In New Armenia, Levon II consolidated his knowledge of warfare and politics by understanding the needs and assets of the country, laying a firm economic foundation for Armenia. Heyd writes: "He was more materialistic and far-sighted than his countrymen and knew that neither the experience of the Armenians in warfare nor the high mountain chains which built a tall and coherent wall around the country, could provide enough protection for Armenia. Therefore he had to attract the interest of Europe to secure the welfare and the future of his country. He and his successors pursued this policy carefully encouraging the western merchants to come to Armenia, where they were received with warmth and open arms by the population of the country. Levon II thought that it was possible that one day the western powers, and especially the most powerful navies, to defend trade, would fight for the maintenance of the independence and existence of Armenia." 141
With the introduction of Armenians into Cilicia, the productivity of the country increased rapidly. Heyd writes: "The products of the country were quite varied. The cotton-fields, which the Armenians had turned into by far the most productive source of the country, had become very successful and produced a very good and first-class raw material for the textile industry. Everywhere the Armenian sheep wool, and in particular the goat wool was coveted. The best raw-material was used in Armenia itself for the production of first-class velvet. From the mines of the Taurus Mountains they extracted different metals, especially iron, while the forests on the mountain slopes provided large amounts of wood. The fields produced wheat, wine and raisin for export and finally, the horses and the mules of Armenia were highly coveted in foreign countries." 142
To this list one can add leather, processed fur and silk which New Armenia exported to the western world. 143
New Armenia had became an important centre for the textile industry, especially with the production of woollen and silk textiles. Heyd writes that the Venetians learned the production of woollen textiles from the Armenians. Later the Venetians opened productions factories in Cilicia, where their produced they own textiles. 144
The most important trade centres in New Armenia were Lajazzo (Aias), Tars, Mamistra (Misis), Adana and Sis.
However, the importance of New Armenia and its significance within trade depended not on its own products and exports, but on its location for transit-trade which for a short period of time transformed Cilicia into one of the major trade posts between East and West.
As Heyd points out, New Armenia was geographically very well situated to conduct important transit trade. The country had a long coastal stretch in relation to its inland area. Its most important harbours were cities on the Mediterranean coast, among others Lajazzo and Gorigos. Apart from these, Tarsus itself was a harbour city, since the sea level here was significantly higher than its present level today and the Cydnus River (the present-day river-bed Tarsus-tchai) then ran through the city (the river is now dry and filled with sand). Moreover, inward towards the country, the two cities of Adana and Mamistra stood on river entuaries and ships, provided they were not too heavily loaded, were able to reach these cities from the sea. 146
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