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ARMENIA: EARLY
HISTORY
The earliest history of Armenia is full of mysteries and
at a glance you may think and/or sounds more like a legend than history proper. However, basing on ancient
Assyrian and Greek chronicles as well as on the Holy Bible and the results of
archaeological research, we can firmly believe that the land later called “Armenia”
was invaded by the Hittites (ca. 2100 B.C.), Celts (ca. 1200 B.C.), Medes and
Persians (ca. 900 B.C.) and Cimmerians (714 B.C.).
We also know that in the 9th century B.C. most
of the territory of the future Armenia
was occupied by the kingdom
of Urartu
which, in its turn was later absorbed by the Assyrian empire.
Between 558 and 334 B.C. Armenia
was part of ancient Persian empire and by
323 B.C. was conquered by Alexander the Great.
 In early 2nd century B.C., first
known Armenian kingdom was born to become an arena of long and
devastating conflicts between major local powers Rome and
Parthia.
Ancient Armenian kingdom came to the peak of its might between
189 and 63 B.C. during the reign of Tighran the Great who became
an ally of Mithridate VI Eupator of Pontus in his fight against
Rome.
Between 187 and 70 B.C., Armenian
state expanded greatly at the expense of Rome, Parthia, Iberia
and Albania stretching from South Caspian seashore to the
Mediterranean coast of Syria
 However, the Greater Armenian empire of Tighran did not last
long. As a result of successful Roman campaigns of Pompeus from
the west and Parthian invasion from the south, Armenia lost some
of her conquests by 65 B.C. and in fact became Roman-Parthian
dependency.
The following 600 years of Armenian history were marked by long
wars against Rome and Parthia (Iran) as well as further
territorial decline.
Click to enlarge
NB: In the year 301
Armenian King Thiradates III adopted Christianity as the state
religion thus making Armenia the first Christian nation of the
world.
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