.png)
Armenia is a country with ancient history and rich culture. In fact, it is one of the oldest countries in the world. Scientific research, numerous archaeological findings and old manuscripts prove that the Armenian Highlands are the very Cradle of Civilization.
Some of the world’s oldest things were found in Armenia. The world’s oldest leather shoe (5,500 years old), sky observatory (7,500 years old), depictions of agriculture (7,500 years old) and wine-making facility (6,100 years old) have been found in the territory of Armenia.
The current Republic of Armenia makes up only a small part of what the historical land used to hold. Armenians are native to the land of the Armenian Highlands which covers over 400,000 square km.
Since prehistoric times, the territory of Armenia has been populated by different tribes. The first evidence of human settlement in Armenia dates back to 90,000 BC. Further findings in caves and stone inscriptions are a proof of human settlement in Armenia through Paleolithic period.
Throughout the 4th-1st centuries B.C. Armenia was the only country in the East that independently adopted certain elements of Hellenistic civilization without the Greek-Macedonian intervention. Hellenistic theater, arts and culture were popularly accessed by the Armenian elite. Armenia was also full of multinational and self-governing towns around that time.
According to ancient written sources of Sumerians and Akkadians mankind was created in Armenian Highlands; the land at that time was referred to as Eden, Kur or Abzu. Abzu was described to be located near Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which at that time were part of Armenian Highlands.
According to Biblical scripts the Garden of Eden was located in Armenian Highlands also known as the Armenian Plateau. The highlands shared their secrets with the rest of the world, introducing their findings to European and Asian civilizations. Iron age metallurgy as well as apricots have their origin in the Armenian Plateau and were later on introduced to Europe. Much later, after the Armenian Genocide, that in an attempt to erase Armenian culture, history and achievements, the Armenian Highlands were renamed to Eastern Anatolia.
Many different cultures and nations have been referring to the Armenian Highlands as the Holy Land, including ancient Egyptians and Sumerians. Armenians were respected for their wisdom and knowledge almost in godlike nature. Thutmose III of Egypt when talking about the Armenian Highlands said that heaven rests upon its 4 pillars in Armenia.
Armenia is also often referred to as the Land of Noah based on biblical scripts. As Noah’s ark came to rest on the Ararat mountain, which at that time was still officially part of Armenia, his sons and grandsons emigrated those lands. It’s commonly accepted that Armenians are the direct descendants of his son Japheth.