103-397: The Mugni Gospel ( Yerevan , Matenadaran , MS 7736) is an 11th-century Armenian Gospel Book produced in 1060. The manuscript is 42 by 32 cm and contains 301 folios. The binding of the book is made of wood, covered with red velvet and ornamented with plaques of silver and gilt. The first lines of each gospel are in gold. The first letters are lavishly decorated and painted. Actually,
206-910: A Mongol protectorate as part of the Ilkhanate , and the Zakarids became vassals to the Mongols . After the fall of the Ilkhanate in the mid-14th century, the Zakarid princes ruled over Lori, Shirak and the Ararat Plain until 1360 when they fell to the invading Turkic tribes. During the last quarter of the 14th century, the Aq Qoyunlu Sunni Oghuz Turkic tribe took over Armenia, including Yerevan. In 1400, Timur invaded Armenia and Georgia, and captured more than 60,000 of
309-672: A brief Byzantine rule over Armenia between 1045 and 1064, the invading Seljuks —led by Tughril and later by his successor Alp Arslan —ruled over the entire region, including Yerevan. However, with the establishment of the Zakarid Principality of Armenia in 1201 under the Georgian protectorate, the Armenian territories of Yerevan and Lori had significantly grown. After the Mongols captured Ani in 1236, Armenia turned into
412-527: A brief period of Ottoman rule over Eastern Armenia between 1724 and 1736, and as a result of the fall of the Safavid dynasty in 1736, Yerevan along with the adjacent territories became part of the newly formed administrative territory of Erivan Khanate under the Afsharid dynasty of Iran, which encompassed an area of 15,000 square kilometres (5,800 square miles). The Afsharids controlled Eastern Armenia from
515-544: A consequence, Yerevan significantly lost its Armenian population who had declined to 20%, while Muslims including Persians, Turks, Kurds and Tatars gained dominance with around 80% of the city's population. Muslims were either sedentary, semi-sedentary, or nomadic. Armenians mainly occupied the Kond neighbourhood of Yerevan and the rural suburbs around the city. However, the Armenians dominated over various professions and trade in
618-409: A later stage with a minimum of government restriction, to encourage private initiative. For all enterprises, the workers would receive 20% of their firm's property free of charge; 30% would be distributed to all citizens by means of vouchers; and the remaining 50% was to be distributed by the government, with preference given to members of the labour organisations. A major problem of this system, however,
721-634: A new larger province; the Georgia-Imeretia Governorate . In 1850 the territory of the former oblast was reorganized into the Erivan Governorate , covering an area of 28,000 square kilometres (11,000 square miles). Yerevan was the centre of the newly established governorate. At that period, Yerevan was a small town with narrow roads and alleys, including the central quarter of Shahar , the Ghantar commercial centre, and
824-826: A result of the Treaty of Zuhab in 1639, the Iranians reconfirmed their control over Eastern Armenia, including Yerevan. On 7 June 1679, a devastating earthquake razed the city to the ground. In 1724, the Erivan Fortress was besieged by the Ottoman army. After a period of resistance, the fortress fell to the Turks. As a result of the Ottoman invasion, the Erivan Province of the Safavids was dissolved. Following
927-583: A telephone line with eighty subscribers became operational. Yerevan served as the centre of the governorate until 1917, when Erivan governorate was dissolved with the collapse of the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the 20th century, Yerevan was a small city with a population of 30,000. In 1917, the Russian Empire ended with the October Revolution . In the aftermath, Armenian, Georgian and Muslim leaders of Transcaucasia united to form
1030-418: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Yerevan Yerevan ( UK : / ˌ j ɛr ə ˈ v æ n / YERR -ə- VAN , US : /- ˈ v ɑː n / , - VAHN ; Armenian : Երևան [jɛɾɛˈvɑn] ; sometimes spelled Erevan ) is the capital and largest city of Armenia , as well as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities . Situated along
1133-628: Is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector . Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from
SECTION 10
#17327977805141236-646: Is a mighty king, king of Biainili, and ruler of Tushpa."[ Van ]. During the height of the Urartian power, irrigation canals and artificial reservoirs were built in Erebuni and its surrounding territories. In the mid-7th century BC, the city of Teishebaini was built by Rusa II of Urartu, around 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) west of Erebuni Fortress. It was fortified on a hill -currently known as Karmir Blur within Shengavit District of Yerevan- to protect
1339-400: Is classified into "high human development" group. In the 2021 report (data for 2020) of Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International Armenia ranked 49 of 179 countries. At the beginning of the 20th century, the territory of present-day Armenia was an agricultural region with some copper mining and cognac production. From 1914 through 1921, Caucasian Armenia suffered from
1442-676: Is derived from the Urartian military fortress of Erebuni , which was founded on the territory of modern-day Yerevan in 782 BC by Argishti I . "Erebuni" may derive from the Urartian word for "to take" or "to capture," meaning that the fortress's name could be interpreted as "capture," "conquest," or "victory." As elements of the Urartian language blended with that of the Armenian one, the name eventually evolved into Yerevan (Erebuni = Erevani = Erevan = Yerevan). Scholar Margarit Israelyan notes these changes when comparing inscriptions found on two cuneiform tablets at Erebuni: The transcription of
