Is Georgia in Europe or in Asia? (Detailed Answer with Maps)

Most folks can’t level to Georgia on a map. And of those that can, just about no one can resolve if the tiny however beautiful nation is in Europe or Asia.

I lived there for nearly 12 months, and even I’m not absolutely sure. So to clear up (a few of) the confusion, I’ve lined all of the continental controversies in this information.

In this text:

• Where is Georgia?
• Is Georgia in Europe or in Asia?
• What separates Europe and Asia?
• Can we culturally take into account Georgian as European or Asian, or each, or neither?

Read on to seek out out!

Where is Georgia?

Alright, the reply to this query is fairly easy… however the nation’s unusual geographical location is the primary cause behind this text’s controversial conundrum.

The nation of Georgia is situated in the area of Eurasia and particularly in the South Caucasus. The Republic of Georgia is bordered by the Black Sea to the west, Turkey and Armenia to the south, Azerbaijan to the east, and Russia to the north.

As you possibly can see from the helpful little map we’ve supplied, Georgia borders Turkey to the east, and nearly all folks appear to agree that almost all of Turkey is an Asian place slightly more than a European one.

But it additionally borders Russia to the south, and most people appear to agree that Western Russia is principally a European place slightly than an Asian place… although Russia extends east past locations like China, Korea, and Japan… and is certainly partially in Asia… (however that’s a dialog for a distinct time).

Also bordering Georgia, you have got Armenia and Azerbaijan. Most folks appear to suppose Azerbaijan is Asian. But very similar to Georgia, folks can’t appear to resolve if Armenia is Asian or European.

As you possibly can see, these three nations (that’s Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, when you’re struggling to maintain observe) are at an odd geographical crossroads, sandwiched between small seas, massive mountain ranges, and many neighboring nations with vastly totally different cultures.

Yep, I do know… that’s cleared completely nothing up. You’re welcome, I assume.

To attain a vaguely extra conclusive reply, we subsequently want to consider how (and why!) ‘Asia’ and ‘Europe’ are outlined. This brings us to…

Are Europe and Asia Different Continents?

Yes. Europe and Asia are totally different continents… or, at the least, that’s what we’re taught, and that’s (subsequently) what most individuals consider*.

But geographically talking, Europe and Asia are literally one distinctive continent known as Eurasia. Eurasia is the most important continental landmass on earth, and 5 billion folks or 70% of the entire human inhabitants dwell there.

It’s onerous to geographically separate Europe and Asia because the designation of the ‘border’ between the 2 (as borders do) has modified quite a few instances over the course of the historical past.

Even now, nobody can actually appear to resolve the place of this border. Typically, a single continent is outlined as “one of the larger continuous masses of land” (supply)… however right here’s the place the difficulty begins: Europe and Asia are collectively made up of 1 steady mass of land.

One of the most typical methods to subsequently outline the border (and, in the current historical past, the most well-liked option to outline the border) between Asia and Europe is through the use of the Ural Mountains (which we’ve highlighted on the map beneath).

This Russian mountain vary leads into the Ural River… which then runs into the Caspian Sea. One definition claims that the imprecise border fashioned by the “Ural Mountains-Ural River-Caspian Sea” line is what separates the 2 continents… which, as you possibly can see, would firmly place Georgia in Europe.

A second definition states that the Caucasus mountains are the definable border between Europe and Asia.

But as a result of lots of these mountains lying inside of Georgia, that doesn’t actually clear something up for us… besides to perhaps show that, as some folks declare, Georgia is a transcontinental nation that sits in each Europe and Asia (but additionally presumably in neither of these two locations).

These Caucasus mountains are fairly sophisticated in themselves and we don’t have sufficient time or house right here to current them in element. So you possibly can learn Britannica’s article to higher perceive these mountains and their area.

A 3rd opinion considers that the border is as an alternative outlined by the road fashioned by the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Black Sea. This would firmly place Georgia in Asian territory.

Other folks suppose the border can or needs to be outlined by some bizarre concoction of all these geographical factors. In common, there are many landmasses and landmarks that would type potential border-marking factors (and have fashioned these factors throughout varied intervals of the historical past).

For these advanced geographical causes, it’s typically simpler to separate Asia and Europe culturally, as an alternative to arbitrary (and unsure and ever-changing) geographical traces.

Is Georgia in Europe or in Asia?

As you’ve most likely observed by now, what’s and isn’t Europe (or Asia) isn’t precisely clear.

Because of this geographical complexity and controversy, it’s most likely finest to categorize Georgia’s identification in line with its tradition, historical past, and faith… slightly more than some arbitrary determination primarily based on who had probably the most highly effective military or empire at any given time.*

*After the Mongols captured Georgia, the area most likely had extra frequent with up-to-date Asian cultures. The identical applies when there was an Ottoman invasion. But when it was a part of the USSR, the world most likely thought about Georgia to be categorically European. So, as I say, these borders, identities, and opinions are ever-changing.

But even from a cultural perspective, it is a fairly tough query to reply to. That’s (in fact) as a result of because the influences upon Georgia have shifted and adjusted over time, the identification of Georgia has shifted and adjusted over time… and that’s left behind a nation that also seems like an odd hybrid of Asian and European cultures.

Personally, to me, Georgia undoubtedly feels extra European than Asian… however that’s simply, like, my opinion man. And dwelling there for 12 months doesn’t make me know so you’re absolutely free to disregard me.

Maybe it’s finest to simply accept that Georgia (and Armenia and Azerbaijan) aren’t actually ‘in’ Asia or Europe… and to acknowledge that continental borders are simply imaginary traces that were fully made up (for the straightforward sake of comfort and classification).

These three international locations don’t actually match the continental system… however when the system is mindless (and when the system isn’t actually matched for its function), why would they?

It’s additionally value noting that these three international locations don’t even actually match collectively as a mini area. Despite being three tiny international locations (Georgia has a inhabitants of round 4 million, whereas Armenia and Azerbaijan have populations of 3 million and 10 million respectively), they every have their very own language, their very own alphabets, and their very own very distinct identities.

Is Georgia in Europe or in Asia? Final Thoughts

So is Georgia in Europe, or in Asia? No one actually is aware of it, I don’t actually know, and, now, even you don’t actually know!

For some much-more-concrete data on one of my favourite locations, try our guides to what Tbilisi is legendary for, 17 causes I like the town, and our bumper information on whether or not or not Georgia is secure to go to.

Thanks for studying, thanks for stopping by at Travelness, and thanks for being so unbelievable and good at all times.