| One of the world's oldest civilizations, Armenia once | | | | Armenian population to the deserts of Syria and |
| included Mount Ararat, which biblical tradition identifies | | | | Mesopotamia. According to the majority of historians, |
| as the mountain that Noah's ark rested on after the | | | | between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were |
| flood. It was the first country in the world to officially | | | | murdered or died of starvation. The Armenian |
| embrace Christianity as its religion (c. A.D. 300). | | | | massacre is considered the first genocide in the 20th |
| In the 6th century B.C., Armenians settled in the | | | | century. Turkey denies that a genocide took place, and |
| kingdom of Urartu (the Assyrian name for Ararat), | | | | claims that a much smaller number died in a civil war. |
| which was in decline. Under Tigrane the Great (fl. | | | | After the Turkish defeat in World War I, the |
| 95-55 B.C.) the Armenian empire reached its height | | | | independent Republic of Armenia was established on |
| and became one of the most powerful in Asia, | | | | May 28, 1918, but survived only until Nov. 29, 1920, |
| stretching from the Caspian to the Mediterranean | | | | when it was annexed by the Soviet Army. On March |
| Seas. Throughout most of its long history, however, | | | | 12, 1922, the Soviets joined Georgia, Armenia, and |
| Armenia has been invaded by a succession of | | | | Azerbaijan to form the Transcaucasian Soviet |
| empires. Under constant threat of domination by | | | | Socialist Republic, which became part of the USSR. In |
| foreign forces, Armenians became both cosmopolitan | | | | 1936, after a reorganization, Armenia became a |
| as well as fierce protectors of their culture and | | | | separate constituent republic of the USSR. Since 1988, |
| tradition. | | | | Armenia has been involved in a territorial dispute with |
| Over the centuries Armenia was conquered by | | | | Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, to |
| Greeks, Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Mongols, Arabs, | | | | which both lay claim. Also in 1988, a devastating |
| Ottoman Turks, and Russians. From the 16th century | | | | earthquake killed thousands and wreaked economic |
| through World War I major portions of Armenia were | | | | havoc. |
| controlled by their most brutal invader, the Ottoman | | | | Armenia declared its independence from the collapsing |
| Turks, under whom the Armenians experienced | | | | Soviet Union on Sept. 23, 1991. In 1992-1994, Armenia |
| discrimination, religious persecution, heavy taxation, and | | | | successfully fought Azerbaijan for control of |
| armed attacks. In response to Armenian nationalist | | | | Nagorno-Karabakh. The majority of the enclave are |
| stirrings, the Turks massacred thousands of | | | | Armenian Christians who want to secede from |
| Armenians in 1894 and 1896. The most horrific | | | | Azerbaijan and either become part of Armenia or gain |
| massacre took place in April 1915 during World War I, | | | | full independence. Enormous casualties were involved. |
| when the Turks ordered the deportation of the | | | | |