Historical cataclysms of the second decade of the twentieth century and their influence on the development of scientific knowledge in Azerbaijan (1914-1917)

Abstract

The First World War, putting at risk the existence of many states, led to a controversial reaction from the scientific community. On the one hand, the war suspended many studies requiring a peaceful course of life and contradicted the very humanistic content of science, on the other hand, gave a powerful impetus to the development of many branches of chemistry, physics, agriculture etc. Scientists of all countries, including Germany and Russia, were called upon to actively participate not only in the implementation of military defense projects, but also in the creation of new technologies and weapons. At the same time, the war became the main reason for the break with the practice and ethical norms of scientific internationalism that existed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.During the First World War, it became clear that a new super-powerful weapon – oil had appeared. İn the war years, Azerbaijani oil was the only energy sourse in Russia, not counting firewood, since coal exports to Russia were stopped and Ukrainian coal mines were seized by the Germans. The First World War turned out to be a watershed in human history: for the first time, an internal combustion engine working on petroleum products was opposed to the muscular strength of horses and people — and they could not resist. The article highlights the development of science, especially the oil industry in Azerbaijan during the First World War and the two revolutions in Russia that followed in 1917. The role of the world famous scientists D.I. Mendeleev, I.M. Gubkin, D.I. Golubyatnikov, the Polish engineers P.Pototsky, V.Zglenitsky in the development of new technologies in the oil business, the construction of the first oil pipelines in Russia is shown.The article discusses the activities of the Baku Branch of the Imperial Russian Technical Society (BO IRTO), as well as features of its work during the war. In this society was carried out the work on the practical production of benzene and toluene from oil and coal in wartime. In addition, even before the war, the BO IRTO established the Emmanuel L. Nobel (the brother of Alfred Nobel) Prize,, whose main activity took place in Baku. The third brother Ludwig Nobel Prize was established in St. Petersburg and was awarded for outstanding achievements in the oil business. The article highlights the activities of the laureates of the Baku and St. Petersburg Nobel Prizes.