NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Armenian kingdom

The Republic of Armenia, or Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստան, Hayastan, Հայք, Hayq), is a landlocked Eurasian country in the Caucasus region, bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran (Persia) and the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan to the south. Armenia is a member of the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States and for centuries has been on the crossroads between the east and west. Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... Coat of Arms of Armenia (detail) This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The national flag of Armenia consists of three horizontal bands, colored red, blue and orange. ... The Coat of Arms of Armenia consist of an eagle and lion standing with a shield. ... This page lists state and national mottos for the worlds independent states and their subdivisions. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is formally recognized by a countrys government as their official national song. ... Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland) is the national anthem of Armenia. ... This country locator map was created by Vardion and is released into the public domain. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital â€” although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Yerevan (Armenian: ÔµÖ€Õ¥Ö‚Õ¡Õ¶ or ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶; sometimes written as Erevan; former names include Erivan and Erebuni) (population: 1,088,300 (2004 estimate) [1]) is one of the provinces in Armenia and the largest city and capital of Armenia. ... Demographics of Armenia, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ... Yerevan (Armenian: ÔµÖ€Õ¥Ö‚Õ¡Õ¶ or ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶; sometimes written as Erevan; former names include Erivan and Erebuni) (population: 1,088,300 (2004 estimate) [1]) is one of the provinces in Armenia and the largest city and capital of Armenia. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in a country, state, or other territory. ... There have been two Presidents of Armenia since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. ... The Prime Minister of Armenia is the most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to oversee the Governments regular activities [and] coordinate the work of the Ministers. ... It has been suggested that The republican form of government be merged into this article or section. ... Robert Kocharian (Armenian: ) (born August 31, 1954) is the second president of the third republic of Armenia. ... Andranik Markaryan (Armenian: Անդրանիկ Մարգարյան) (born June 12, 1951) has been Prime Minister of Armenia since May 12, 2000. ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 kmÂ² and 1,000,000 kmÂ². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population, estimated for the year 2005. ... List of countries/dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The figures in the following table are based on areas including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... These are two lists of countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... This is a list of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita for the year of 2004, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, divided by the average population for... World map indicating HDI of UN member states, 2003. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... World map indicating HDI of UN member states, 2003. ... Symbol: None 1/100th unit: luma USD exchange: 452 (July 2005) GBP exchange: 790 (July 2005) The Dram (AMD) is the monetary unit of Armenia. ... ISO 4217 is an international standard describing three letter codes to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Time zones are areas of the Earth that have adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Daylight saving time (also called DST) is the North American term for a system intended to save daylight (the British observe summer time, and likewise the Europeans). ... UTC also stands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, the basis for civil time, differs by an integral number of seconds from atomic time and a fractional number of seconds from UT1. ... Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time or Z, is an atomic realization of Universal Time (UT) or Greenwich Mean Time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... DST is an abbreviation which stands for: Daylight Saving Time Data Storage and Transfer, a tape format for data backup developed by Ampex Desktop Support Technician Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire (Directorate of Territorial Surveillance), the French domestic intelligence agency Direct Stream Transfer, lossless compression used for SACD Discrete... Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time or Z, is an atomic realization of Universal Time (UT) or Greenwich Mean Time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... The following is a list of currently existing Internet Top-level domains (TLDs). ... .am is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Armenia, a former republic of the Soviet Union. ... // At a glance In depth Zone 1 â€“ North American Numbering Plan Area nanpa. ... Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ... The term Eurasian refers to the cultural ties and linkages between those in a wider view of the Eurasian continent, centering on the Silk Road, and Central Asia. ... The Entholinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map The Caucasus, a region bordering Asia Minor, is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding lowlands. ... National motto: none Official language Azerbaijani Capital Nakhichevan (city) Head of State Ilham Aliyev Parliamentary Chairman Vagif Talybov Area - Total - % water 5,500 kmÂ² negligible Population - Total 310,000 Establishment - Declared - Recognition 1991 recognized internationally only as part of Azerbaijan Currency Azerbaijani Manat Time zone - in summer EET (UTC+4... D is Bs exclave, but is not an enclave. ... The Palace of Europe in Strasbourg The Council of Europe is an international organizations of 46 member states in the European region. ... Flag of the CIS The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Ð¡Ð¾Ð´Ñ€ÑƒÐ¶ÐµÑÑ‚Ð²Ð¾ ÐÐµÐ·Ð°Ð²Ð¸ÑÐ¸Ð¼Ñ‹Ñ… Ð“Ð¾ÑÑƒÐ´Ð°Ñ€ÑÑ‚Ð² (Ð¡ÐÐ“) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation, or alliance, consisting of 11 former Soviet Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. ...

