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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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Cultural Aspects

The culture of the Armenian people during the life of New Armenia was greatly influenced by the western, and in particular the Latin, way of thinking.

The crusades put the Armenian people in constant and close contact with Europe and thereby opened new and wider horizon for Armenian minds; thus the French language was used together with the Armenian language at court and among the noblemen. The Latin and French languages had a similar status to Armenian in the works of the court, while within trade Italian was more commonly used.

This period has been called the silver era of Armenian literature, the golden era being represented by the great works of the 5th century. During this period Armenian authors, the majority of whom belonged to the upper classes of the society, distinguished themselves through historical works. Among the most prominent were the princes of the church, and one of commanders of the country, Smbat, nephew to king Hetoum.

Among his works are the psalms of Catholicos Nerses Shnorhali (called the Gracious) and the psalms of Catholicos Grigori (nephew to Nerses Shnorhali). The first is about the capture of Ourfa, while the second details the conquest of Jerusalem by the enemy.

Other important works include a history by Mathew of Ourfa, describing the period between 952 and 1136; the history of priest Grigori,;the history of the Roubinian dynasty, written by Vahram Raboum, secretary to king Levon III and the history of the events between 952 and 1274, which commander Smbat penned.

To these one can add several works about the saints (for instance the prayers and comments regarding religious customs, by Catholicos Nerses Lamborn), and also medical and linguistic works.

However, the Armenian historical works are, without a doubt a greatest importance, as they cast light over the history of the crusades. 166

The kings of the Roubinian dynasty also left behind a beautiful coin collection from the Middle Ages.

Theimpressive work of the Armenian architects and construction workers, heirs to the national skills of old Armenia, is displayed in their masterpieces of military construction, left behind by the crusaders in the Orient.

Moreover it is probable that this contact between the Armenians and the crusaders opened one of the avenues from the 11th century onwards through which Armenian architectural art has played its role in the flourishing of architecture in the western world. Henri Focillon writes the following lines: "New Armenia, which had at the end of the 11th century fled its birthplace, was built by refugees. The relation between the masters of Taurus Mountains and the barons of Cilicia, and the crusaders is an important chapter in the history of the Latin Orient. At the end of 11th century the Armenians built their buildings with great accuracy and precise methods and different forms, forms which in other places could not be built without middlemen. From this point on the Franks learned these methods." 167

In conclusion one can say that the Armenian people, throughout the three centuries of New Armenia, continued to exercise its role of centuries past as the link between east and west, in various ways.