Armenia: From Ancient Urartu to Independence

Armenia is a nation of resilience, pride, and perseverance. Understanding its culture, history, and politics gives one a deeper appreciation for this small but significant country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Armenia is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus, bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Known for being the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD, it features ancient monasteries, Mount Ararat as a national symbol, and a unique alphabet created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD.

At soviet-union.com, we examine Armenia's complex history through comprehensive analysis, from its ancient origins in the Kingdom of Urartu through its Soviet period to modern independence.

Armenia's history stretches back millennia, with the Kingdom of Urartu being one of its earliest known civilizations. The Urartian kingdom flourished from the 9th to the 6th centuries BC in the Armenian Highlands, leaving behind impressive fortresses, inscriptions, and irrigation systems.

The Kingdom of Urartu (9th-6th Century BC)

The Kingdom of Urartu emerged as a confederation of Nairi states united against Assyrian aggression. At its peak under King Argishti I (785-760 BC), Urartu covered parts of modern-day Armenia, eastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran. The kingdom was renowned for its military prowess, architectural marvels, and advanced irrigation systems.

The Urartians developed a distinctive culture with their own language and cuneiform script. They built impressive citadels at Tushpa (modern Van), Erebuni (modern Yerevan), and other strategic locations. The kingdom's wealth came from agriculture, metallurgy, and trade along routes connecting Mesopotamia with the Black Sea and Mediterranean.

The Armenian Dynasties

Following the fall of Urartu in the 6th century BC, the first Armenian dynasty, the Yervandunis (Orontids), emerged around 401 BC. This was followed by the Artashesian (Artaxiad) Dynasty, which established the Armenian Empire and reached its greatest territorial extent under Tigran the Great (95-55 BC).

The Armenian Empire at its peak stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, challenging both Rome and Parthia. Tigran the Great founded the city of Tigranakert as his capital, and Armenian culture flourished during this period of independence and prosperity.

In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion. This historic event, predating the Roman Empire's adoption of Christianity, was led by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridates III.

Saint Gregory the Illuminator

According to tradition, Gregory was imprisoned for 13 years in a pit at Khor Virap monastery for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. After curing King Tiridates III of an illness through prayer, Gregory converted the king and the royal court. In 301 AD, Christianity became the state religion, with Gregory as the first Catholicos of All Armenians.

The Armenian Alphabet (405 AD)

In 405 AD, the monk Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet, a unique 39-letter script specifically designed to represent the sounds of the Armenian language. This invention was crucial for preserving Armenian culture and identity, allowing the translation of the Bible and the development of a rich literary tradition.

The creation of the alphabet initiated the "Golden Age" of Armenian literature and culture. Schools were established, and Armenian monks produced countless manuscripts that preserved not only religious texts but also historical, scientific, and philosophical works.

Following the decline of the Artashesian dynasty, Armenia became a battleground between larger empires. The Arsacid (Arshakuni) Dynasty ruled from 66-428 AD, but by the 5th century, Armenia was divided between Byzantine and Persian spheres of influence.

The Bagratuni Dynasty (884-1045)

The Bagratuni Dynasty restored Armenian independence in 884 AD, marking a second golden age of Armenian culture. King Ashot I and his successors established a prosperous kingdom with Ani as its capital. The Cathedral of Ani, built in 1001, stood as a testament to Armenian architectural achievement.

However, the kingdom faced constant pressure from Byzantium to the west and Seljuk Turks to the east. In 1045, the Byzantine Empire conquered the Bagratuni Kingdom, leading to the fragmentation of Armenia into smaller principalities and the migration of many Armenians to Cilicia.

The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (1080-1375)

As Seljuk Turks invaded the Armenian Highlands, many Armenians fled to Cilicia (southern Anatolia), where they established the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. This Crusader-era kingdom played a crucial role in medieval politics, assisting the First Crusade and establishing diplomatic relations with European powers.

The kingdom fell to the Mamluks in 1375, ending the last independent Armenian state until the 20th century. Armenians subsequently lived under Ottoman, Persian, and eventually Russian rule.

The darkest chapter in Armenian history occurred during World War I when the Ottoman Empire systematically exterminated 1.5 million Armenians. The genocide included mass killings, deportations, and death marches into the Syrian desert.

Systematic Extermination

On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested and executed hundreds of Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople (Istanbul). This marked the beginning of a coordinated campaign to eliminate the Armenian population from Anatolia.