Origin of the name

The original Armenian name for the country was Hayq, later Hayastan, translated as the land of Haik, and consisting of the name Haik and the Persian suffix '-stan' (land). According to legend, Haik was a great-great-grandson of Noah (son of Togarmah, who was a son of Gomer, a son of Noah's son, Japheth), and according to an ancient Armenian tradition, a forefather of all Armenians. He is said to have settled below Mount Ararat, travelled to assist in building the Tower of Babel, and, after his return, defeated the Babylonian king Bel (believed by some researchers to be Nimrod) on August 11, 2492 BC near Lake Van, in the southern part of historic Armenia (presently in Turkey). Persian (ÙØ§Ø±Ø³ÛŒ = FÃ¢rsi . ... -Stan or -sthan is a suffix that is Persian for home of, Sanskrit for place, and Bulgarian for camp (meaning specifically nomads camp, or a camp of tents or other temporary accommodations). ... Statue of Haik in Yerevan Haik (Also spelled Hayk or Haig) is the legendary patriarch and establisher of the first Armenian nation. ... Noah or NÃ³ach (circa 2104 BCE according to the chronology of the Hebrew Bible/Tanakh) (Rest, Standard Hebrew × ×•Ö¹×—Ö· (NÃ³aá¸¥), Tiberian Hebrew (); Arabic Ù†ÙˆØ ()), is a Biblical figure who, according to Genesis, built an ark to save his family and each species of the worlds animals from the Deluge... In the Torah, Togarmah is listed in the genealogy of nations as the son of Gomer, and grandson of Japheth (Gen. ... Gomer can refer to several things: Gomer, eldest son of Japheth, mentioned in the Old Testament Books of Genesis and Ezekiel; often equated with the Cimmerians (Gimirru), and identified by Flavius Josephus with the Galatians. ... Japheth (×™Ö¶×¤Ö¶×ª / ×™Ö¸×¤Ö¶×ª enlarge, Standard Hebrew YÃ©fet / YÃ¡fet, Tiberian Hebrew YÃ©pÌ„eá¹¯ / YÄpÌ„eá¹¯) is one of the sons of Noah in the Bible. ... Mount Ararat (Turkish AÄŸrÄ± DaÄŸÄ±; Armenian Ô±Ö€Õ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ¿; Kurdish Ã‡Ã®yayÃª AgirÃ®; Persian Ø¢Ø±Ø§Ø±Ø§Øª Ararat; Hebrew ××¨×¨×˜, Standard Hebrew Ararat, Tiberian Hebrew ), the tallest peak in modern Turkey, is a snow-capped dormant volcanic cone, located in the far northeast of Turkey, 16 km west of Iran and 32 km south of Armenia. ... The Confusion of Tongues by Gustave DorÃ© According to the narrative in Genesis Chapter 11 of the Bible, the Tower of Babel was a tower built by a united humanity to reach the heavens. ... Babylon is the Greek variant of Akkadian Babilu, Ü’Ü’Ü in Assyrian, an ancient city in Mesopotamia (Location: , , modern Al Hillah, Iraq). ... Nimrod has been the name of more than one person, place, or thing. ... Lake Van from space, September 1996 Lake Van Landsat photo Lake Van (Turkish: Van GÃ¶lÃ¼, in Armenian: ÕŽÕ¡Õ¶Õ¡ Õ¬Õ«Õ³) is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country. ...

Hayq was given the name Armenia by the surrounding states, as it was the name of the strongest tribe living in the historic Armenian lands, who called themselves Armens. It is traditionally derived from Armenak or Aram (the great-grandson of Haik's great-grandson, and another leader who is, according to Armenian tradition, the ancestor of all Armenians). Some Jewish and Christian scholars write that the name 'Armenia' was derived from Har-Minni, that is 'Mountains of Minni' (or Mannai). Pre-Christian accounts suggest that Nairi, meaning land of rivers, was an ancient name for the country's mountainous region, first used by Assyrians around 1200 BC; while the first recorded inscription bearing the name Armenia, namely the Behistun Inscription in Iran, dates from 521 BC. The Mannaeans were an ancient people of Asia Minor, occupying the region East of Assyria and South-East of Urartu, in present-day North-West Iran. ... It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ... (Redirected from 1200 BC) Centuries: 14th century BC - 13th century BC - 12th century BC Decades: 1250s BC 1240s BC 1230s BC 1220s BC 1210s BC - 1200s BC - 1190s BC 1180s BC 1170s BC 1160s BC 1150s BC Events and Trends 1204 BC - Theseus, legendary King of Athens is deposed after... The Behistun Inscription, carved into a cliffside, gives the same text in three languages, telling the story of King Darius conquests. ... Centuries: 7th century BC - 6th century BC - 5th century BC Decades: 570s BC - 560s BC - 550s BC - 540s BC - 530s BC - 520s BC - 510s BC - 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC Events 529 BC - Cambyses II succeeds his father Cyrus as ruler of Persia. ...

