Free Essays on Armenian Genocide

"extermination of about 50% of a population" in a conversation you would probably think that they were talking about "the" holocaust in Nazi Germany. You probably would not suspect that they were talking about Turkey and the Armenians. During the First World War, the Turks set out to annihilate the entire population of Armenians living within their borders (they almost did). An area known as Historic Armenia lies right in the middle of what is now modern day Turkey. This is where the Armenian's ancestors began one of the first civilizations thousands of years ago. Historic Armenia has proved to be an important strategical location for the many empires that have taken control of it over the centuries since it is the bridge between three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has been conquered by King Darius I of Persia in 521 B.C., by Media in 612 B.C., by King Cyrus of Persia in 549 B.C., by Alexander the Great, by King Antiochos III of Syria in 212 B.C., By the Arabs in 642 A.D., by the Mongols in 1240, by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, and most recently by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) 1922. During most of the time in between the Armenians had their independence. Despite or perhaps because of the constant warfare and conquest of that region and the oppression that the Armenians have faced over time they have developed into a "†¦ strong-willed people, self reliant and fiercely independent"†¦ The Armenians were the first country in the world to make Christianity their country's official religion (20 years before St. Constantine the Great in Rome). They also played an important role in the crusades. Ever since then, the Muslim Turks (the vast majority in Turkey) have not gotten along with the Armenian Turks. When the Ottoman Empire took control of Turkey, they tried to assimilate the Armenians by forbidding them to speak their n... Free Essays on Armenian Genocide Free Essays on Armenian Genocide Armenian genocide If you were to overhear the words "extermination of about 50% of a population" in a conversation you would probably think that they were talking about "the" holocaust in Nazi Germany. You probably would not suspect that they were talking about Turkey and the Armenians. During the First World War, the Turks set out to annihilate the entire population of Armenians living within their borders (they almost did). An area known as Historic Armenia lies right in the middle of what is now modern day Turkey. This is where the Armenian's ancestors began one of the first civilizations thousands of years ago. Historic Armenia has proved to be an important strategical location for the many empires that have taken control of it over the centuries since it is the bridge between three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has been conquered by King Darius I of Persia in 521 B.C., by Media in 612 B.C., by King Cyrus of Persia in 549 B.C., by Alexander the Great, by King Antiochos III of Syria in 212 B.C., By the Arabs in 642 A.D., by the Mongols in 1240, by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, and most recently by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) 1922. During most of the time in between the Armenians had their independence. Despite or perhaps because of the constant warfare and conquest of that region and the oppression that the Armenians have faced over time they have developed into a "†¦ strong-willed people, self reliant and fiercely independent"†¦ The Armenians were the first country in the world to make Christianity their country's official religion (20 years before St. Constantine the Great in Rome). They also played an important role in the crusades. Ever since then, the Muslim Turks (the vast majority in Turkey) have not gotten along with the Armenian Turks. When the Ottoman Empire took control of Turkey, they tried to assimilate the Armenians by forbidding them to speak their n...