Tao (historical region)

Tao

Georgian: ტაო
Tao Georgian: ტაო
Historical region
	Boundaries of Tao shown within the modern territorial division
Country	Turkey
Historical period	4th century BC – present
Subregions	Oltisi, Tortumi, Parkhali
Historical states	Iberian Kingdom (4th–2nd century BC); Greater Armenia (2nd century BC – 428); Mamikonian Principality (428 – 770s); Iberia (Tao-Klarjeti) (786 – 1001); Byzantine Empire (Theme of Iberia) (1001 – 1074); Kingdom of Georgia (1074 – 15th century); Samtskhe-Saatabago (15th century – 1550s); Ottoman Empire (1550s – 1878); Russian Empire (1878 – 1918); Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918 – 1921); Republic of Turkey (since 1921);

Tao (Georgian: ტაო) is a historical region of Georgia and forms part of the wider historical area of Tao-Klarjeti. Geographically, the region lay in the middle basin of the Çoruh River and broadly corresponded to the historical Armenian province of Tayk. In modern administrative terms, its territory largely overlaps with the Yusufeli district of Artvin Province, as well as several northern districts of Erzurum Province, including Uzundere, Olur, Oltu, Şenkaya, Narman, and Tortum.