History

Armenia has been populated by humans since prehistoric times, and has been proposed as the site of the Biblical Garden of Eden. // Prehistory Archaeologists refer to the Shulaveri-Shomu culture of the central Transcaucasus region, including modern Armenia, as the earliest known prehistoric culture in the area, carbon-dated to roughly 6000 - 4000 BC. However, a recently discovered tomb has been dated to 9000 BC. Another early culture in the Armenian Highland... The Fall of Man by Lucas Cranach, a 16th century German depiction of Eden The Garden of Eden (from Hebrew Gan Eden, ×’Ö·Ö¼×Ÿ ×¢Öµ×“Ö¶×Ÿ) was, according to the Book of Genesis, the place where the first man Adam lived, after he was created by God. ...

Armenia was a regional empire with a rich culture in the years leading up to the 1st century, spanning from the shores of the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea during the rule of Tigranes the Great. The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 AD to 100 AD, or from 0 to 99 in a more scientific notation (using a year zero), as in astronomical year numbering. ... Map of the Black Sea. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). ... Satellite image The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. ... This article is about a king of Armenia in the 1st century BC. For other historical figures with the same name (including other kings of Armenia) see Tigranes. ...

Armenia's strategic location between two continents has subjected it to invasions by many peoples, including the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks and Mongols. It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ... The Persians of Iran (officially named Persia by West until 1935 while still referred to as Persia by some) are an Iranian people who speak Persian (locally named FÃ¢rsi by native speakers) and often refer to themselves as ethnic Iranians as well. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered around its capital in Constantinople. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... The Mongols are an ethnic group that originated in what is now Mongolia, Russia, and China, particularly Inner Mongolia. ...

In AD 301, Armenia became the first state to adopt Christianity as its official state religion, twelve years before the Roman Empire granted Christianity official toleration under Galerius, and some 30-40 years before Constantine was baptised. There had been various pagan communities before Christianity, but they were converted by an influx of Christian missionaries. For other uses, see number 301. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... A state religion (also called an established church or state church) is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state. ... Galerius on a coin Galerius Maximianus (c. ... Paganism (from Latin paganus) and Heathenry are catch-all terms which have come to connote a broad set of spiritual/religious beliefs and practices of a natural religion, as opposed to the Abrahamic religions. ...

Having changed between various dynasties -- including Parthian (Iranian), Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol and Persian occupations -- Armenia was substantially weakened. In 1500's, the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia divided Armenia among themselves. Reproduction of a Parthian warrior as depicted on Trajans Column The Parthian Empire was the dominating force on the Iranian plateau beginning in the late 3rd century BCE, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca 190 BCE and 224 CE. Origins Bust of Parthian soldier, Esgh-abad Museum, Turkmenia. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... The Arabs (Arabic: Ø¹Ø±Ø¨ Ê»arab) are a large and heterogeneous ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa, originating in the Arabian Peninsula of southwest Asia. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... Motto: Independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic (Persian: EsteqlÄl, ÄzÄdÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslÄmÄ«) Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e ÄªrÄn Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Official language(s) Persian (Farsi) Government Supreme Leader President Islamic republic Ali Khamenei Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Revolution Declared Against Reza Pahlavi February... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40... The Safavids were a long-lasting Turkic-speaking Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736 and first established Shiite Islam as Persias official religion. ...

In 1813 and 1828, present-day Armenia (consisting of the Erivan and Karabakh khanates within Persia) was temporarily incorporated into the Russian Empire. After a short-lived independent republic established after the Bolshevik Revolution in Petrograd, Armenia was incorporated into the USSR. Between 1922 and 1936 it existed as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (with Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), and from 1936 to 1991 as the Armenian SSR. Yerevan (Armenian: Երեվան or Երևան; sometimes written as Erevan; former names include Erivan and Erebuni) (population: 1,201,539 (1989 census); 1,088,300 (2004 estimate)[1]) is the largest city and capital of Armenia. ... Karabakh is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. ... For the Star Trek character see Khan Noonien Singh. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of Russian history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... The October Revolution, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was the second phase of the Russian Revolution, the first having been instigated by the events around the February Revolution. ... Saint Petersburg listen (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and Petrograd (Петрогра́д, 1914–1924), is a city located in Northwestern Russia on the delta of the river Neva at the east end of the Gulf of... Coat of arms of the TSFSR The Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic was a short-lived (1922-1936) Soviet republic, consisting of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, which were traditionally known as the Transcaucasian Republics in the Soviet Union. ... State motto: ÕŠÖ€Õ¸Õ¬Õ¥Õ¿Õ¡Ö€Õ¶Õ¥Ö€ Õ¢Õ¸Õ¬Õ¸Ö€ Õ¥Ö€Õ¯Ö€Õ¶Õ¥Ö€Õ«, Õ´Õ«Õ¡ÖÕ¥Ö„! Official language None. ...

