history of Armenia
Quick Summary
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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AzerbaijanFirst Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, dissolution of the Soviet Union, and presidency of Heydar AliyevWhen conflict with the Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan broke out in February 1988, these elites provided the leaders both for the oppositional Azerbaijan Popular Front and for their communist opponents. Violent protests and interethnic clashes targeting both Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the late 1980s, anti-Armenian…
Read MoreWhen conflict with the Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan broke out in February 1988, these elites provided the leaders both for the oppositional Azerbaijan Popular Front and for their communist opponents. Violent protests and interethnic clashes targeting both Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the late 1980s, anti-Armenian…
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Russian Civil WarCasualties and consequences of the warrepublics—Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia—in May 1918. The Moscow government did not intend to respect Transcaucasian independence for long. In April 1920 the Azerbaijan government surrendered to the double threat of invasion by the Red Army and rebellion in Baku. In December 1920 the formerly Russian portion…
Read Morerepublics—Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia—in May 1918. The Moscow government did not intend to respect Transcaucasian independence for long. In April 1920 the Azerbaijan government surrendered to the double threat of invasion by the Red Army and rebellion in Baku. In December 1920 the formerly Russian portion…
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AnatoliaOrigins and ascendancy…and to encroach upon the Armenian principalities of Vaspurakan, Taik, and Ani along the easternmost border of the Byzantine Empire. Armenian historians of this period speak of their adversaries as “long-haired Turkmens armed with bow and lance on horses which flew like the wind.” The Armenian princes appealed to Constantinople…
Read More…and to encroach upon the Armenian principalities of Vaspurakan, Taik, and Ani along the easternmost border of the Byzantine Empire. Armenian historians of this period speak of their adversaries as “long-haired Turkmens armed with bow and lance on horses which flew like the wind.” The Armenian princes appealed to Constantinople…
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ancient IranMithradates II…Great) on the throne of Armenia, and, extending his hegemony over this kingdom and over eastern Asia Minor, he organized pressure on the last Seleucids. A meeting with Rome, which had already formed a “Province of Asia” in Asia Minor, became inevitable and took place in 92 bce on the…
Read More…Great) on the throne of Armenia, and, extending his hegemony over this kingdom and over eastern Asia Minor, he organized pressure on the last Seleucids. A meeting with Rome, which had already formed a “Province of Asia” in Asia Minor, became inevitable and took place in 92 bce on the…
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ancient Middle EastMesopotamia and Egypt to c. 1600 bce…Hurrians from what is now Armenia, and Indo-Europeans from Central Asia. This period marked the end of the formative phase of Mesopotamian civilization.
Read More…Hurrians from what is now Armenia, and Indo-Europeans from Central Asia. This period marked the end of the formative phase of Mesopotamian civilization.
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Byzantine EmpireThe empire at the end of the 5th centuryHostilities were exacerbated when Armenia, lying to the north between the two realms, converted to Christianity and thus seemed to menace the religious integrity of Persia. If small-scale warfare during the 4th and 5th centuries rarely erupted into major expeditions, the threat to Rome nonetheless remained constant, demanding vigilance…
Read MoreHostilities were exacerbated when Armenia, lying to the north between the two realms, converted to Christianity and thus seemed to menace the religious integrity of Persia. If small-scale warfare during the 4th and 5th centuries rarely erupted into major expeditions, the threat to Rome nonetheless remained constant, demanding vigilance…
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Byzantine EmpireLater Comneni…of the kingdom of Lesser Armenia in Cilicia, and by the activities of the Crusader states. Foreign relations and skillful diplomacy became of paramount importance for the Byzantines. John II tried and failed to break what was becoming the Venetian monopoly of Byzantine trade, and he sought to come to…
Read More…of the kingdom of Lesser Armenia in Cilicia, and by the activities of the Crusader states. Foreign relations and skillful diplomacy became of paramount importance for the Byzantines. John II tried and failed to break what was becoming the Venetian monopoly of Byzantine trade, and he sought to come to…
Read More- history of TranscaucasiaEarly history
…Iberia) in the north and Armenia in the south. The culture and ethnic character of both can be traced to the period of the breakup of the Hittite empire in the 12th century bc, and both were converted to Christianity early in the 4th century ad.
Read More…Iberia) in the north and Armenia in the south. The culture and ethnic character of both can be traced to the period of the breakup of the Hittite empire in the 12th century bc, and both were converted to Christianity early in the 4th century ad.
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history of MesopotamiaThe Parthian period…placed on the throne of Armenia by his Parthian overlord, and the small kingdoms of northern Mesopotamia—Adiabene, Gordyene, and Osroene—gave allegiance to Mithradates. Mithradates II died about 87 bce, although he may have died earlier, since the period after 90 bce is dark and a usurper named Gotarzes may have…
Read More…placed on the throne of Armenia by his Parthian overlord, and the small kingdoms of northern Mesopotamia—Adiabene, Gordyene, and Osroene—gave allegiance to Mithradates. Mithradates II died about 87 bce, although he may have died earlier, since the period after 90 bce is dark and a usurper named Gotarzes may have…
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ancient RomeForeign policy…to dispute Roman control of Armenia. Thus it can hardly be said that Augustus settled the eastern frontier. Missions were sent to the East repeatedly (Agrippa, 17–13 bc; Gaius Caesar, ad 1–4; Germanicus, 18–19), and Armenia remained a problem for Augustus’ successors: Tiberius successfully maintained Roman influence there, but Gaius…
Read More…to dispute Roman control of Armenia. Thus it can hardly be said that Augustus settled the eastern frontier. Missions were sent to the East repeatedly (Agrippa, 17–13 bc; Gaius Caesar, ad 1–4; Germanicus, 18–19), and Armenia remained a problem for Augustus’ successors: Tiberius successfully maintained Roman influence there, but Gaius…
Read More- Treaty of Lausanne
…Turkish cession of territory to Armenia, abandoned claims to spheres of influence in Turkey, and imposed no controls over Turkey’s finances or armed forces. The straits between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, which had long been a cause of diplomatic controversy, were declared open to all shipping.
Read More…Turkish cession of territory to Armenia, abandoned claims to spheres of influence in Turkey, and imposed no controls over Turkey’s finances or armed forces. The straits between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, which had long been a cause of diplomatic controversy, were declared open to all shipping.
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World War IThe Caucasus, 1914–16…and Turkey comprised two battlegrounds: Armenia in the west, Azerbaijan in the east. While the ultimate strategic objectives for the Turks were to capture the Baku oilfields in Azerbaijan and to penetrate Central Asia and Afghanistan in order to threaten British India, they needed first to capture the Armenian fortress…
Read More…and Turkey comprised two battlegrounds: Armenia in the west, Azerbaijan in the east. While the ultimate strategic objectives for the Turks were to capture the Baku oilfields in Azerbaijan and to penetrate Central Asia and Afghanistan in order to threaten British India, they needed first to capture the Armenian fortress…
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