1545-457: Is left from the USSR era and is owned by external investors). This steady economic progress has earned Armenia increasing support from international institutions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank , EBRD , as well as other international financial institutions (IFIs) and foreign countries are extending considerable grants and loans. Total loans extended to Armenia since 1993 exceed $ 800 million. These loans are targeted at reducing
1648-528: The 2020 war , contributing to a 7.2% drop in GDP. Armenia's public debt rose to 67.4% in 2020, but fell below 50% again in 2022. In the 2020 report of Index of Economic Freedom by The Heritage Foundation , Armenia is classified as "mostly free" and ranks 34th, improving by 13 positions and ahead of all other Eurasian Economic Union countries and several EU countries including Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Belgium, Spain, France, Portugal and Italy. In
1751-697: The Achaemenid Empire . Between 522 BC and 331 BC, Erebuni was one of the main centers of the Satrapy of Armenia , a region controlled by the Orontid dynasty as one of the satrapies of the Achaemenid Empire. The Satrapy of Armenia was divided into two parts: the northern part and the southern part, with the cities of Erebuni (Yerevan) and Tushpa (Van) as their centres, respectively. Coins issued in 478 BC, along with many other items found in
1854-548: The COVID-19 recession and the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War . In the first half of 2020, the Armenian economy was negatively impacted by the economic restrictions that were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . These restrictions included a stay-at-home order , an indoor social distancing requirement, and a mask mandate . These restrictions had a negative impact on businesses; according to
1957-527: The COVID-19 recession and the war against Azerbaijan . In contrast it grew by 7.6 per cent in 2019, the largest recorded growth since 2007, while between 2012 and 2018 GDP grew 40.7%, and key banking indicators like assets and credit exposures almost doubled. While part of the Soviet Union , the economy of Armenia was based largely on manufacturing industry—chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber and textiles; it
2060-702: The Erebuni Fortress , reveal the importance of Erebuni as a major centre for trade under Achaemenid rule. After Alexander the Great's victory over the Achaemenid Empire, the Orontid rulers of the Armenian satrapy achieved independence as a result of the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC, founding the Kingdom of Armenia . With the establishment of new cities such as Armavir , Zarehavan, Bagaran and Yervandashat ,
2163-540: The Erivan Fortress on the ruins of one thousand-years old ancient Armenian fortress, on the shores of Hrazdan river. However, Ottoman control ended in 1604 when the Persians regained Yerevan as a result of first Ottoman-Safavid War . Shah Abbas I of Persia who ruled between 1588 and 1629, ordered the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Armenians including citizens from Yerevan to mainland Persia . As
SECTION 20
#17327977805142266-689: The Hrazdan River , Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country, as its primate city . It has been the capital since 1918, the fourteenth in the history of Armenia and the seventh located in or around the Ararat Plain . The city also serves as the seat of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese , which is the largest diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and one of
2369-469: The Matenadaran contains one of the largest depositories of ancient books and manuscripts in the world. The exact origin of the name is unknown. One theory regarding the origin of Yerevan's name is the city was named after the Armenian king, Yervand (Orontes) IV , the last ruler of Armenia from the Orontid dynasty , and founder of the city of Yervandashat . However, it is likely that the city's name
2472-725: The Muslim conquest of Persia , as it was part of Persian-ruled Armenia. The city became part of the Emirate of Armenia under the Umayyad Caliphate . The city of Dvin was the centre of the newly created emirate. Starting from this period, as a result of the developing trade activities with the Arabs, the Armenian territories had gained strategic importance as a crossroads for the Arab caravan routes passing between Europe and India through
2575-783: The Sasanian Empire . Due to the diminished role of Erebuni, as well as the absence of proper historical data, much of the city's history under the Sasanian rule is unknown. In 587, during the reign of emperor Maurice , Yerevan and much of Armenia came under Roman administration after the Romans defeated the Sassanid Persian Empire at the battle of the Blarathon . Soon after, Katoghike Tsiranavor Church in Avan
2678-645: The Timurids , invited further destruction in Armenia, as many more Armenians were taken captive and sold into slavery and the land was subjected to outright pillaging, forcing many of them to leave the region. Following the fall of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in 1375, the seat of the Armenian Church was transferred from Sis back to Vagharshapat near Yerevan in 1441. Thus, Yerevan became
2781-663: The Transcaucasian Federation and proclaimed Transcaucasia 's secession . Economy of Armenia The economy of Armenia grew by 12.6% in 2022, according to the country's Statistical Committee and the International Monetary Fund . Total output amounted to 8.5 trillion Armenian drams , or $ 19.5 billion. At the same time, Armenia's foreign trade turnover significantly accelerated in growth from 17.7% in 2021 to 68.6% in 2022. GDP contracted sharply in 2020 by 7.2%, mainly due to
