Armenia Ancient: history, dates, culture

The history of Ancient Armenia has not been one thousand years old, but the Armenians themselves lived long before the emergence of the nations of modern Europe. They existed before the appearance of ancient peoples - the Romans and Hellenes.

First mentions

In the cuneiforms of the Persian rulers the name "Arminia" is found. Herodotus also mentions "Armen" in his works. According to one version, it was an Indo-European people who moved from Europe in the 12th century. BC. E.

Another hypothesis asserts that the pre-Armenian tribal unions arose for the first time in the Armenian Highlands by the 4th-3rd millennium BC. They are, as some scholars say, found in the poem "Iliad" by Homer under the name "arima".

One of the names of Ancient Armenia - High, - according to the proposals of scientists, comes from the name of the people of "hayasy". This name is mentioned on clay Hittite tables in the II millennium BC. E., Discovered during the archaeological excavations of Hattushasa - the ancient capital of the Hittites.

There is information that the Assyrians called this territory a country of rivers - Nairi. According to one hypothesis, it included 60 different peoples.

At the beginning of the IX. BC. E. Emerged a powerful kingdom of Urartu with Van capital. It is believed that this is the most ancient state on the territory of the Soviet Union. The civilization of Urartu, the successors of which were Armenians, was quite developed. There was a written language based on Babylonia-Assyrian cuneiform, agriculture, cattle breeding, metallurgy.

Urartu was famous for its technology of erecting impregnable fortresses. On the territory of modern Yerevan there were two of them. The first - Erebuni, was built by one of the first kings of Argishti. It was she who gave the name of the modern capital of Armenia. The second, Teishebaini, was founded by Tsar Rus II (685-645 BC). This was the last ruler of Urartu. The state could not resist the powerful Assyria and perished forever from its weapons.

It was replaced by a new state. The first kings of Ancient Armenia were Yeruand and Tigran. Do not confuse the latter with the famous ruler Tigran the Great, who later will terrify the Roman Empire and create a great empire in the East. A new nation has emerged, formed as a result of the assimilation of Indo-Europeans with the local ancient tribes of Hiami and Urartu. From here came a new state - Armenia Ancient with its culture, language.

Vassals of the Persians

At one time Persia was a powerful state. All the peoples living in Asia Minor obeyed them. This fate befell the Armenian kingdom. Domination of Persians over them lasted more than two centuries (550-330 BC).

Greek historians about Persian times

Armenia is an ancient civilization. This is confirmed by many historians of antiquity, for example, Xenophon in the V in BC. E. As a participant in the events, the author of Anabasis described the retreat of 10,000 Greeks to the Black Sea through a country called Armenia Ancient. The Greeks saw the developed economic activity, as well as the life of Armenians. They everywhere found wheat, barley, fragrant wines, lard, various oils - pistachio, sesame, almond. The ancient Hellenes also saw here raisins, capsicum fruits. In addition to crop products, Armenians bred domestic animals: goats, cows, pigs, chickens, horses. Xenophon's data tell the descendants that the people living in this place were economically developed. The abundance of various products is striking. Armenians not only produced food themselves, but also actively engaged in trade with neighboring lands. Of course, Xenophon did not say anything about it, but he listed some products that do not grow in the area.

Strabo in the I century. N. E. Reports that Armenia ancient had very good pastures for horses. The country was not inferior to Media in this regard and supplied horses annually for the Persians. He mentions Strabo about the duties of the Armenian satraps, administrative governors of the Persian rule, the obligation to supply about two thousand young foals in honor of the famous Mitra festival.

Armenian wars in antiquity

The historian Herodotus (fifth century BC) described the Armenian soldiers of that era, their armaments. Soldiers wore small shields, had short spears, swords, darts. On their heads - wicker helmets, they were shod in high shoes.

The Conquest of Armenia by Alexander the Great

The era of Alexander the Great redrew the whole map of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. All the lands of the great Persian empire became part of the new political association under the rule of Macedonia.

After the death of Alexander the Great, the state disintegrates. In the east, the Seleucid state is formed. Once the single territory of the united people was divided into three separate regions within the new country: Great Armenia, located on the Ararat plain, Sophena - between the Euphrates and the upper reaches of the Tigris and Lesser Armenia - between the Euphrates and the upper reaches of Lycos.

The history of ancient Armenia, although it speaks of a constant dependence on other states, shows that it concerned only foreign policy issues, which had a beneficial effect on the development of the future state. It was a kind of prototype of an autonomous republic composed of succeeding empires.