During the final years of the Ottoman Empire (1915-1922), a large proportion of Armenians living in Anatolia perished as a result of what is termed the Armenian Genocide, regarded by Armenians and the vast majority of Western historians to have been state-sponsored mass killings. Turkish authorities, however, maintain that the deaths were a result of a civil war coupled with disease and famine, with casualties incurred by both sides. Most estimates for the number of Armenians killed range from 650,000 to 1,500,000, and these events are traditionally commemorated yearly on April 24. Armenians and a handful of other countries worldwide have been campaigning for official recognition of the events as genocide for over 30 years, but there are also many countries who are pressured not to officially characterize the Armenian massacres as Genocide. Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Asia Minor lies east of the Bosporus, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. ... The Armenian Genocide The Armenian Genocide (also known as the Armenian Holocaust or the Armenian Massacre) is a term which refer to the forced mass evacuation and related deaths of hundreds of thousands or over a million Armenians, during the government of Young Turks from 1915 to 1917 in Ottoman... A civil war is a war in which the competing parties within the same country or empire struggle for national control of state power. ... A famine is a phenomenon in which a large percentage of the population of a region or country are so undernourished that death by starvation becomes increasingly common. ... The estimation of Armenian deaths between 1914 to 1923 during what is called the Armenian Genocide and what followed as the Turkish War of Independence is a subject of controversy. ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ...

Armenia remained preoccupied by a long conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mostly Armenian-populated enclave that, Armenians allege, Stalin had placed in Soviet Azerbaijan. A military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan began in 1988, and the fighting escalated after both countries gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces controlled not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also the surrounding districts of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both countries have been hurt in the absence of a peaceful resolution. Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... C is As enclave and Bs exclave. ... Iosif (usually anglicized as Joseph) Vissarionovich Stalin (Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин), original name Ioseb Jughashvili (Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვილი; see Other names section) (December 21, 1879[1] – March 5, 1953) was a Bolshevik revolutionary and leader of the Soviet Union. ... An armistice is the effective end of a war, when the warring parties agree to stop fighting. ... Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ...

Politics

The Government of Armenia's stated aim is to build a Western-style parliamentary democracy as the basis of its form of government. However, international observers have questioned the fairness of Armenia's parliamentary and presidential elections and constitutional referenda since 1995, citing polling deficiencies, lack of cooperation by the electoral commission, and poor maintenance of electoral lists and polling places. For the most part however, Armenia is considered one of the more pro-democratic nations in the Commonwealth of Independent States. ... A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The Electorial Commission is an independent body with powers in the United Kingdom, which was created by an Act of Parliament, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. ... Flag of the CIS The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Ð¡Ð¾Ð´Ñ€ÑƒÐ¶ÐµÑÑ‚Ð²Ð¾ ÐÐµÐ·Ð°Ð²Ð¸ÑÐ¸Ð¼Ñ‹Ñ… Ð“Ð¾ÑÑƒÐ´Ð°Ñ€ÑÑ‚Ð² (Ð¡ÐÐ“) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation, or alliance, consisting of 11 former Soviet Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. ...

The unicameral parliament (also called the National Assembly) is controlled by a coalition of three political parties: the conservative Republican party [1], the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and the Country of Law party. The main opposition is composed of several smaller parties joined in the Justice Bloc. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) (Armenian: Hay Heghapokhakan Dashnaktsutiun Dashnaktsutiun, Dashnak, or Tashnak) is an Armenian political party founded in Georgia in 1890 by Christofor Mikaelian, Rostom Zarian, and Simon Zavarian. ... Rule of Law is a political party in Armenia, led by Artur Bagdasarian. ...

Armenians voted overwhelmingly for independence in a September 1991 referendum. Levon Ter-Petrossian was president until January 1998, when public demonstrations against his increasingly authoritarian regime and his domestic and foreign policies forced his resignation. In 1999, as the Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, parliament Speaker Karen Demirchian, and six other officials were killed in the attack on the National Assembly [2], the country experienced a period of political instability. President Robert Kocharian was successful in riding out the unrest, and currently rules with the support of the parliamentary coalition. Levon Ter-Petrossian (born January 9, 1945 in Aleppo, Syria in a family of a Syrian Communist) was the President of Armenia from 1991 to 1998. ... Vasgen Sarkissian (1959 - October 26, 1999), also known as Vazgen Sarkisyan, was Prime Minister of Armenia for the Republican Party of Armenia from June 1999 until his death. ... Karen Serobovich Demirchyan (Yerevan Soviet Union 17 April 1932 - Yerevan Armenia 27 October 1999) was Armenian Communist Party first secretary from 1974 to 1988. ... Robert Kocharian (Armenian: ) (born August 31, 1954) is the second president of the third republic of Armenia. ...

