Changes

With the advent of [[World War I]] the situation became much worse.  As Christians in an Empire of Muslims that was now at war with Christian nations, especially Russia, the Armenians were viewed by the Ottoman government as a threat and potential subversive allies of the Russians.  The Ottomans first disarmed the Armenian population, and then sought to destroy them starting in 1915.  A massive [[genocide]] occurred, consisting of the deaths of 600,000 or more Armenian men, women and children. Most died by starvation in the desert. Turkey has never admitted the deaths were a premeditated genocide, and the topic is generally not discussed in Turkey.

With the advent of [[World War I]] the situation became much worse.  As Christians in an Empire of Muslims that was now at war with Christian nations, especially Russia, the Armenians were viewed by the Ottoman government as a threat and potential subversive allies of the Russians.  The Ottomans first disarmed the Armenian population, and then sought to destroy them starting in 1915.  A massive [[genocide]] occurred, consisting of the deaths of 600,000 or more Armenian men, women and children. Most died by starvation in the desert. Turkey has never admitted the deaths were a premeditated genocide, and the topic is generally not discussed in Turkey.

===Russian control of Eastern Armenia===

===Russian protection in Eastern Armenia===

The Armenians, divided under the rule of the  Ottoman Empire and Persia and ravaged by the  fighting between them, turned for military assistance and political protection in the 18th  and 19th centuries to [[History of Russia|Russia]]. The Russian advance  along the Caspian and the expansion into Georgia  encouraged requests for help. When a 70,000 strong  Persian army entered Transcaucasia in 1804, the Russian general Tsitsianov began his advance on  Erevan. Many Armenians joined the Russians  captured in 1808. In 1810 the Turks and Persians  invaded the area, but the Russian commander M. I. Kutuzov routed the Ottoman army on the Danube.  Turkey recognized Russian rule in Transcaucasia in the Treaty of Bucharest in 1812. Resounding  defeats imposed on the Persians forced the shah to agree in 1813 to the incorporation of a large part  of Transcaucasia into the Russian Empire. Russian victories over renewed war with Persia led to the  unification of Transcaucasia with Russia, 1829.  

The Armenians, divided under the rule of the  Ottoman Empire and Persia and ravaged by the  fighting between them, turned for military assistance and political protection in the 18th  and 19th centuries to [[History of Russia|Russia]]. The Russian advance  along the Caspian and the expansion into Georgia  encouraged requests for help. When a 70,000 strong  Persian army entered Transcaucasia in 1804, the Russian general Tsitsianov began his advance on  Erevan. Many Armenians joined the Russians  captured in 1808. In 1810 the Turks and Persians  invaded the area, but the Russian commander M. I. Kutuzov routed the Ottoman army on the Danube.  Turkey recognized Russian rule in Transcaucasia in the Treaty of Bucharest in 1812. Resounding  defeats imposed on the Persians forced the shah to agree in 1813 to the incorporation of a large part  of Transcaucasia into the Russian Empire. Russian victories over renewed war with Persia led to the  unification of Transcaucasia with Russia, 1829.  

Being part of Russia opened up new market opportunities and allowed the emergence of capitalism, which brought about socioeconomic changes in almost all the regions of Eastern Armenia, including Zangezur and Kazakh. By the end of the 19th century both Zangezur and Kazakh had become major grain producers, and while Zangezur was also engaged in sericulture, an important occupation in Kazakh was hog raising. The rising class of Armenian businessmen and bankers were centered not so much in Yerevan but in Baku and Tiflis (Tbilisi, Georgia), and sent younger sons to set up business connections in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Being part of Russia opened up new market opportunities and allowed the emergence of capitalism, which brought about socioeconomic changes in almost all the regions of Eastern Armenia, including Zangezur and Kazakh. By the end of the 19th century both Zangezur and Kazakh had become major grain producers, and while Zangezur was also engaged in sericulture, an important occupation in Kazakh was hog raising. The rising class of Armenian businessmen and bankers were centered not so much in Yerevan but in Baku and Tiflis (Tbilisi, Georgia), and sent younger sons to set up business connections in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Russians occupied the six Armenian vilayets, and Armenian nationalism was stimulated. In 1880, a revolutionary organization known as the Defenders of the Fatherland was organized in Erzurum. A few years later, in 1885, the Armenakan society was organized, and in 1887 the Hunchagian Party appeared. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktzutun) was formed in 1890.  The Dashnaks were socialists who sought to overthrow the Tsarist  system and create an independent state. They also wanted to acquire the Armenian areas in the Ottoman Empire by force.  

Following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Russians occupied the six Armenian vilayets, and Armenian nationalism was stimulated. In 1880, a revolutionary organization known as the Defenders of the Fatherland was organized in Erzurum. A few years later, in 1885, the Armenakan society was organized, and in 1887 the Hunchagian Party appeared. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktzutun) was formed in 1890.  The Dashnaks were socialists who sought to overthrow the Tsarist  system and create an independent state. They also wanted to acquire the Armenian areas in the Ottoman Empire by force.

 

===Independence===

===Independence===

Amidst the chaos of Russia Empire in 1918, period the Armenian National Council, with German help, declared the establishment of the Republic of Armenia (May 1918) on the territory of Russian Armenia. While most Armenians desired a democracy in their first chance at independence in 1918–20, for practical reasons they settled for a benevolent dictatorship instead.  The government sought a mandate status with Armenia under the control of the United States, but the U.S. Senate rejected the idea, and Armenia was taken over by Soviet Russia in December 1920.  Several hundred thousand Armenian refugees at the end of the war were scattered, and most emigrated to California.  

Amidst the chaos of Russia Empire in 1918, period the Armenian National Council, with German help, declared the establishment of the Republic of Armenia (May 1918) on the territory of Russian Armenia. While most Armenians desired a democracy in their first chance at independence in 1918–20, for practical reasons they settled for a benevolent dictatorship instead.  The government sought a mandate status with Armenia under the control of the United States, but the U.S. Senate rejected the idea, and Armenia was taken over by Soviet Russia in December 1920.  Several hundred thousand Armenian refugees at the end of the war were scattered, and most emigrated to California.