Georgia is a country located in Eastern Europe on the coast of the Black Sea. It has a population of around 3.5 million people and borders Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Georgia has a long history, becoming a kingdom in 4 BC and adopting Christianity in 337 AD. It experienced periods of expansion under rulers like Queen Tamara in the 12th century but was later devastated by invaders like the Mongols in the 13th century. Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after being a Russian vassal state since the 18th century.