Georgia - God's Embattled Garden (47/151)

Georgia - God's Embattled Garden (47/151)

According to a saga, God gave his most beautiful and fertile land to the Georgians. But they often had to fight for their land; they were constantly invaded by powerful forces from the west and the east. For centuries the Georgians were ruled by foreign powers: Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongolians and the Ottomans waged war in the land. In the 4th century Christendom came to Georgia and spread swiftly through the land. The independent Georgian church was the bond that united the Georgians during this political turmoil. This role of the church through the centuries is still palpable today throughout the country. While the palaces of the secular rulers were destroyed or have disappeared, the Georgians have preserved their cloisters and churches. Thus the development of the architectural styles of the church buildings can be traced from the early Christian era up to modern times. Georgia is a land moulded by agriculture. Viniculture has a long tradition. Wine is one of the most important trading commodities, for which the Georgians hope to open up more and more markets. In West Georgia the farmers are now concentrating on tea plantations. The Georgians produce high-quality tea which is in great demand in England.