azerbaijan for 300 years. Although the exact date as to when they arrived in the region is not known, some Tats believe that they have always inhabited the Caucasus mountains and

later adopted the language.

The Tat language can be divided into four dialect areas. The first is centered around the village of Lahıj. The second stretches down the Caspian sea from Quba to the Xızı region (sometimes referred to as the Eastern dialect.) The third dialect is found in two villages on the Absheron peninsula, Balakhana and

New Surakhana. Lastly, there is a village named “The Red Settlement,” inhabited by the Mountain Jews. Their language is similar to the other three dialects but it has been influenced by the Hebrew language and they are Judaic in their beliefs.

The Persian population of Azerbaijan was invaded by the Arabs in the VIIVIII centuries. During this time most of the Tat speakers became Islamicized. Today the Tats are mostly Shia Muslims, though some are Sunni. In “The Red Settlement” the Tat speakers have maintained their Jewish roots.