2884-463: The World Bank , individual consumption dropped by 9% in the first six months of 2020 due to the stay-at-home order. The economy was further impacted by the war against Azerbaijan later in the year. Armenia produced in 2018: In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products. As of 2010, the agricultural production comprises on average 25 percent of Armenia's GDP. In 2006,
2987-537: The genocide of about 1.5 million Armenian inhabitants in their own homeland which caused total property and financial collapse when all of their assets and belongings were forcibly taken away by the Turks, the consequences of which after 105 years to this day remain incalculable, revolution, the influx of refugees from Turkish Armenia, disease, hunger and economic misery. About 200,000 people died in 1919 alone. At that point, only American relief efforts saved Armenia from total collapse. Thus, Armenians went from being one of
3090-547: The "oldest and least reliable" category of all the 66 Soviet reactors built in the former Eastern Bloc . However the IAEA has found that the Metsamor NPP has adequate safety and can function beyond its design lifespan. The country's electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. According to official preliminary data GDP grew by 7.6 per cent in 2019, largest recording growth since 2008. Nominal GDP per capita
3193-545: The 2019 report (data for 2017) of Economic Freedom of the World published by Fraser Institute Armenia ranks 27th (classified most free) out of 162 economies. In the 2019 report of Global Competitiveness Index Armenia ranks 69th out of 141 economies. In the 2020 report (data for 2019) of Doing Business Index Armenia ranks 47th with 10th rank on "starting business" sub-index. In the 2019 report (data for 2018) of Human Development Index by UNDP Armenia ranked 81st and
Mugni Gospels - Misplaced Pages Continue
3296-477: The 2nd half of the 4th millennium BC . The southern part of the city currently known as Shengavit has been populated since at least 3200 BC, during the period of Kura–Araxes culture of the early Bronze Age . The first excavations at the Shengavit historical site was conducted between 1936 and 1938 under the guidance of archaeologist Yevgeny Bayburdyan. After two decades, archaeologist Sandro Sardarian resumed
3399-742: The Arab-controlled Ararat Plain of Armenia. Most probably, "Erebuni" has become known as "Yerevan" since at least the 7th century AD. After two centuries of Islamic rule over Armenia, the Bagratid prince Ashot I of Armenia led the revolution against the Abbasid Caliphate . Ashot I liberated Yerevan in 850, and was recognized as the Prince of Princes of Armenia by the Abbasid Caliph al-Musta'in in 862. Ashot
3502-805: The Azerbaijani blockade, and the costs of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War . In 1992, the Law on the Programme of Privatisation and Decentralisation of Incompletely Constructed Facilities established a state privatisation committee, with members from all political parties. In the middle of 1993, the committee announced a two-year privatisation programme, whose first stage would be privatisation of 30% of state enterprises, mostly services and light industries. The remaining 70%, including many bankrupt, nonfunctional enterprises, were to be privatised in
3605-471: The GDP decreased in production. The collapse of industry in favor of agriculture, whose products were mostly imported throughout the Soviet period, changed the structure of sectoral contributions to GDP. In 1991, Armenia's last year as a Soviet republic, national income fell 12% from the previous year, while per capita gross national product was 4,920 rubles, only 68% of the Soviet average. In large part due to
3708-717: The GDP for the neighboring countries was 6.88, 5.63, 6.08 and 9.05 respectively. In 2022, the industry with the highest number of companies registered in Armenia is Services with 1,907 companies followed by Wholesale Trade and Manufacturing with 510 and 408 companies respectively. In 2017, mining industry output with grew by 14.2% to 172 billion AMD at current prices and run at 3.1% of Armenia's GDP. In 2017, mineral product (without precious metals and stones) exports grew by 46.9% and run at US$ 692 million, which comprised 30.1% of all exports. Real estate transactions count grew by 36% in September 2019 compared to September 2018. Also,
3811-413: The GDP had fallen nearly 60% from its 1989 level. The national currency, the dram , suffered hyperinflation for the first few years after its introduction in 1993. Armenia has registered strong economic growth since 1995 and inflation has been negligible for the past several years. New sectors, such as precious stone processing and jewelry making and communication technology (primarily Armentel , which
3914-468: The Great . Thus, with the dominance of cities such as Artaxata and Tigranocerta , Erebuni significantly lost its importance as a central city. Under the rule of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia (54–428 AD), many other cities around Erebuni including Vagharshapat and Dvin flourished. Consequently, Erebuni was completely neutralized, losing its role as an economic and strategic centre of Armenia. During
4017-638: The Illuminator was opened in 1900. Electricity and telephone lines were introduced to the city in 1907 and 1913 respectively. When British traveller H. F. B. Lynch visited Yerevan in 1893–1894, he considered it an Oriental city. However, this started to change in the first decade of the 20th century, in the penultimate decade of Imperial Russian rule, when the city grew and altered dramatically. In general, Yerevan rapidly grew under Russian rule, both economically and politically. Old buildings were torn down and new buildings of European style were erected. At