Administrative Provinces

Armenia is divided into 11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz): File links The following pages link to this file: Armenia Categories: GFDL images | Armenia images | Caucasus maps ... This article is about political regions. ...

Aragatsotn is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia. ... Ararat (Armenian: ) is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia with capital in Artashat. ... Armavir (Armenian: ) is a province (marz) of Armenia with capital in Armavir. ... Armenian province Gegharkunik Gegharkunik (Ô³Õ¥Õ²Õ¡Ö€Ö„Õ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ«Ö„) is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia. ... Kotayk is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia . ... Lorri is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia. ... Shirak is one of the provinces of Armenia. ... Syunik is one of the provinces of Armenia. ... Categories: Stub | Provinces of Armenia ... Vayots Dzor is one of the provinces (marz) of Armenia. ... Yerevan (Armenian: ÔµÖ€Õ¥Ö‚Õ¡Õ¶ or ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶; sometimes written as Erevan; former names include Erivan and Erebuni) (population: 1,088,300 (2004 estimate) [1]) is one of the provinces in Armenia and the largest city and capital of Armenia. ...

Geography

Armenia is a landlocked country in the southern Caucasus. Located between the Black and Caspian Seas, Armenia is bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan, and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey. Though geographically in Western Asia, politically and culturally Armenia is closely aligned with Europe. Historically, Armenia has been at the crossroads between southeastern Europe and western Asia, and is therefore considered a transcontinental nation. Map of Armenia. ... Map of Armenia. ... Armenia is a landlocked country in Asia Minor, between the Black and Caspian Seas, bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey. ... A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ... The Transcaucasus is a region covering the majority of Caucasus mountain range. ... Map of the Black Sea. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). ... Southwest Asia (PDF) Southwest Asia (often confused with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. ... World map showing Asia. ... A transcontinental nation is a country belonging to more than one continent. ...

The Republic of Armenia, covering an area of 30,000 sq km, is located in the north-east of the Armenian Highland (covering 400,000 sq km), otherwise known as historic Armenia and considered as the original homeland of Armenians. Armenian Highland (Armenian Upland) is part of the Transcaucasian Highland and constitutes the continuation of the Caucasus mountains. ...

The terrain is mostly mountainous, with fast flowing rivers and few forests. The climate is highland continental: hot summers and cold winters. The land rises to 4,095 m above sea-level at Mount Aragats, and no point is below 400 m above sea level. Mount Ararat, regarded by the Armenians as a symbol of their land, is the highest mountain in the region and used to be part of Armenia until around 1915, when it fell to the Turks. Mount McKinley in Alaska has one of the largest visible base-to-summit elevation differences anywhere For other uses of this term, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... For the Second World War frigate class, see River class frigate The Murray River in Australia A waterfall on the Ova da Fedoz, Switzerland A river is a large natural waterway. ... This article is about forests as a massing of trees. ... A continental climate is the climate typical of the middle-latitude interiors of the large continents of the Northern Hemisphere in the zone of westerly winds; similar climates exist along the east coasts (but not the west coasts) of the same continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other... The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... Mount Aragats (Ô±Ö€Õ¡Õ£Õ¡Õ® in Armenian) is the highest point in Armenia, and one of the highest mountains in the world. ... For other meanings of Ararat, see Ararat (disambiguation) Mount Ararat (Turkish Ağrı; Armenian Արարատ; Persian آرارات; Hebrew אררט, Standard Hebrew Ararat, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĂrārāṭ), the tallest peak in modern Turkey, is a snow_capped dormant volcanic cone, located in the far northeast of Turkey, 16 km west of Iran and 32...

Armenia is trying to address its environmental problems. It has established a Ministry of Nature Protection and introduced taxes for air and water pollution and solid waste disposal, whose revenues are used for environmental protection activities. Armenia is interested in cooperating with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS, a group of 12 former Soviet republics) and with members of the international community on environmental issues. The Armenian Government is working toward closing its Nuclear Power Plant at Medzamor near Yerevan as soon as alternative energy sources are identified. An environment is a complex of external factors. ... Flag of the CIS The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Ð¡Ð¾Ð´Ñ€ÑƒÐ¶ÐµÑÑ‚Ð²Ð¾ ÐÐµÐ·Ð°Ð²Ð¸ÑÐ¸Ð¼Ñ‹Ñ… Ð“Ð¾ÑÑƒÐ´Ð°Ñ€ÑÑ‚Ð² (Ð¡ÐÐ“) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation, or alliance, consisting of 11 former Soviet Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. ... Soviet redirects here. ... Yerevan (Armenian: ÔµÖ€Õ¥Ö‚Õ¡Õ¶ or ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶; sometimes written as Erevan; former names include Erivan and Erebuni) (population: 1,088,300 (2004 estimate) [1]) is one of the provinces in Armenia and the largest city and capital of Armenia. ...

