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Armenia is a landlocked country in Transcaucasia, bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Its history stretches back to the 7th century BCE, with Armenians being an Indo-European people who call themselves Hayk.12

Armenia was part of various empires, including the Median, Achaemenian, Macedonian, and Seleucid kingdoms, before establishing its own independent kingdoms like the Artaxiads and Arsacids. A significant event in its history was the adoption of Christianity as the state religion around 300 CE, making Armenia the first country to do so. This led to the establishment of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which remains the predominant religion among Armenians today.3456

Throughout history, Armenia has been a battleground between larger neighbours, notably the Ottoman and Persian empires. This led to periods of foreign rule and conflict, including massacres and forced deportations, particularly during World War I, which is widely considered an act of genocide. Modern Armenia declared independence in 1918, becoming a Soviet republic in 1920, and regaining full independence in 1991.71829

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