4120-595: The Iranian rule. Due to its strategic significance, Yerevan was initially often fought over, and passed back and forth, between the dominion of the rivaling Iranian and Ottoman Empire , until it permanently became controlled by the Safavids . In 1555, Iran had secured its legitimate possession over Yerevan with the Ottomans through the Treaty of Amasya . In 1582–1583, the Ottomans led by Serdar Ferhad Pasha took brief control over Yerevan. Ferhad Pasha managed to build
4223-492: The Soviet Union. Agriculture accounted for only 20% of net material product and 10% of employment before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenia's industry was especially dependent on the Soviet military-industrial complex. About 40% of all enterprises in the republic were devoted to defense, and some factories lost 60% to 80% of their business in the last years of the Soviet Union, when massive cuts were made in
Mugni Gospels - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-452: The Soviet system from the 1930s until the end of the communist era, the Armenian economy showed few signs of self-sufficiency at any time during that period. In 1988, Armenia produced only 0.9% of the net material product of the Soviet Union (1.2% of industry, 0.7% of agriculture). The republic retained 1.4% of total state budget revenue, delivered 63.7% of its NMP to other republics, and exported only 1.4% of what it produced to markets outside
4429-486: The World Bank. Then already in 2013 the share of it was a bit higher comprising 18.43%. Afterwards a declining trend was registered in the period of 2013-2017 reaching to around 14.90% in 2017. By comparing the share of agriculture as a component of GDP with the neighboring countries (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran) one can notice that the percentage is highest for Armenia. As of 2017 the contribution of agriculture to
4532-460: The agricultural sector accounted for about 20 percent of Armenia's GDP. Armenia's agricultural output dropped by 17.9 percent in the period of January–September 2010. This was owing to bad weather, a lack of a government stimulus package, and the continuing effects of decreased agricultural subsidies by the Armenian government (per WTO requirements). In addition, the share of agriculture in Armenia's GDP hovered around 17.9% until 2012 according to
4635-526: The area and were of great economic significance to the Persian administration. During the second Ottoman-Safavid War , Ottoman troops under the command of Sultan Murad IV conquered the city on 8 August 1635. Returning in triumph to Constantinople , he opened the "Yerevan Kiosk" ( Revan Köşkü ) in Topkapı Palace in 1636. However, Iranian troops commanded by Shah Safi retook Yerevan on 1 April 1636. As
4738-573: The average market value of one square meter of housing in apartment buildings in Yerevan in September 2019 grew by 10.8% from September 2018. In 2017, construction output increased by 2.2% reaching 416 billion AMD. Armenia experienced a construction boom during the latter part of the 2000s. According to the National Statistical Service, Armenia's booming construction sector generated about 20 percent of Armenia's GDP during
4841-400: The beginning of the 20th century, Yerevan city's population was over 29,000. In 1902, a railway line linked Yerevan with Alexandropol , Tiflis and Julfa . In the same year, Yerevan's first public library was opened. In 1905, the grandnephew of Napoleon I ; prince Louis Joseph Jérôme Napoléon (1864–1932) was appointed as governor of Yerevan province. In 1913, for the first time in the city,
4944-412: The book seems to be overloaded with miniatures and decorations. Saturated colours, expressive figures and fanciful architectural backdrops distinguish it from a more stylized and decorative Byzantine manner of manuscript illumination. This article about an illuminated manuscript is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a book on Oriental Orthodox Christianity
5047-461: The budget deficit, stabilizing the local currency; developing private businesses; energy; the agriculture, food processing, transportation, and health and education sectors; and ongoing rehabilitation work in the earthquake zone . By 1994, however, the Armenian government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995–2005. The economic growth of Armenia expressed in GDP per capita
5150-670: The capital of the First Republic of Armenia as thousands of survivors of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire arrived in the area. The city expanded rapidly during the 20th century while Armenia was a part of the Soviet Union . In a few decades, Yerevan was transformed from a provincial town within the Russian Empire to Armenia's principal cultural, artistic, and industrial center, as well as becoming
5253-721: The centralised state monopoly on all economic activity. Once this occurred, the main goal of the Soviet economic policy in Armenia was to turn a predominantly agrarian and rural republic into an industrial and urban one. Among other restrictions, peasants now were forced to sell nearly all of their output to state procurement agencies rather than at the open market. From the 1930s through the 1960s, an industrial infrastructure has been constructed. Besides hydroelectric plants and canals, roads were built and gas pipelines were laid to bring fuel and food from Azerbaijan and Russia. The Stalinist command economy, in which market forces were suppressed and all orders for production and distribution came from
SECTION 50
