Economic and Social Aspects
This period of Armenian history was also characterised by extensive economic development and progress. Such a radiant civilization as the Armenia of Ani, with its magnificent and admirable buildings could not have arisen without a well-founded wealthy upper class.
The agriculture, once liberated from the disruption of foreigners, developed rapidly in the relative security. "The country was farmed with the utter precision and supervision and was irrigated in a carefully thought-out way, in relation to local needs for water, and produced much of each grain and fruit. Armenia was rich on grains and exported wheat to Baghdad. 103 The country produced superb wine, which they exported to different countries. Its gardens grew and produced northern, as well as, southern fruits, among others apples, walnuts, figs, olives and sugar canes. The country produced large quantities of wool, silk, cotton and textile dye. Armenia also had large pastures on which, even during the winter season, domestic cattle grazed, together with horses, both riding – and labour - horses, donkeys and mules. The peasants had large areas for breeding fowls, and the monasteries produced honey, while the rivers and the lakes provided the people with excellent fish of different varieties. The Armenians exported fish from Lake Van, trout from Lake Sevan, which due to its beautiful appearance had the name Ishkhan (Prince), and salmon from the Araxes River. From the forests in Armenian they took tree the trunk of which had a circumference of four meters. However, the forests belonged exclusively to the Armenian nobility and were used as hunting grounds, for they were inhabited by different sorts of the best deer." 104
As we mentioned earlier, one of the consequences of the Arab rule in Armenia was that of high taxation and fees which the Arabs collected, resulting in increased trade and division of labour, but also an increase of the population of the cities and their importance. 105 These cities and the industrial production, during the Bagratouni dynasty liberated from heavy taxation, flourished and Armenia, with the quality and the quantity of its products, became one of the most important trade and production centres in the Middle East. This production was especially concentrated in the cities of Ani, Van, Kars, Dvin, Arzan (Erzurum), Akhlat, Lori, Berkri, Manazkert (Melashkert), Bitlis and Navasa so that these cities flourished and reaped enormous profits.
Amongst the foremost industries was the textile industry – the production of wool, silk, yarn, threads, scarves, hand-towels handkerchiefs and carpets. Praise for the woollen cloth of Dvin or the handkerchiefs of Mayafarkin can be found in the scripts of Arab historians. The chemical industry, including first and foremost the production of textile dye, but also other important products, also developed rapidly. Armenia's production of dye and textile was renowned. 107 Even the metal-industry in Armenia developed (the German researcher Marr has found traces of copper-foundry in the ruins of Ani), for instance the production of copper objects and weapons (the daggers from Karin and Ani were highly praised). There were also highly skilled metal workers, goldsmiths and jewellers; Armenian jewellers in particular were the best in their field. In Ani they have discovered pieces of cloth and leather of beautiful and delicate craftsmanship.
"The carpets of Armenia were regarded as the best and were constantly in great demand by the emirs and the caliphs of the Arab world, especially their clan-leaders. Armenia also manufactured weapons from Armenian metals and their metalwork was known as the best. Trade with leather and mink coat was common and Armenian-prepared and exported leather was reputed and in demand, and was used in Byzantine for the battle-armour of the nobility and the emperor." 109
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