Although the Arabs introduced Islam, the Arab people left few other lasting imprints on the people as today the people are most similar ethnically to the Turks and Persians. However, Islam did change the culture and lifestyle of the people to a great degree. Even today most of Azerbaijan's population is Muslim and many people continue to live by the dietary and dress restrictions of that faith. Islam also united the people to the Turkic and Persian people and today these people are related to the Azeris both ethnically as well as culturally.
Persian influence was quite strong in the country until the Russians, and later the Soviets, took power over the Azeris. The Soviets in particular changed the culture dramatically as religion was outlawed and the people were forced into a new society that was based on industrialization and urbanization. The Russian language was also forced on the people, but more importantly today, ethnic Russians and others moved into the region. This Soviet influence destroyed much of the historic culture, but it also divided the people with the immigration of foreigners.
Since independence from the Soviet Union, the cultural changes have been mixed. There has been a return to Islam (although many people now drink alcohol) and other historic cultural aspects, but most people continue to work in industry or in the field of natural resources as nearly everyone is urbanized. The diversity has also led to tensions among the people, particularly between the Azeris and the Armenians and between the Azeris and the Russians. These divisions have magnified historical aspects of Azeri culture as many people have found a renewed pride in Azeri culture and today this culture is becoming more and more clearly defined.