Quick and short lesson on the Armenian history

armenian history

A short point form run down on some of the key events in Armenian history.

  • Noah’s Ark landed on Mt Ararat, then part of Armenia. See Genesis 8:4.
  • Hayk, one of the great-great grandsons of Noah defeated the Babylonian King’ Bell. He established his nation around the Ararat valley around 2429 BC. 
  • The history of Yerevan, the capital city, dates back to the 8th century. King Argishti I established Yerevan at the western extreme of the Ararat plain. Yerevan is one of the oldest Capitol cities in the world today. 
  • In 301 A.D. Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion.
  • In 405 A.D. Mesrop Mashtots created the unique Armenian Alphabet. It is also a numerical system, poem and prayer. Hence the fifth century is also known as the Golden Century in Armenian history (‘Voske Dar’).
  • Series of kingdoms followed for centuries. Armenia had many wars with neighboring non Christian countries trying to invade the only Christian country in the region.
  • First major exit of Armenians from Armenia occurred in the 1600’s during the reign of Shah Abass to Iran.
  • Armenia was divided between Turkey (Western Armenia) and Persia (Eastern Armenia) in 1639.
  • Eastern Armenia joins Russia in 1828.

Armenian history in the 20th century

  • The Armenian Genocide took place in 1915 by the Ottoman Turk empire. Over 1.5 million Armenians were killed. Many Armenians fled the country. They had to set up new and different lives in many different countries including, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Iran etc. One of the reasons you will bump into an Armenian today in all four corners of the world!
  • Armenia declared independence in 1918. The government lasted only for 2 years before joining the Soviet Regime.
  • In the 1940’s the first major influx of Armenians occurred from the diaspora.
  • A major earthquake hit Armenia in 1988. The earthquake killed tens of thousands of people and destroyed multiple towns in northern Armenia, such as Leninakan (modern-day Gyumri) and Spitak.
  • In 1991 Armenia declared independence after the Soviet collapse. Armenia faced many challenges during its first years as a sovereign state. Several Armenian organizations from around the world quickly arrived to offer aid and contribute to the newly independent Republic.
  • In 2005 a guy who liked to travel came to Armenia and established Envoy! (Well this is indeed a significant history for us).