Economy

Until independence, Armenia's economy was largely industry-based – chemicals, electronics, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textile – and highly dependent on outside resources. Agriculture contributed only 20% of net material product and 10% of employment before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenian mines produce copper, zinc, gold, and lead. The vast majority of energy is produced with fuel imported from Russia, including gas and nuclear fuel (for its one nuclear power plant); the main domestic energy source is hydroelectric. Small amounts of coal, gas, and petroleum have not yet been developed. Armenia is the second most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. ... A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... Two digital voltmeters The field of electronics is the study and use of systems that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. ... Synthetic rubber is a type of artificially-made polymer material which acts as an elastomer. ... It has been suggested that Textile manufacturing be merged into this article or section. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ... It has been suggested that Gold bar be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... For the workstation, see SGI Fuel. ... A gas is one of the four main phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma), that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors generating nuclear power. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (strip mining). ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra â€“ rock and elaion â€“ oil or Latin oleum â€“ oil ), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ...

Like other newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, Armenia's economy suffers from the legacy of a centrally planned economy and the breakdown of former Soviet trading patterns. Soviet investment in and support of Armenian industry has virtually disappeared, so that few major enterprises are still able to function. In addition, the effects of the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, which killed more than 25,000 people and made 500,000 homeless, are still being felt. The conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has not been resolved. The closure of Azerbaijani and Turkish borders has devastated the economy, because Armenia depends on outside supplies of energy and most raw materials. Land routes through Georgia and Iran are inadequate or unreliable. GDP fell nearly 60% from 1989 until 1992–1993. The national currency, the dram, suffered hyperinflation for the first years after its introduction in 1993. A planned economy is an economic system in which economic decisions are made by centralized planners, who determine what sorts of goods and services to produce, and how they are to be priced and allocated. ... The Spitak Earthquake was a tremor, measuring 6. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Nevertheless, the government was able to make wide-ranging economic reforms that paid off in dramatically lower inflation and steady growth. The 1994 cease-fire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has also helped the economy. Armenia has had strong economic growth since 1995, building on the turnaround that began the previous year, and inflation has been negligible for the past several years. New sectors, such as precious stone processing and jewelry making, information and communication technology, and even tourism are beginning to supplement more traditional sectors in the economy, such as agriculture. A gemstone is a mineral, rock (as in lapis lazuli) or petrified material that when cut or faceted and polished is collectible or can be used in jewellery. ... Jewelry (the American spelling; spelled jewellery in Commonwealth English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ... Category: ... The know-how that goes into a given medium. ... Tourist redirects here; for the album by Athlete, see Tourist (album) Tourism is the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ...

This steady economic progress has earned Armenia increasing support from international institutions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and other international financial institutions (IFIs) and foreign countries are extending considerable grants and loans. Loans to Armenia since 1993 exceed $1.1 billion. These loans are targeted at reducing the budget deficit, stabilizing the currency; developing private businesses; energy; the agriculture, food processing, transportation, and health and education sectors; and ongoing rehabilitation in the earthquake zone. The government joined the World Trade Organization on February 5, 2003. But one of the main sources of foreign direct investments remains the Armenian diaspora, which finances major parts of the reconstruction of infrastructure and other public projects. Being a growing democratic state, Armenia also hopes to get more financial aid from the Western World. The logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means... Founded in 1991, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from central Europe to central Asia. ... WTO Logo The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international, multilateral organization which sets the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes between its member states, all of whom are signatories to its about 30 agreements. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A liberal foreign investment law was approved in June 1994, and a Law on Privatization was adopted in 1997, as well as a program on state property privatization. Continued progress will depend on the ability of the government to strengthen its macroeconomic management, including increasing revenue collection, improving the investment climate, and making strides against corruption.

In the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom, Armenia ranked 27th best, tied with Japan and ahead of countries like Norway, Spain, Portugal and Italy.[3] The Index of Economic Freedom is an annual report published by The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation. ...

Demographics

Armenia has a population of 2,982,904 (July 2005 est.) and is the second most densely populated of the former Soviet republics. There has been a problem of population decline due to elevated levels of emigration after the break-up of the USSR. The rates of emigration and population decline, however, have been decreasing in the recent years, a trend which is expected to continue. In fact Armenia is expected to resume its positive population growth by 2010. Demographics of Armenia, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ... Emigration is the act and the phenomenon of leaving ones native country to settle abroad. ...

