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How did Azerbaijani culture become Turkic after earlier Persian influence?

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Snow-covered peaks and ridges of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia stretch across the landscape under a pale sky. — Caucasus Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

The Turkicization of the Azerbaijani population was a gradual process that began following the Seljuq invasions in the 11th century, which established the linguistic dominance of Oghuz Turkic languages in the region. Prior to this, the population of eastern Transcaucasia had been heavily influenced by Persian culture, particularly during the Sāsānian dynasty (3rd–7th century CE).123

This shift was reinforced by the continued influx of Turkic populations over subsequent centuries, including migrations during the Mongol conquests of the 13th century, as well as the influence of rival Turkic tribal confederations like the Kara Koyunlu and Ak Koyunlu.1

Despite this linguistic transformation, the region maintained deep ties to Persian social and cultural traditions. By the 16th century, the population—under the Ṣafavid dynasty—adopted Shīʿite Islam and continued to develop under strong Persian cultural influence, even as they remained distinct from the Ottoman Turks of Anatolia.123