Support HistoryMaps

Settings

Dark Mode

Voice Narration

3D Map

MapStyle
HistoryMaps Last Updated: 02/01/2025

© 2025 HM


AI History Chatbot

Ask Herodotus

Play Audio

Instructions: How it Works


Enter your Question / Request and hit enter or click the submit button. You can ask or request in any language. Here are some examples:


  • Quiz me on the American Revolution.
  • Suggest some books on the Ottoman Empire.
  • What were the causes of the Thirty Year's War?
  • Tell me something interesting about the Han Dynasty.
  • Give me the phases of the Hundred Years’ War.
herodotus-image

Do you have a question about History?


ask herodotus

History of Georgia

Christianization of Iberia

© HistoryMaps

History of Georgia

Christianization of Iberia

330 Jan 1
Armazi
Christianization of Iberia
Christianization of Iberia © HistoryMaps

The Christianization of Iberia, the ancient Georgian kingdom known as Kartli, began in the early 4th century due to the efforts of Saint Nino. King Mirian III of Iberia declared Christianity the state religion, leading to a significant cultural and religious shift away from the traditional polytheistic and anthropomorphic idols known as the "Gods of Kartli." This move marked one of the earliest national adoptions of Christianity, placing Iberia alongside Armenia as one of the first regions to officially embrace the faith.


The conversion had profound social and cultural implications, influencing the kingdom's connections with the broader Christian world, particularly the Holy Land. This was evidenced by increased Georgian presence in Palestine, highlighted by figures such as Peter the Iberian and the discovery of Georgian inscriptions in the Judaean Desert and other historic sites.


Iberia's strategic position between the Roman and Sasanian Empires made it a significant player in their proxy wars, affecting its diplomatic and cultural maneuvers. Despite adopting a religion associated with the Roman Empire, Iberia maintained strong cultural ties to the Iranian world, reflective of its longstanding connections through trade, warfare, and intermarriage since the Achaemenid period.


The Christianization process was not merely a religious conversion but also a multi-century transformation that contributed to the emergence of a distinct Georgian identity. This transition saw the gradual Georgianization of key figures, including the monarchy, and the replacement of foreign church leaders with native Georgians by the mid-6th century. However, Greeks, Iranians, Armenians, and Syrians continued to influence the administration and development of the Georgian church well into this period.

Page Last Updated: 10/13/2024

Support HistoryMaps

There are several ways to support the HistoryMaps Project.

Shop Now
Donate
Say Thanks