Ethnic Armenians make up 97.9% of the population. Most Azerbaijanis, once a sizable population, have left since independence, and nearly all of the Armenians in Azerbaijan now live in Nagorno-Karabakh and the occupied territories. There is a large Armenian diaspora, with communities existing all over the world. Kurds make up 1.3%, and Russians 0.5%. There are smaller communities of Assyrians, Georgians, Greeks and Ukrainians. Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... Look up Diaspora in Wiktionary, the free dictionary The term diaspora (Ancient Greek Î´Î¹Î±ÏƒÏ€Î¿ÏÎ¬, a scattering or sowing of seeds) is used (without capitalization) to refer to any people or ethnic population forced or induced to leave their traditional ethnic homelands; being dispersed throughout other parts of the world, and the... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... It has been suggested that Assyrian people be merged into this article or section. ...

The predominant religion in Armenia is Christianity. The roots of the Armenian Church go back to the 1st century AD. According to tradition, the Armenian Church was founded by two of Jesus' twelve apostles--Thaddaeus and Bartholomew--who preached Christianity in Armenia in the 40's-60's AD. Because of these two founding apostles, the official name of the Armenian Church is Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in AD 301. Over 93% of Armenian Christians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, a form of Oriental (Non-Chalcedonian) Orthodoxy, which is a very ritualistic, conservative church, roughly comparable to the Coptic and Syrian churches. Armenia also has a population of Catholics (both Roman and Mekhitarist - Armenian Uniate (180,000)), evangelical Protestantsand followers of the Armenian traditional religion. The Yazidi Kurds, who live in the western part of the country, practise Yazidism. The Armenian Catholic Church is headquartered in Bzoummar, Lebanon. Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... Armenian Church can refer to: Armenian Catholic Church Armenian Apostolic Church External reference and links Jerusalem Photos Archive - Armenian Church in Jerusalem Pictures of Armenian Churches This is a disambiguation page â€” a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 AD to 100 AD, or from 0 to 99 in a more scientific notation (using a year zero), as in astronomical year numbering. ... Armenian Church can refer to: Armenian Catholic Church Armenian Apostolic Church External reference and links Jerusalem Photos Archive - Armenian Church in Jerusalem Pictures of Armenian Churches This is a disambiguation page â€” a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, see Apostles See also London Arch (formerly London Bridge) Loch Ard Gorge The Gibson Steps The Grotto Categories: Australia geography stubs | Cliffs | Geography of Australia ... , by Georges de La Tour. ... Michelangelos The Last Judgement shows Saint Bartholomew holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin. ... For the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, see Apostles See also London Arch (formerly London Bridge) Loch Ard Gorge The Gibson Steps The Grotto Categories: Australia geography stubs | Cliffs | Geography of Australia ... Armenian Church can refer to: Armenian Catholic Church Armenian Apostolic Church External reference and links Jerusalem Photos Archive - Armenian Church in Jerusalem Pictures of Armenian Churches This is a disambiguation page â€” a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Armenian Apostolic Church, sometimes incorrectly called the Armenian Orthodox Church is the worlds oldest national church and one of the original churches, having been founded in 301. ... For other uses, see number 301. ... The Armenian Apostolic Church, sometimes incorrectly called the Armenian Orthodox Church is the worlds oldest national church and one of the original churches, having been founded in 301. ... The Chalcedonian churches are those Christian churches who follow the Christological teachings of the Council of Chalcedon, in contradistinction to Nestorians, Monophysites and Monothelites. ... Christ - Coptic Art Coptic Orthodox Christianity is the indigenous form of Christianity that, according to tradition, the apostle Mark established in Egypt in the middle of the 1st century AD (approximately AD 60). ... Malak Taâ€™us The Yazidi or Yezidi (Kurdish: ÃŠzidÃ®) are adherents of a small Middle Eastern religion with ancient origins. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... The Yezidi or Yazidi (Kurdish; Êzidî) are adherents of a small Middle Eastern religion with ancient origins. ... After the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with the rest of Oriental Orthodoxy formally broke off communion from the Chalcedonian churches, numerous Armenian bishops made attempts to restore communion with the Catholic Church. ...

Ethnic Azeris and Kurds who lived in the country before the Karabakh conflict practised Islam, but most Azeris were driven out of Armenia into Azerbaijan between 1988 and 1991 at the beginning of the conflict. During the same period, Armenia also received a large influx of Armenians scattered throughout Azerbaijan and large number of Azeri population migrated to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijanis or Azerbaijani Turks, are a Muslim people who number more than 25 million worldwide. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Dağlıq Qarabağ or Yuxarı Qarabağ, literally mountainous black garden or upper black garden; Russian: Нагорный Карабах, translit. ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( (helpÂ· info)), the peaceful submission to the will of God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ...

