By Hye Etch

Introduction

rmenia, a cradle of civilization. A land of unspoiled natural beauty, with its snow-peaked mountains, lush green valleys, life giving rivers and lakes. A land which has been constantly invaded by ancient civilizations, a battlefield for rivaling great empires, but also a land of prosperity and commerce.

The home land of all Armenians. A nation whose ancestral history dates back 2000 years B.C. A nation whose culture and arts influenced and intrigued other civilizations. Whose fine sculpture and world famous church architecture adorn the hills and plains of this great land.

In short, Armenia is literally an “Open Air Museum” set in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled regions of this big planet of ours, Earth.

This chapter is dedicated to the current day Republic of Armenia. It’s an introduction to her history, political structure, economy and industry. The reader will learn about the significance and meaning of the Tricoloured flag and the coat-of-arms of Armenia. You will get acquainted with some of the famous tourist sites, her museum, churches and art galleries.

A special section about Nagorno Karabagh has been included, as an introduction to this mountainous Armenian Republic situated East of Armenia within the boarders of neighboring Azerbaijan.

Pictures and illustrations are provided, as visual aids to assist the reader to better understand their subject. By clicking on an image, an enlarged version will be displayed accompanied by a caption.

This chapter will be regularly updated with new material and images, so please visit often and explore these pages. If you wish to contribute material (literature & pictures) suitable for this chapter, please click "here" to get in touch with us.