Last week I knew F.A. about Armenia, now I’m an expert 😉 – so here’s a short Armenia 101.

It’s not officially called ‘the unlucky country’, that’s just my name. Most stories in their history go like this …”and there was a great battle, and we lost and everyone was killed …”,  over and over. Its just in the wrong place.

Armenia is bordered by Turkey, a closed border – they hate each other, politically. Azerbaijan – hate. Nagorno-Karabakh, or Republic of Artsakh, depending on who you ask – contested/war. Iran – very friendly. And Georgia – friendly.

They’ve been invaded and ruled by (in no particular order) Byzantines, Sassanids, Persians, Romans, Russians, Ottomans … The current Armenia is only one 10th of the original country. Most of it is in Turkey now. And it used to go from the Mediterranean to the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea.

The country’s most significant symbol – in art, literature, all of their culture is Mt Ararat. Which is now in Turkey. Also, Turkey killed 1.5 million Armenians after WW1 and won’t admit it. One of Turkey’s requirements to join the EU is to admit to the genocide. But they won’t. The hate is very deep.

Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity in 301AD. Religion is a big deal here. Especially after being banned under the Soviet Union for so long.

It has it’s own curly, wurly 39 letter alphabet. The 4 million Armenians here speak it. And another 14 million diaspora Armenians. It’s not a mixed country. 98% Armenian. The rest are mostly Yazidis, who are Zoroastrians.

Theres also a few Vlachs, Mordvins, Ossetians, Udis and Tats.  Which sounds extremely Game of Thrones to me.

Their money is the dram.

They became independant from Russian in 1991, just after they had a massive earthquake, and went to war with Azerbaijan. So really they’re just starting to get their shit together now. A very new, sweet, kind, tidy, orderly little country.