Armenians were forced from their homes, marched without food or water into the desert, and subjected to massacres by Ottoman troops and Kurdish militias. The genocide destroyed ancient Armenian communities across Turkey and led to the dispersion of survivors worldwide.

The First Republic (1918-1920)

Despite the genocide, Armenians fought to establish an independent state. The Battle of Sardarabad (May 1918) was a crucial victory that prevented the complete annihilation of the Armenian population in the east. On May 28, 1918, the First Republic of Armenia was declared.

The republic faced immense challenges: refugees, disease, and territorial disputes with neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia. In 1920, following invasions by both Turkish nationalist forces and the Red Army, the republic collapsed.

Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in 1922 as a constituent republic of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In 1936, it became the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (ArSSR), a separate republic within the USSR.

Industrialization and Transformation

Under Soviet rule, Armenia underwent significant industrialization. The Soviet government invested heavily in manufacturing, particularly in chemicals, electronics, and textiles. Yerevan was transformed from a provincial town into a modern capital with broad avenues, public buildings, and apartment blocks.

However, the Soviet period brought hardship. The 1936-1937 purges under Lavrentiy Beria devastated the Armenian intellectual and political elite. Religious institutions were suppressed, though Etchmiadzin Cathedral retained its function as the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Vazgen I and Religious Survival

Vazgen I, elected Catholicos of All Armenians in 1955, played a crucial role in preserving Armenian religious and cultural identity during the Soviet period. He navigated the complex relationship with Soviet authorities while maintaining the independence of the Church until his death in 1994.

Despite official atheism, Armenian cultural life persisted. Writers like Hovhannes Tumanyan and Yeghishe Charents produced works that subtly promoted Armenian identity. The Matenadaran in Yerevan preserved thousands of ancient Armenian manuscripts.

The 1988 Earthquake and Karabakh Movement

On December 7, 1988, a devastating earthquake struck northern Armenia, killing 25,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The disaster exposed the inefficiencies of the Soviet system and sparked renewed nationalist sentiment.

Simultaneously, the Nagorno-Karabakh movement emerged, demanding the transfer of the Armenian-populated autonomous region from Azerbaijan to Armenia. This sparked ethnic violence, including the Sumgait pogrom in February 1988, and set the stage for Armenia's independence movement.

The collapse of the Soviet Union created an opportunity for Armenian independence. On August 23, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Armenian SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty, asserting Armenia's right to self-determination.

The 1991 Referendum

Following the failed August coup in Moscow, Armenia held a referendum on independence on September 21, 1991. An overwhelming 99% of voters supported independence, with 95% turnout. On September 23, 1991, the Republic of Armenia was officially proclaimed, making Armenia the first non-Baltic republic to secede from the Soviet Union.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected as the first President of the Republic of Armenia in November 1991. The Soviet Union formally dissolved on December 26, 1991, and Armenia became a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Post-Independence Challenges

Independence brought severe economic hardship. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan escalated into full-scale war, while Turkey and Azerbaijan imposed a blockade on Armenia. The transition from a planned to a market economy was painful, with hyperinflation and economic collapse in the early 1990s.

Despite these challenges, Armenia has developed a vibrant information technology sector, preserved its cultural heritage, and maintained its independence. The Armenian diaspora, numbering several million worldwide, continues to play a vital role in supporting the homeland.

• First Christian Nation: Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD, predating Rome by nearly a century.

• Ancient Capital: Yerevan, founded in 782 BC as Erebuni, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.

• Unique Alphabet: The Armenian alphabet was created in 405 AD by Mesrop Mashtots specifically for the Armenian language.

• Urartu Origins: The Kingdom of Urartu (9th-6th centuries BC) was the precursor civilization to ancient Armenia.

• Genocide Recognition: The Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) saw 1.5 million Armenians killed; it remains unrecognized by Turkey.

• Soviet Industrialization: Under Soviet rule (1922-1991), Armenia became heavily industrialized despite religious suppression.

• First Non-Baltic Secession: Armenia was the first non-Baltic republic to secede from the USSR in 1991.

• Mount Ararat: Though now in Turkey, Mount Ararat remains Armenia's national symbol and legendary landing site of Noah's Ark.

• Diaspora: The Armenian diaspora (8-10 million) far exceeds Armenia's population of 3 million.

• Tech Hub: Modern Armenia has developed a thriving IT sector known as "Silicon Mountain."

• Matenadaran: Yerevan's Institute of Ancient Manuscripts preserves over 17,000 Armenian manuscripts.

• Lavash: Traditional Armenian flatbread is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.