#17327977805145356-410: The centre of the newly formed Chukhur Saad administrative territory. The territory was named after a Turkic leader known as Emir Saad . However, this peaceful period was shattered with the rise of Qara Iskander between 1420 and 1436, who reportedly made Armenia a "desert" and subjected it to "devastation and plunder, to slaughter, and captivity". The wars of Iskander and his eventual defeat against
5459-412: The early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor . Armenia is now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace the Metsamor nuclear plant, which is under international pressure to close due to its old design. The European Union had classified the VVER 440 Model V230 light-water-cooled reactors as
5562-437: The earthquake of 1988, the Azerbaijani blockade that began in 1989 and the collapse of the international trading system of the Soviet Union, the Armenian economy of the early 1990s remained far below its 1980 production levels. In the first years of independence (1992–93), inflation was extremely high, productivity and national income dropped dramatically, and the national budget ran large deficits. A period of chronic shortages,
5665-402: The eastern borders of Urartu from the barbaric Cimmerians and Scythians . During excavations, the remains of a governors palace that contained a hundred and twenty rooms spreading across more than 40,000 m (10 acres) was found, along with a citadel dedicated to the Urartian god Teisheba . The construction of the city of Teishebaini, as well as the palace and the citadel was completed by
5768-507: The economy, Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan informed the United States officials in the fall of 1993 that plans had been made to embark on a renewed privatisation programme by the end of the year. Like other former states, Armenia's economy suffers from the legacy of a centrally planned economy and the breakdown of former Soviet trading patterns. Soviet investment in and support of Armenian industry has virtually disappeared, so that few major enterprises are still able to function. In addition,
5871-556: The effects of the 1988 earthquake , which killed more than 25,000 people and made 500,000 homeless, are still being felt. Although a cease-fire has held since 1994, the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh has not been resolved. The consequent blockade along both the Azerbaijani and Turkish borders has devastated the economy, because of Armenia's dependence on outside supplies of energy and most raw materials. Land routes through Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed; routes through Georgia and Iran are adequate and reliable. In 1992–93,
5974-431: The efforts of reformers to create a lawful market system. When the December 1988 earthquake brought millions of dollars of foreign aid to the devastated regions of Armenia, much of the money went to corrupt and criminal elements. Beginning in 1991, the democratically elected government pushed vigorously for privatisation and market relations, although its efforts were frustrated by the old ways of doing business in Armenia,
6077-429: The end of the 7th century BC, during the reign of Rusa III . However, Teishebaini was destroyed by an alliance of Medes and the Scythians in 585 BC. In 590 BC, following the fall of the Kingdom of Urartu at the hands of the Iranian Medes , Erebuni along with the Armenian Highlands became part of the Median Empire. However, in 550 BC, the Median Empire was conquered by Cyrus the Great , and Erebuni became part of
6180-402: The ethnic Armenian -dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. Political instability and the threat of war placed a significant strain on economic development. Despite robust growth in recent years, the problem of geopolitical uncertainty resurfaced during
6283-400: The excavations starting from 1958 until 1983. The 3rd phase of the excavations started in 2000, under the guidance of archaeologist Hakob Simonyan. In 2009, Simonyan was joined by Mitchell S. Rothman from the Widener University of Pennsylvania . Together they conducted three series of excavations in 2009, 2010, and 2012 respectively. During the process, a full stratigraphic column to bedrock
SECTION 60
#17327977805146386-422: The first theatre opened its doors in 1879. On 1 October 1879, Yerevan was granted the status of a city through a decree issued by Alexander II of Russia . In 1881, The Yerevan Teachers' Seminary and the Yerevan Brewery were opened, followed by the Tairyan's wine and brandy factory in 1887. Other factories for alcoholic beverages and mineral water were opened during the 1890s. The monumental church of Saint Gregory
6489-447: The importance of Erebuni gradually declined. With the rise of the Artaxiad dynasty of Armenia who seized power in 189 BC, the Kingdom of Armenia greatly expanded to include major territories of Asia Minor , Atropatene , Iberia , Phoenicia and Syria . The Artaxiads considered Erebuni and Tushpa as cities of Persian heritage. Consequently, new cities and commercial centres were built by Kings Artaxias I , Artavasdes I and Tigranes
6592-434: The large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. Armenia began borrowing soon after declaring independence. In 2000, Armenian governmental debt reached its greatest level relative to GDP (49.3 percent of GDP). Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (gold and bauxite ) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over
6695-407: The large enterprises and banks, but peasants could market much of their grain, and small businesses could function. In Armenia, the NEP years brought partial recovery from the economic disaster of the post-World War I period. By 1926 agricultural production in Armenia had reached nearly three-quarters of its prewar level. By the end of the 1920s, Stalin's regime had revoked the NEP and re-established
