Historic Batum: A Port City by the Black Sea (1910s)

This photograph captures a scene of Batum, now known as Batumi, taken between 1910 and 1915. Located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Batum was a significant port city in Georgia, playing a crucial role in trade and commerce during the early 20th century. The image, recorded by the Bain News Service, showcases the architectural landscape of the city, reflecting the influences of both European and local styles that characterized urban development during that period.

Batums strategic location made it a vital hub, especially for the oil industry, which was booming in the region at the time. The port facilitated the export of oil from the nearby Baku oil fields, significantly impacting the economic dynamics of the entire Caucasus region. The photograph serves as a valuable historical document, highlighting not just the physical structure of the city but also its importance within the broader context of industrial and geopolitical changes occurring in the early 1900s.