Heading north and leaving Iran: beloved Caspian shore from above. For much of history and until the 19th century, the region of Caucasus [Qafqaz- today Republics of Azarbaijan, Armenia (Armanestan) and Eastern Georgia (Gorjestan) were part of Iran based empires. The name 'Baku' or 'Baki' is derived from old Persian meaning the seat of god.