6798-440: The legal infrastructure for investment activity. A specific goal of this agency was creating a market for scientific and technical intellectual property. A few Armenians living abroad made large-scale investments. Besides a toy factory and construction projects, diaspora Armenians built a cold storage plant (which in its first years had little produce to store) and established the American University of Armenia in Yerevan to teach
6901-441: The main economic, cultural and administrative centre in Armenia. In 1501–02, most of the Eastern Armenian territories including Yerevan were swiftly conquered by the emerging Safavid dynasty of Iran led by Shah Ismail I . Soon after in 1502, Yerevan became the centre of the Erivan Province , a new administrative territory of Iran formed by the Safavids. For the following 3 centuries, it remained, with brief intermissions, under
7004-478: The mid-1730s until the 1790s. Following the fall of the Afsharids, the Qajar dynasty of Iran took control of Eastern Armenia until 1828, when the region was conquered by the Russian Empire after their victory over the Qajars that resulted in the Treaty of Turkmenchay of 1828. During the second Russo-Persian War of the 19th century, the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 , Yerevan was captured by Russian troops under general Ivan Paskevich on 1 October 1827. It
7107-410: The name Yerevan. In the late medieval and early modern periods, when Yerevan was under Turkic and later Persian rule, the city was known in Persian as Iravân ( Persian : ایروان ). The city was officially known as Erivan ( Russian : Эривань ) under Russian rule during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The city was renamed back to Yerevan (Ереван) in 1936. Up until the mid-1970s the city's name
7210-486: The national defense expenditures. As the republic's economy faced the prospects of competing in world markets in the mid-1990s, the great liabilities of Armenia's industry were its outdated equipment and infrastructure and the pollution emitted by many of the country's heavy industrial plants. The economic downturn that began in 1989 worsened dramatically in 1992. According to statistics, the GDP declined by 37.5 percent in 1991 compared to 1990, and all sectors contributing to
7313-421: The north Caucasus . The cuneiform inscription found at Erebuni Fortress reads: By the greatness of the God Khaldi , Argishti, son of Menua , built this mighty stronghold and proclaimed it Erebuni for the glory of Biainili [Urartu] and to instill fear among the king's enemies. Argishti says, "The land was a desert, before the great works I accomplished upon it. By the greatness of Khaldi, Argishti, son of Menua,
7416-444: The oldest dioceses in the world. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by King Argishti I of Urartu at the western extreme of the Ararat Plain. Erebuni was "designed as a great administrative and religious centre, a fully royal capital." By the late ancient Armenian Kingdom , new capital cities were established and Yerevan declined in importance. The city
7519-516: The people and the country in ruins. The genocide was responsible for the loss of many high-quality skills that the Armenians possessed. The first Soviet Armenian government regulated economic activity stringently, nationalizing all economic enterprises, requisitioning grain from peasants, and suppressing most private market activity. This first experiment of state control ended with the advent of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin 's New Economic Policy (NEP) of 1921–1927. This policy continued state control of
7622-582: The period of shortages. Cooperatives were set up in the service sector, particularly in restaurants, although substantial resistance came from the Communist Party of Armenia (CPA) and other groups that had enjoyed privileged position in the old economy. In the late 1980s, much of Armenia's economy already was opening either semi-officially or illegally, with widespread corruption and bribery. The so-called mafia, made up of interconnected groups of powerful officials and their relatives and friends, sabotaged
7725-536: The period of the Arsacid kings, Erebuni was only recorded in a Manichaean text of the 3rd century, where it is mentioned that one of the disciples of the prophet Mani founded a Manichaean community near the Christian community in Erebuni. According to the medieval Armenian geography Ashkharhatsuyts , Erebuni was part of the canton ( gawaṙ ) of Kotayk (not to be confused with the current Kotayk Province) of
7828-479: The population further increased to 1,086,677. Yerevan was named the 2012 World Book Capital by UNESCO . Yerevan is an associate member of Eurocities . Of the notable landmarks of Yerevan, Erebuni Fortress is considered to be the birthplace of the city, the Katoghike Tsiranavor church is the oldest surviving church of Yerevan, and Saint Gregory Cathedral is the largest Armenian cathedral in
7931-550: The province of Ayrarat , within Armenia Major. Armenia became a Christian nation in the early 4th century AD, during the reign of the Arsacid king Tiridates III . Following the partition of Armenia by the Byzantine and Sasanian empires in 387 and in 428, Erebuni and the entire territory of Eastern Armenia came under the rule of Sasanian Persia. The Armenian territories formed the province of Persian Armenia within
8034-424: The recession and unemployment. Armenia introduced elements of the free market and privatisation into their economic system in the late 1980s, when Mikhail Gorbachev began advocating economic reform . To supply the country's basic needs, the first decision was land reform and the privatization of land. This allowed for the emergence of small-parcel agriculture supplying markets and supporting self-sustenance during