The Armenian rulers were often called Basileus, ie. Kings. They retained only formal dependence, sending to the center tribute and the army in wartime. No attempts to penetrate into the internal structure of the Armenians were made either by the Persians or the Hellenistic state of the Seleucids. If the first managed almost all of their remote territories, then the successors of the Greeks always changed the internal way of conquered peoples, imposing them "democratic values" and a special order.

The disintegration of the Seleucid state, the unification of Armenia

After the defeat of the Seleucids from Rome, the Armenians gained temporary independence. Rome was still not ready after the war with the Hellenes to embark on new conquests of the peoples. This was once used by a single people. Efforts to restore the united state began, which was called "Armenia Ancient".

The ruler of Great Armenia Artashes declared himself an independent king Artashes I. He united all the lands that spoke the same language, including Little Armenia. The last area of Sophena became part of the new state later, 70 years later, with the famous ruler Tigran the Great.

The final formation of Armenian nationality

It is believed that with the new dynasty Artashesidov, a great historical event occurred - the formation of the nationality of Armenians with their own language and culture. Great influence was exerted on them by the neighborhood with the developed Hellenistic peoples. The coinage of their own coins with Greek inscriptions spoke of the strong influence of neighbors on culture and trade.

Artashat - the capital of the ancient state Great Armenia

In the epoch of the rule of the Artashesid dynasty, the first large cities appear. Among them - the city of Artashat, which became the first capital of the new state. In Greek, it meant "the joy of Artaxia".

The new capital had a favorable geographical position in that era. It was located on the main road to the Black Sea ports. The time of the appearance of the city coincided with the establishment of the land trade relations of Asia with India and China. Artashat began to acquire the status of a major trade and political center. Plutarch highly assessed the role of this city. He gave him the status of "Carthage of Armenia", which in modern language meant a city that unites all the surrounding lands. All the Mediterranean powers knew about the beauty and luxury of Artashat.

The heyday of the Armenian kingdom

The history of Armenia from ancient times contains bright moments of the power of this state. The golden age falls on the reign of Tigran the Great (95-55 gg.) - the grandson of the founder of the famous dynasty Artashes I. The capital of the state was Tigranakert. This city has become one of the leading centers of science, literature and art throughout the Ancient World. The best Greek actors performed at the local theater, famous scientists and historians were frequent guests of Tigran the Great. One of them is the philosopher Metrodor, who was an ardent opponent of the expanding Roman Empire.

Armenia became part of the Hellenistic world. The Greek language penetrated the aristocratic top.

Armenia is a unique part of Hellenistic culture

Armenia in the I in BC. E. - advanced advanced state of the world. She took all the best that was in the world - culture, science, art. Tigran the Great developed theaters and schools. Armenia was not only a cultural center of Hellenism, but also a strong state economically. Trade, industry, handicrafts grew. A distinctive feature of the state was that it did not take the system of slavery that the Greeks and Romans used. All lands were farmed by peasant communities, whose members were free.

Armenia Tigran the Great stretches over vast territories. This was an empire that covered a huge part of the Near East from the Caspian to the Mediterranean. Her vassals have become many peoples and states: in the north - Cibania, Iberia, in the southeast - Parthia and the Arab tribes.

The conquest of Rome, the end of the Armenian Empire

The rise of Armenia coincided with the flourishing of yet another eastern state on the territory of the former USSR - Pontus, headed by Mitridat. After long wars with Rome, Pontus also lost his independence. Armenia was in good-neighborly relations with Mithridates. After his defeat, she remained alone with a powerful Rome.

After long wars, the united Armenian Empire in 69-66 years. BC. E. Broke up. Under the rule of Tigran there remained only Great Armenia, which was declared "friend and ally" of Rome. So called all the conquered states. In fact, the country has turned into another province.

After entering the Roman Empire, the ancient stage of statehood begins. The country disintegrated, its lands were appropriated by other states, and the local population constantly conflicted with each other.

The Armenian alphabet

In ancient times, Armenians used writing on the basis of Babylonian-Assyrian cuneiform writing. In the heyday of Armenia, at the time of Tigran the Great, the country completely passes to the Greek language in business turnover. On coins, archaeologists find Greek writing.

The Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots relatively late - in 405. Originally it consisted of 36 letters: 7 vowels and 29 consonants.

The main 4 graphic forms of the Armenian letter - erckatagir, bolorgir, shhagir and notrgir - develop only in the Middle Ages.