Of the above facts one can conclude that the position of Armenia and the contours of the country, together with the nature of its inhabitants, has helped shape its history and destiny. W. Allen described this excellently in his book "The history of Georgia". He described Georgia as a country with green and fertile valleys, a cheerful and pleasure- loving people, and literature that consists of happy tales and songs. Armenia, on the other hand, he described as having inaccessible and harsh mountains, with a people that are extremely protective of their customs and culture, history-writing priests and hard soldiers. 26
The geography and the shape of Armenia, which has turned this country to a natural fortress, and the warrior characteristics of its mountaineers, all are the factors which have given Armenia its enormous political importance and sometimes transformed it to the highest bet at the gambling table and the war for the striving to control Middle East.
Armenia has, throughout the centuries, because of its geographical situation and its army, been of great strategic value among the superpowers that have waged war in this region. The recurring wars between its neighbours have always involved Armenia in external conflicts, whether because foreign intention has been to use the country as a natural buffer or in order to make use of Armenian forces. Mountainous countries have in reality always been tough to handle for foreign powers from more open landscapes, especially if their armies cannot rely on the populations of the areas they are invading.
This has meant that although Armenia, during periods in its history, has enjoyed an independent existence, it has also frequently been turned into what in effect is a war zone.. It is only when the Armenian people have been able to excel themselves when external circumstances have been favourable, that the country has been able to withstand external threats and live an independent life.
On the other hand, under foreign domination, no emperor or neighbouring power has ever been able to gain total control of the entire Armenian plateau. This is partly because of the natural shape of the country, but also due to its strategic importance. Any would-be conqueror has had to accept the fact that part of Armenia would have to remain independent or be shared with their neighbours. According to Alfred Rambaud, Armenia has never been conquered entirely. 27 "It is a fortress that has been conquered and occupied during the centuries, but never entirely." 28 This is the main factor that has ensured the survival of the Armenian nation and its continuous existence..
And finally we should mention that this factor is highly relevant even today. At the beginning of the 20th century and the end of the Ottoman empire, it was once more the geopolitical situation of Armenia that played a major role in its destiny. No major power at that time wanted another power gaining full control over this natural fortress and gateway towards the Middle East, and Armenia remained under Turkish rule.
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