8137-569: The residential neighbourhoods of Kond, Dzoragyugh, Nork and Shentagh. During the 1840s and the 1850s, many schools were opened in the city. However, the first major plan of Yerevan was adopted in 1856, during which, Saint Hripsime and Saint Gayane women's colleges were founded and the English Park was opened. In 1863, the Astafyan Street was redeveloped and opened. In 1874, Zacharia Gevorkian opened Yerevan's first printing house, while
8240-423: The seat of national government. With the growth of the Armenian economy , Yerevan has undergone major transformation. Much construction has been done throughout the city since the early 2000s, and retail outlets such as restaurants, shops, and street cafés, which were rare during Soviet times, have multiplied. As of 2011 , the population of Yerevan was 1,060,138, just over 35% of Armenia's total population. By 2022,
8343-618: The second cuneiform bu [original emphasis] of the word was very essential in our interpretation as it is the Urartaean b that has been shifted to the Armenian v (b > v). The original writing of the inscription read «er-bu-ni»; therefore the prominent Armenianologist- orientalist Prof. G. A. Ghapantsian justly objected, remarking that the Urartu b changed to v at the beginning of the word (Biani > Van) or between two vowels (ebani > avan, Zabaha > Javakhk )....In other words b
8446-491: The state authorities, survived in all its essential features until the fall of the Soviet regime in 1991. In the early stages of the communist economic revolution, Armenia underwent a fundamental transformation into a "proletarian" society. Between 1929 and 1939, the percentage of Armenia's work force categorised as industrial workers grew from 13% to 31%. By 1935 industry supplied 62% of Armenia's economic production. Highly integrated and sheltered within artificial barter economy of
8549-579: The survived local people as slaves. Many districts including Yerevan were depopulated. In 1410, Armenia fell under the control of the Kara Koyunlu Shia Oghuz Turkic tribe. According to the Armenian historian Thomas of Metsoph , although the Kara Koyunlu levied heavy taxes against the Armenians, the early years of their rule were relatively peaceful and some reconstruction of towns took place. The Kara Koyunlus made Yerevan
8652-532: The techniques necessary to run a market economy. Armenia was admitted to the International Monetary Fund in May 1992 and to the World Bank in September. A year later, the government complained that those organisations were holding back financial assistance and announced its intention to move toward fuller price liberalisation, and the removal of all tariffs , quotas, and restrictions of foreign trade. Although privatisation had slowed because of catastrophic collapse of
8755-566: The wealthiest ethnic groups in the region to suffering from poverty and famine. Armenians were the second richest ethnic group in Anatolia after the Greeks, and they were heavily involved in very high productive sectors such as banking, architecture, and trade. However, after the mass killings of Armenian intellectuals in April 1915 and the genocide targeted towards the whole Armenian population left
8858-539: The world. Tsitsernakaberd is the official memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide. The city is home to several opera houses, theatres, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions. Yerevan Opera Theatre is the main spectacle hall of the Armenian capital, the National Gallery of Armenia is the largest art museum in Armenia and shares a building with the History Museum of Armenia , and
8961-460: Was approximately $ 4,196 in 2018 and is expected to reach $ 8,283 in 2023, surpassing neighbouring Azerbaijan and Georgia. With 8.3%, Armenia recorded highest degree of GDP growth among Eurasian Economic Union countries in 2018 January–June against the same period of 2017. The economy of Armenia had grown by 7.5% in 2017 and reached a nominal GDP of $ 11.5 billion per annum, while per capita figure grew by 10.1% and reached $ 3880. With 7.29% Armenia
9064-466: Was built between 595 and 602. Despite being partly damaged during the 1679 earthquake ), it is the oldest surviving church within modern Yerevan city limits. The province of Persian Armenia (also known as Persarmenia) lasted until 646, when the province was dissolved with the Muslim conquest of Persia . In 658 AD, at the height of the Arab Islamic invasions, Erebuni-Yerevan was conquered during
9167-515: Was formally ceded by the Iranians in 1828, following the Treaty of Turkmenchay . After 3 centuries of Iranian occupation, Yereven along with the rest of Eastern Armenia designated as the " Armenian Oblast ", became part of the Russian Empire , a period that would last until the collapse of the Empire in 1917. Although not mentioned specifically by name, article XV of the Turkmenchay treaty
9270-491: Was formed in the 9th century BC by King Arame in the basin of Lake Van of the Armenian Highland , including the territory of modern-day Yerevan. Archaeological evidence, such as a cuneiform inscription, indicates that the Urartian military fortress of Erebuni was founded in 782 BC by the orders of King Argishti I at the site of modern-day Yerevan, to serve as a fort and citadel guarding against attacks from
9373-520: Was highly dependent on outside resources. Armenian mines produce copper, zinc, gold and lead. The vast majority of energy is produced with imported fuel from Russia, including gas and nuclear fuel for Armenia's Metsamor nuclear power plant . The main domestic energy source is hydroelectric. Small amounts of coal, gas and petroleum have not yet been developed. The severe trade imbalance has been somewhat offset by international aid and remittances from Armenians abroad , and foreign direct investment. Armenia
