Armenia: A Brief History


The Armenian civilization is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the sixth century B.C.E. In ancient times, the area nowknown as Armenia was ruled by the Persians and then the Romans for many centuries, becoming a buffer state between the Greeks and Romans in theWest and the Persians andArabs of theMiddle East. For this reason, Armenian culture has a kinshipwith both Hellenic and Persian traditions. The geographic area considered Armenia in ancient times encompassed the biblicalMount Ararat, onwhich Noah’s Ark was said to rest after the flood. Historians argue that the Armenian Empire, the first to embrace Christianity as its official religion, could have been one of the most influential empires inAsia due to its central location between Asia and Europe. However, over the centuries, various empires strategically conquered Armenia and exploited its location and resources.


Ottoman Empire


For centuries, the Ottoman Empire ruled eastern Anatolia, or the area including modern-day Turkey and Armenia. The ruler of the Ottoman Empire was also the caliph, or leader of the Islamic community, and the population inAnatolia and the surrounding area was majority Muslim. However,minority religious communities, such as the ChristianArmenians,were allowed to co-exist in relative peace, though they were often subject to extra taxes or other discriminatory policies.


The Armenians themselves changed


dramatically in the mid-19th century. An intellectual awakening influenced byWestern andRussian ideas, a newinterest inArmenian history and an increase in social interaction created a sense of secular nationality among many Armenians. Instead of conceiving of themselves solely as a religious community, Armenians – especially the urbanmiddle class – began to feel closer kinship with Christian Europe and greater alienation from the Muslimpeoples amongwhomthey lived.


Glenn E. Curtis, ed. Armenia: A Country Study. (1995)


The transportation of refugees during the Armenian Genocide.


By the turn of the century, theOttoman Empirewas on the brink of collapse, and an Armenian independencemovementwas growing rapidly.


Armenian Genocide


By 1895, the Ottoman Empire grewso antagonized by and suspicious of the Westernized Armenian population that the Ottoman government ordered themassacre of 300,000 Armenians.


The Young Turk government seized power in 1908. A movement of young, discontented junior army officers beganworking toward their goal of creating a united Ottoman Empire with one language, one culture and one set of customs. They called this unification “Pan Turkism,” and along with uniting the empire, it also aimed to “Turkify” any non- Turkish people.


The city of Shushi destroyed after amassacre in 1920. 5


http://genocide-museum.am/eng/gen_musium.php http://genocide-museum.am/eng/gen_musium.php


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