Culture

Armenians have their own highly distinctive alphabet and language. 96% of the people in the country speak Armenian, while 75.8% of the population speaks Russian as well. The adult literacy rate in Armenia is 99% [4]. Most adults in Yerevan can communicate in Russian, while English is increasing in popularity. Download high resolution version (1559x1153, 432 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1559x1153, 432 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Mount Ararat (Turkish AÄŸrÄ± DaÄŸÄ±; Armenian Ô±Ö€Õ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ¿; Kurdish Ã‡Ã®yayÃª AgirÃ®; Persian Ø¢Ø±Ø§Ø±Ø§Øª Ararat; Hebrew ××¨×¨×˜, Standard Hebrew Ararat, Tiberian Hebrew ), the tallest peak in modern Turkey, is a snow-capped dormant volcanic cone, located in the far northeast of Turkey, 16 km west of Iran and 32 km south of Armenia. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3072x2304, 2628 KB) Summary Yerevans Mother Armenia statue. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3072x2304, 2628 KB) Summary Yerevans Mother Armenia statue. ... During some time, Armenia being much apart from the world during 1895-1980, developed a modern and a successful culture. ... Armenian alphabet in Matenadaran Saint Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet in AD 405. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Caucasian hospitality is legendary and stems from ancient tradition. Social gatherings focused around sumptuous presentations of course after course of elaborately prepared, well-seasoned (but not spicy-hot) food. The host or hostess will often put morsels on a guest's plate whenever it is empty or fill his or her glass when it gets low. After a helping or two it is acceptable to refuse politely or, more simply, just leave a little uneaten food. The Entholinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map The Caucasus, a region bordering Asia Minor, is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding lowlands. ...

The National Art Gallery in Yerevan has more than 16,000 works that date back to the Middle Ages. It houses paintings by many European masters. The Modern Art Museum, the Children’s Picture Gallery, and the Martiros Saryan Museum are only a few of the other noteworthy collections of fine art on display in Yerevan. Moreover, many private galleries are in operation, with many more opening each year. They feature rotating exhibitions and sales. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... This article is about the continent. ... Martiros Saryan (1880 - 1972) was a Russian-born Armenian painter. ...

The world-class Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the beautifully refurbished city Opera House, where you can also attend a full season of opera. In addition, several chamber ensembles are highly regarded for their musicianship, including the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia and the Serenade Orchestra. Classical music can also be heard at one of several smaller venues, including the State Music Conservatory and the Chamber Orchestra Hall. Jazz is popular, especially in the summer when live performances are a regular occurrence at one of the city’s many outdoor cafes. The origin of the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia (NCOA) dates back to a time when Armenia was a part of the former Soviet Union. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations in the United States, first enacted by Congress in 1975, exist to regulate and improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks (trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles) sold in the US. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is the sales weighted...

Yerevan’s Vernisage (arts and crafts market), close to Republic Square, bustles with hundreds of vendors selling a variety of crafts, many of superb workmanship, on weekends and Wednesdays (though the selection is much reduced mid-week). The market offers woodcarving, antiques, fine lace, and the hand-knotted wool carpets and kilims that are a Caucasus specialty. Obsidian, which is found locally, is crafted into an amazing assortment of jewelry and ornamental objects. Armenian gold smithery enjoys a long and distinguished tradition, populating one corner of the market with a selection of gold items. Soviet relics and souvenirs of recent Russian manufacture—nesting dolls, watches, enamel boxes and so on, are also available at the Vernisage.

Across from the Opera House, a popular art market fills another city park on the weekends. Armenia’s long history as a crossroads of the ancient world has resulted in a landscape with innumerable fascinating archaeological sites to explore. Medieval, Iron Age, Bronze Age and even Stone Age sites are all within a few hours drive from the city. All but the most spectacular remain virtually undiscovered, allowing visitors to view churches and fortresses in their original settings. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... Stone Age fishing hook. ...

The American University of Armenia has graduate programs in Business and Law, among others. The institution owes its existence to the combined efforts of the Government of Armenia, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, USAID, and the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), established in 1906, is the worldâ€™s largest non-profit Armenian organization. ... University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (also known as California, Cal, UCB, UC Berkeley, The University of California, or simply Berkeley) is a public, coeducational university situated east of the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, California, overlooking the Golden Gate. ...

The extension programs and the library at AUA form a new focal point for English-language intellectual life in the city. Many of the country’s most successful young entrepreneurs are graduates of this institution.

Contents

Origin of the name

History

Politics

Administrative Provinces

Geography

Economy

Demographics

Culture

See also

Miscellaneous topics

External links and references

Contents

Origin of the name GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

History

Politics

Administrative Provinces

Geography

Economy

Demographics

Culture

See also

Miscellaneous topics

External links and references

Origin of the name