9476-434: Was intended solely for the repatriation of those Armenians whose ancestors had been forcibly relocated to Iran in the early 17th century during the Safavid period. The Russians sponsored the resettlement process of the Armenian population from Persia and Turkey and spread announcements in Armenian villages. Due to the resettlement, the percentage of the Armenian population of Yerevan increased from 28% to 53.8%. The resettlement
9579-550: Was intended to create Russian power bridgehead in the Middle East. In 1829, Armenian repatriates from Persia were resettled in the city and a new quarter was built. Yerevan served as the seat of the newly formed Armenian Oblast between 1828 and 1840. By the time of Nicholas I 's visit in 1837, Yerevan had become an uezd ("county"). In 1840, the Armenian Oblast was dissolved and its territory incorporated into
9682-657: Was later crowned King of Armenia through the consent of Caliph al-Mu'tamid in 885. During the rule of the Bagratuni dynasty of Armenia between 885 and 1045, Yerevan was relatively a secure part of the Kingdom before falling to the Byzantines . However, Yerevan did not have any strategic role during the reign of the Bagratids, who developed many other cities of Ayrarat , such as Shirakavan , Dvin , and Ani . After
9785-561: Was mostly depopulated by the Great Surgun of 1603–05, when the Safavid Empire forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of Armenians to Iran. In 1679, the city was mostly destroyed by an earthquake , and then rebuilt on a smaller scale. In 1828, Yerevan became part of the Russian Empire , which led to the repatriation of Armenians whose ancestors had been forcibly relocated in the 17th century. After World War I , Yerevan became
9888-851: Was one of strongest in the CIS. GDP went from $ 350 to more than $ 800 on average between 1995 and 2003. Three principal factors explain this result: the credibility of the macroeconomic policies of stabilization, the correction effect following the depression, and the importance of external transfers, in particular since 2000. Armenia became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high, despite strong economic growth. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in
9991-430: Was placed between two vowels. The true pronunciation of the fortress-city was apparently Erebuny . Early Christian Armenian chroniclers connected the origin of the city's name to the legend of Noah's Ark . After the ark had landed on Mount Ararat and the flood waters had receded, Noah , while looking in the direction of Yerevan, is said to have exclaimed "Yerevats!" ("it appeared!" in Armenian ), from which originated
10094-423: Was reached, showing there to be 8 or 9 distinct stratigraphic levels. These levels cover a time between 3200 BC and 2500 BC. Evidences of later use of the site, possibly until 2200 BC, were also found. The excavation process revealed a series of large round buildings with square adjoining rooms and minor round buildings. A series of ritual installations was discovered in 2010 and 2012. The ancient kingdom of Urartu
10197-655: Was second best in GDP per capita growth terms in Europe and Central Asia in 2017. Armenian GDP PPP (measured in current international dollar) grew total of 316% per capita in 2000–2017, sixth-highest worldwide. GDP grew 40.7% between 2012 and 2018, and key banking indicators like assets and credit exposures almost doubled. This is a list of provinces of Armenia by nominal GDP shown in Armenian dram and US$ . Statistics shown are for 2017. The Armenian economy performed poorly in 2020, and contracted by 7.2% after years of consecutive growth. The two biggest contributing factors were
10300-535: Was selected in a competition for a new anthem and new flag that would best represent the city. The chosen flag has a white background with the city's seal in the middle, surrounded by twelve small red triangles that symbolize the twelve historic capitals of Armenia. The flag includes the three colours of the Armenian National flag . The lion is portrayed on the orange background with blue edging. The territory of Yerevan has been inhabited since approximately
10403-622: Was spelled Erevan more often than Yerevan in English sources. The principal symbol of Yerevan is Mount Ararat, which is visible from any area in the capital. The seal of the city is a crowned lion on a pedestal with a shield that has a depiction of Mount Ararat on the upper part and half of an Armenian eternity sign on the bottom part. The emblem is a rectangular shield with a blue border. On 27 September 2004, Yerevan adopted an anthem, "Erebuni-Yerevan", using lyrics written by Paruyr Sevak and set to music composed by Edgar Hovhannisyan . It
10506-404: Was the first stage of price deregulation, which allowed goods to stay in Armenia as opposed to being exported for better prices; the inflation rates were 10 percent in 1990, 100 percent in 1991, and 642.5 percent during the first four months of 1992, compared with the first four months of 1991. Thus, there were two opposing dynamics: price increases in response to shortages and falling incomes due to
10609-539: Was the lack of supporting legislation covering foreign investment protection, bankruptcy, monopoly policy, and consumer protection. In the first post-communist years, efforts to interest foreign investors in joint enterprises were only moderately successful because of the blockade and the energy shortage. Only in late 1993 was a department of foreign investment established in the Ministry of Economy , to spread information about Armenia's investment opportunities and improve
#513486