Armenians

Armenians are an ethnic group native to the Armenian Highlands in the South Caucasus and surrounding regions. They share a distinct language, culture, and historical experience that have sustained a continuous sense of identity despite political and territorial upheavals.

They speak Armenian, an Indo-European language with its own branch. The Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots in the early 5th century, enabling the spread of literacy and a long tradition of literature and philosophy.

Armenian history includes ancient kingdoms and periods under Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Russian rule. Christianity was adopted early, in 301 CE, and the Armenian Apostolic Church became a central institution in national life.

Today, Armenians live in Armenia and in diaspora communities around the world. Global estimates center on about 7 to 8 million people of Armenian descent, with roughly 3 million living in the Republic of Armenia.

Culturally they have contributed to arts and letters, music, and crafts, including khachkars (carved stone crosses), liturgical manuscripts, and traditional cuisine such as lavash. Armenian history also includes a long tradition of education and literature.

The Armenian Genocide of 1915, during the Ottoman Empire, resulted in the mass killing and expulsion of Armenians and remains a central historical and political issue, recognized as genocide by many countries and scholars, though contested by Turkey.

Armenia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then it has developed a market economy and faced regional tensions and conflicts, while maintaining strong cultural and political ties with the Armenian diaspora.