Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Derbent
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Map showing the location of Derbent within Russia. Panoramic view of Derbent, Dagestan, Russia, showing a mix of low-rise buildings and a church with the Caspian Sea in the background.
Quizzes
Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.
Guess the City by Its River Quiz
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what youā€™ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Map showing the location of Derbent within Russia.
Derbent, Russia

Derbent

Russia
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Derbent, city, southeastern Dagestan republic, southwestern Russia. The city lies in the narrow gap between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains at their closest approach.

Derbent
DerbentDerbent, Dagestan republic, Russia.

Derbent was founded in 438 ce as a fortress to guard the principal caravan route from southwestern Europe to Southwest Asia. It fell to Arabs in 728, Tatars in 1220, and Russians in 1813. Many ancient monuments survive, including the ruins of the 5th-century citadel and an 8th-century cathedral mosque. Wine making is among the modern cityā€™s industries. In 2003 the ancient city and its numerous defensive structures were made a World Heritage site. Pop. (2010) 119,200; (2021) 124,953.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Barbara A. Schreiber.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking ā€œSign Upā€, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.