MIRZA FATALI AKHUNDOV AND AZERBAIJANI ENLIGHTENMENT

This article analyzes the intellectual and reform-oriented activities of Mirzə Fətəli Axundov within the context of nineteenth-century Azerbaijani enlightenment. It examines his contributions to the development of press culture, publishing infrastructure, script reform, and the dissemination of scientific and literary knowledge. Particular attention is devoted to his engagement with European Enlightenment thought, his critical reflections on language and education, and his proposals concerning alphabet reform and the institutionalization of printing. By situating Axundov’s literary, philosophical, and publicistic works within broader processes of cultural modernization, the study highlights his role in shaping national intellectual discourse and in advancing rationalist and reformist currents in Azerbaijani society.