PREFACE -- INTRODUCTION -- Location, Environment, People -- Historical and Geographical Review -- Main Historical Sources -- Issues of Historiography -- Ethnogeny of the Georgians: The Georgian Language among other Languages-- GEORGIA FROM THE ANCIENT TIMES TO CHRISTIANITY: Primitive Man on the Territory of Georgia -- Ancient Georgian Kingdoms – Diaochi (Taochi) and Colchis -- Formation of Egrisi (Colchis) Kingdom -- Formation of Kingdom of Kartli (Iberian). King Farnavaz (Parnabazus) -- Invasions of Pompey in Georgia -- Kingdom of Kartli in the I-II Centuries -- Roman Suzerainty in Western Georgia. Revolt under Anicetus -- Georgian Heathen Pantheon -- Ancient Georgian Towns -- FROM INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF GEORGIA: Introduction of Christianity in Georgia and its Adoption as National Religion -- Kartli and the Sasanian Persia -- Egrisi and Byzantine Empire -- King Vakhtang Gorgasali. His National and Religious Policy -- Abolition of the Crown in Kartli. Kartli under Persian Domination -- Great War in Egrisi -- Ejection of the Persians from Kartli. Introduction of the Institute of Erismtavari -- Invasions of Emperor Heraklius and Khazars in Georgia -- Arabs’ First Appearance in Georgia -- Invasions under Murwan the Deaf -- Nerse Erismtavari and Abo Tbileli (of Tbilisi) -- Emergence of New Kingdoms and Principalities -- Collapse of the Arab Rule -- Reinforcement of Feudalism in the VIII-X centuries -- Georgian Culture in the IV–X Centuries -- UNITED MONARCHY OF GEORGIA :King David the Kuropalates -- King Bagrat III. Unified Georgian Monarchy -- King Bagrat IV. Relations between Georgia and Byzantium in the XI century -- The Seljuk-Turks Invasions -- King Giorgi II. “Big Turkish Invasions” -- Georgian Culture in the IX-XI Centuries -- RENAISSANCE OF GEORGIAN MONARCHY:Reforms under David the Builder -- Repulsion of the Seljuk Turks from Georgia -- Didgori Battle -- Georgia – Supreme Power in the Caucasus -- Reign of Demetre I and Giorgi III -- Queen Tamar -- Qutlu-Arslan. The Rudiments of the Theory of Power Division -- Battles of Shamkori and Basiani -- Georgia’s Role in Foundation of Trebizond Empire -- Military Campaign in Iran -- Court and Administration in Georgia in the Late XII Early XIII Centuries -- Social and Economic Development of Georgia in the XII Early XIII Centuries -- Georgian Culture in the XII-XIII centuries -- Shota Rustaveli -- THE DECLINE OF GEORGIAN MONARCHY: Reign of Giorgi-Lasha -- The Mongols and their First Invasion in the Caucasus -- Jalal ad-Din’s Invasions in Georgia -- The Mongol Domination in Georgia -- Interregnum in Georgia -- Diarchy in Georgia -- The Mongol Census. Mongol Taxes -- Revolts under David Narini and David Ulu -- Demetre II the Devoted (Self-Sacrificing) -- Joint Sovereigns -- The Aftermath of the Mongol Domination -- King Giorgi V “The Brilliant” -- Tamerlane’s Invasions in Georgia -- King Alexander I the Great -- GEORGIA FROM ITS POLITICAL DISINTEGRATION UNTIL THE XVIII CENTURY -- Political disintegration of Georgia -- Kakheti Kingdom in the Late XV Century and its Relations with Russia -- Kingdom of Kartli in the late XV – Early XVI Centuries Domestic Feudal Anarchy -- King Luarsab I -- King Svimeon -- Kakheti in the XVI Century -- Kingdom of Imereti and Samtskhe-Atabagate in XVI Century -- Kingdom of Kakheti in Early XVII Century. Shah-Abbas’s Invasions -- Struggle against the Persian Aggression in the First Quarter of XVII Century. Queen Ketevan -- Battles at Martqopi and Marabda -- King of Kartli –Rustam Khan. Kartli and Kakheti in the Second Half of the XVII Century -- Social and Economic situation of Georgian Kingdoms and Principalities in XVI-XVII Centurie -- Georgian Culture in the XVI – XVII Centuries -- GEORGIA IN THE XVIII CENTURY-- Georgian Kingdoms and Principalities in the Late XVII Early XVIII Centuries -- King Vakhtang VI. Revival of Culture and Science -- Political Failure of Relations with Russia. -- Osmanli and Persian Domination in Georgia -- Internal and International Conditions of Georgia in the Second Half of the XVIII Century -- King Erekle II. Unification of Kartli and Kakheti -- Western Georgia in the Second half of the XVIII Century. King Solomon I -- Socio-Economic Situation in Georgia in the Second half of the XVIII Century -- Treaty of Georgievsk -- Krtsanisi Battle -- Georgian Culture in the Second Half of the XVIII Century -- GEORGIA A PART OF RUSSIAN EMPIRE -- Abolition of the Kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti and its Annexation -- Subjugation and Abolition of the Kingdom of Imereti -- Conquest and Abolition of Western Georgian Principalities -- Struggle for National and Social Independence -- Russo-Turkish and Russo-Persian Wars and Attachment of Historic Georgian Provinces -- Georgian Culture in the I half of the XIX Century -- Abolition of Serfdom in Georgia and reforms of the 1860-1870s -- Russia-Turkish War of 1877-1878 and Georgia -- Ilia Chavchavadze. Struggle for National Independence in Georgia -- Political Trends and Emergence of Parties -- Georgian Culture in the II half of the XIX Century -- National Movement in Georgia in 1907-1914 -- Georgia during World War I and National Movement in Georgia -- INDEPENDENCE OF GEORGIA THE FIRST REPUBLIC -- Overthrow of Monarchy in Russia. Georgia within the Transcaucasian Federation -- Declaration of Independence of Georgia. First Obstacles and Success towards Building a New Nation -- Constituent Assembly of Georgia. First constitution of Georgia -- Education, Science and Culture in the Democratic Republic of Georgia -- Foreign Relations of Georgia and its Annexation by the Soviet Russia -- Restoration and Reinforcement of Independence of Georgian Church -- Forced Conversion of Georgia into a Soviet State. Transformation into Socialism -- Georgia during World War II -- Disintegration of the Soviet Union and Restoration of Independence of Georgia (1991) -- Georgia in the Transition Period (1992-2003) -- The Western Choice Made by Georgian People -- Russian aggression and attempt of occupying Georgia in August-September of 2008 -- Genealogy Table -- THE DATES