Brief History

Armenia is around 3500 years old, making it one of the oldest countries in the world. The oldest known ancestors of the Armenian people, the Hayasa-Azzy tribes, came from the highlands in western Asia. Around 3000 years ago, an Indo-European group called the Armens immigrated to Armenia from the south. These two groups make up today’s Armenians. The country has a rich history involving various empires, dynasties, and rulers. One of the tragic periods in Armenian history happened in the early 20th century, when they suffered a genocide by the Ottoman government of Turkey. 1.5 million Armenians were killed and many more were spread throughout the world. Armenia is currently home to 3 million people.

National Flag

The national flag of Armenia consists of three stripes, one red, one blue, and one orange. The red symbolizes the blood of Armenians killed in battle, the blue symbolizes the sky, and the orange symbolizes the courage of Armenia.

Geography

Armenia is a landlocked country located in the South Caucasus region, which is between Asia and Europe. It is bordered by Turkey to the West, Georgia to the North, Azerbaijan to the East, and Iran to the South. Armenia is a mountainous and flat country with no deserts and few forests. Armenia is also home to many extinct volcanoes.

World Land Mass Ranking: 142nd.

Tallest Mountain: Mount Aragats, 4,090 m (13,420 ft) above sea level.
Longest River: Aras, 666 miles long.

 

 

Main Languages

Armenian (official) as well as Assyrian, Russian, Greek, and Kurdish.

Armenia Population: 2.9 million (as of 2020)
Capital City: Yerevan
Capital City Population: 1.1 million (as of 2016)

Climate

The most notable thing about Armenia’s climate is the variety. The valleys are the warmest, while the mountains have long winters. The precipitation also varies. The country averages about 500 mm of rain per year with spring and early summer being the wettest. Armenia has four seasons, with warm sunny summers and cold winters.

Key People

• Serj Tankian
• Albert Sarkisyan
• Arshile Gorky
• Levon Aronian

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  Cuisine

  The thin and soft flatbread called Lavash is one of the most common foods in Armenia. Lamb, eggplant, and bulgar wheat are also popular foods. Wheat is the main grain, and an Armenian’s diet reflects the animals they raise and the foods they grow. They also use a lot of spices in their food, using fresh herbs in the summer and dried ones in the winter. Legumes are common food, especially chickpeas, lentils, and white beans. Lots of nuts and fresh and dried fruit are also part of their diet. Apricots are one of the most common fruits. Armenian dishes are made of a delightful combination of different tasty foods.

  The picture is a picture of a popular dish in Armenia.

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  Sports

  A variety of sports are played in Armenia, the most popular being football (soccer.) The Armenian football team used to play at the international level as a part of the USSR national football team. Besides football, basketball, weightlifting, wrestling, and boxing are all popular sports in Armenia. They consider chess a “mind sport” in Armenia, and both men and women have won many worldwide chess awards throughout the years.

   

  The picture is a picture of the national Armenian football team.

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  Culture

  Despite being a relatively small country, Armenia’s culture is very rich and unique. Architecture, literature, music, and dance are all imortant parts of culture in Armenia. Armenians are also known for weaving beautiful rugs and making intricate lace. Armenia has its own unique alphabet that was developed by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 A.D. The majority of Armenians are Christians, and are a part of one of the oldest churches in the world, the Armenian Apostolic Church.

  The picture is a picture of a traditional Armenian dance.

   

  Download questions about the Armenia here: Armenia (answers are on this page)

   

  For further reading and more info on the Armenia visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Armenia