By the 19th century, Azerbaijan had become one of the world's leading oil and gas regions. In 1846, Azerbaijan drilled its first oil well in the Khibi-Abat region. By the early 20th century, Azerbaijan was producing more than half of the world's oil supply.
Armenian-Tatar massacres or the Armenian-Azerbaijani war, an ethnic and religious conflict, broke out across the Russian Caucasus between 1905 and 1907. The Armenians of Armenia are the oldest Christians, the Tatars of Azerbaijan are Sunni Muslims, and hundreds of massacres have erupted since the Russian Revolution of 1905, with violent ethnic cleansing clashes breaking out since 1902 in the Great Oil Fields of Baku in May and in Nakhchevan in August. Violent ethnic cleansing clashes broke out from 1905 in the big oil fields of Baku in May, in Nakhchevan in August, and in Shusha in November. The Armenian-Tatar war was more costly for the Armenians in Baku and Nakhichevan, and more costly for the Tatars in Shush, Yerevan, and Tbilisi.
The clashes began in early February 1905 with the killing of a Tatar schoolboy and a shopkeeper, and continued for four days in Baku, Azerbaijan, where some 218 Armenians and 126 Tatars were killed. Tatars in Baku stormed Armenian areas, killing many unarmed Armenians. Other estimates put the number of Armenians killed at about 205, of which about 7 were women, 20 children, and 13 elderly, and about 121 were wounded. In addition, about 111 Tatars were killed, about 2 women, no children or elderly, and about 128 were wounded.Between 1905 and 1907, at least about 1,500 Armenians and about 1,600 Tatars were massacred.
In September 1905, the Tatar Muslims held a meeting in Bibi Eibat, Baku, an oil field city, and decided to expel the Armenians from the oil fields. They announced that they would kill the Tatars if the Armenians stayed. This was followed by the murder of an Armenian drilling manager and a Caspian company employee on the main road. News of the massacre, which began in the city, was received with great joy by the Tatars. In the meantime, the manager called and appealed for military protection. Fear-stricken Armenians fled Bibi Aibat and fled to Bailiff Hill overlooking the valley. The Armenian refugees were dragged by terrified horses and crowded onto the hilltop. They were blinded by the strong north wind and the dust cloud. Armenians who strayed from the crowd were shot at. A Frenchman of Armenian descent who left his burning quarters was stabbed to death in the street. An Armenian worker fleeing from the Katisov factory was shot dead by a Tatar as he was boarding a boat.
