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Index

Armenia

The Urartu Civilisation

Victory for Independence

Artashisian Dynasty on the Armenian Throne

Armenia caught between Rome and the Arsacids

The Acceptance of Christianity

Defending Christianity

Armenia Under the Bagratouni Dynasty

Cilicia - the New Armenia

Armenia Under Turanian Rule

The Renaissance or the Resurrection of Armenia

The Eastern Question

Russia in the Caucasus

The Armenian Question

Battle on Two Fronts

Tsarist Russia Against the Armenians

The Revolution of the Young Turks and the Armenian People on the Eve of World War I

The First World War

The Resurrection of Armenia

Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

- Armenia on the Road to Independence, 1918

Eastern Armenia

Western Armenia

"The Fateful Years" (1914-1917)

"Hopes and Emotions" (March-October, 1917)

The Bolshevik Revolution and Armenia

Transcaucasia Adrift (November, 1917

Dilemmas (March-April, 1918)

War and Independence (April-May, 1918)

The Republics of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

The Suppliants (June-October, 1918)

In conclusion

Soviet Armenia

The Second Independent Republic of Armenia

Epilogue

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The Historical Significance of Armenia's Geographical Situation

The geographical situation and topography of Armenia have shaped the destiny of its people.

The researcher Henning compared the Armenian landscape to those of Transylvania and central Spain, all situated at high altitudes and therefore unassailable natural fortresses. The populations of these landscapes have corresponding characteristics, such as a strong decisiveness and ardent national sentiment. These regions for the most part are isolated, not only from trade, but also from the ideological and cultural exchange brought by travelling merchants. Armenia, however, is an exception to the rule. Throughout history, Armenia has been the meeting place of different cultures and religions, explained in part by the mighty powers at its borders. The original Armenia, Urartu, for instance, shared borders with the powerful Assyrians. The two nations developed close ties. The Assyrians were followed by the Hellenic or Greek expansion, with the conquests of Alexander the Great in Asia. To the south, Persia, has often attempted to conquer Armenia. The emergence of the Roman Empire heralded a great power from the west, and Rome became Armenia's most powerful ally n its struggle against Persia. The Roman Empire was replaced by the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman empire), which subsequently fell under attack from the Turkic tribes. These in turn founded the Ottoman Empire. The greatest influence on the region today, Russia, emerged as a superpower in the late 19th century.

Armenia has always been an important centre of trade between east and west and this has helped mould the culture and civilisation of the country. As the meeting place between the two worlds, Armenia has witnessed many battles, war campaigns and invasions of Persians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and Turks.

"Despite the fact that Armenia is situated on one of the most important trade routes between Asia and Europe, the country has experienced more misery and suffering than benefit from its strategic situation. When the west, in the form of Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the crusades, advanced eastward, or when the Persians, the Arabs and the Turks marched toward Europe, the path went through Armenia." 18 Armenia became a pendulum between east and west in the neverending conflicts, caught in the crosscurrent of different cultures. On the whole, independent periods in Armenia have been marked by a western alliance. However, as Macler 19 observed, because Armenia never declared its absolute support of west over east or vice versa, the country has suffered attacks from both directions.

The topography of the country, as well as its geographical situation, has been a decisive factor in its history. Mountainous regions are more often than not home to warrior races determined to defend their freedom, as seen in countries such as Switzerland, Montenegro and the Caucasus. If it were not for their mountains the Armenians could not have survived as a nation and would have met with the destiny of many vanished cultures, who have disappeared from the pages of history or lost their identity as a nation, as did the Assyrians.