The Story of Armenia: Survival Through Empires and Genocide — Fexingo History
History
About
Perched at the crossroads of East and West, the Armenian Highlands have witnessed the rise and fall of empires for millennia. In 'The Story of Armenia: Survival Through Empires and Genocide,' hosts Lucas and Luna guide listeners through a saga of resilience that begins with the Urartian kingdom (9th–6th centuries BCE) and extends to the modern Republic of Armenia. The series traces Armenia's adoption of Christianity as a state religion in 301 CE under King Tiridates III, the creation of the unique Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots, and the country's role as a buffer between Rome and Persia, Byzantium and the Seljuks, Ottomans and Safavids. It delves into the medieval Bagratid and Cilician Armenian kingdoms, the devastating Mongol invasions, and the centuries under Ottoman, Persian, and Russian rule. The show does not flinch from the darkest chapters: the Hamidian massacres (1894–1896), the Adana massacre (1909), and the Armenian Genocide (1915–1923), which erased 1.5 million lives. It also explores the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920), Soviet Armenian history, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the post-Soviet challenges of a nation still fighting for recognition and survival. Through the voices of historians, literary figures like Hovhannes Tumanyan, and the silent witness of Mount Ararat—now a symbol of loss—this podcast offers a deep, unflinching look at a civilization that has refused to vanish. Join Lucas and Luna as they recover a history written in stone, blood, and hope. #ArmenianHistory #MountArarat #Urartu #ArmenianGenocide #TiridatesIII #BagratidKingdom #Cilicia #MesropMashtots #NagornoKarabakh #OttomanEmpire #RussianEmpire #SovietArmenia #ArmenianDiaspora #Christianity #Caucasus #GenocideStudies #FexingoHistory #WorldHistory Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-story-of-armenia-survival-through-empires-and-genocide-fexingo-history--6985433/support .
Episodes
- The Arshakuni Dynasty: Armenia's Parthian Kings — Fexingo History
This episode details the Arshakuni (Arsacid) dynasty's rule in Armenia from 54 to 428 AD. It covers their relationship with Rome and Parthia, the Christianization of Armenia under Tiridates III and Gregory the Illuminator, and the eventual…
- The Mamluk Sultanate's Conquest of Cilician Armenia — Fexingo History
Episode 35 details the Mamluk Sultanate's conquest of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, covering internal divisions, Mamluk campaigns under Sultan Baibars, the exile of King Levon V, and the siege of Sis in 1375, which ended Armenian stateh…
- Armenia's First King: The Rise of Hayk the Great — Fexingo History
This episode delves into the legend of Hayk, Armenia's foundational patriarch, and his rebellion against the Assyrian Titan Bel around 2492 BC. It examines early sources and discusses the legend's connection to Armenian identity, language,…
- Armenia's Alphabet: How Mesrop Mashtots Created a Nation's Voice — Fexingo History
This episode details the creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots in the early 5th century. It covers the collaboration, establishment of schools, Bible translation, and the alphabet's significance in preserving Armenian identi…
- Armenia's King Trdat III: Christian Conversion and Political Genius — Fexingo History
This episode discusses King Trdat III of Armenia
- Garni Temple: Armenia's Pagan Sanctuary — Fexingo History
This episode discusses the Garni Temple, Armenia's sole surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded building, constructed in the 1st century CE. It details the temple's blend of Roman and Armenian styles, its survival through Christianization, and it…
- Zvartnots Cathedral: Armenia's Lost Architectural Wonder — Fexingo History
This episode discusses Zvartnots Cathedral, a 7th-century Armenian architectural masterpiece. It covers its circular design, construction by Catholicos Nerses III, collapse theories, and its legacy as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Armenia's Apostle: Ignorance and the First Christian Nation — Fexingo History
This episode details Armenia's adoption of Christianity as its national religion, predating Constantine, through the story of St. Gregory the Illuminator. It covers King Tiridates III, paganism, Christian persecution, the construction of E…
- The Battle of Sardarabad: Armenia's Last Stand for Independence — Fexingo History
The Battle of Sardarabad in May 1918 saw a coalition of Armenian forces defend against the Ottoman army, preventing annihilation and enabling the First Republic of Armenia's declaration. The episode examines the battle's context, leadershi…
- The Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia: A Golden Age — Fexingo History
This episode covers the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia, beginning with Ashot I's coronation in 885 AD and the cultural renaissance it spurred. It details the construction of Ani, the political landscape involving the Byzantine and Arab empire…
- The Armenian Genocide: Ottoman Annihilation and Global Reckoning — Fexingo History
This episode details the Armenian Genocide initiated by the Ottoman Empire on April 24, 1915, resulting in 1.5 million deaths. It explores the event's origins, implementation, resistance efforts, and the subsequent global reckoning and ong…
- The Armenian Highlands: A Thousand Years Before Urartu — Fexingo History
This episode delves into the early complex societies of the Armenian Highlands during the Bronze and Iron Ages, including the Trialeti-Vanadzor culture and Hayasa-Azzi, before the rise of Urartu. It discusses archaeological findings from M…
- The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia: Crusaders, Commerce, and Collapse — Fexingo History
This episode covers the medieval Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, detailing the rise of the Rubenid dynasty, its relationship with the Crusaders, its role in Silk Road trade, and its eventual collapse under Mamluk pressure.
- Urartu: The Mountain Kingdom Before Armenia — Fexingo History
This episode covers the Urartu Kingdom, a civilization preceding Armenia, focusing on the Kingdom of Van. It details their irrigation systems, cuneiform inscriptions, and eventual fall to the Scythians and Medes, highlighting Urartu's last…
- Tigranes the Great: Armenia's Forgotten Superpower — Fexingo History
This episode covers the career of Tigranes the Great, an Armenian king who created a powerful empire before conflicts with Roman generals like Lucullus and Pompey led to its collapse.
- Armenian Legions of Rome: Emperor Trajan's Forgotten Allies — Fexingo History
In this episode, Lucas and Luna discuss the Armenian legions of the Roman Empire, focusing on the Legio I and II Armeniaca and their role in the Roman-Parthian wars. They explore the historical impact of these units, the annexation of Arme…
- Armenia's Iron Curtain: The First Republic's Struggle for Survival — Fexingo History
This episode covers the First Armenian Republic's fight for existence from 1918-1920, its founding at the Battle of Sardarabad, internal struggles with famine and economy, and its diplomacy amidst the Russian Civil War and Kemalist Turkey'…
- The Battle of Sarikamish: Armenians in the Russian Army — Fexingo History
This episode covers the Battle of Sarikamish in December 1914, where Armenian soldiers in the Russian Imperial Army fought against the Ottoman Empire. The battle was a significant Ottoman defeat and heightened suspicions of Armenian loyalt…
- The Kingdom of Commagene: An Armenian Kingdom on the Euphrates — Fexingo History
This episode covers the Armenian Kingdom of Commagene, a strategic entity on the Euphrates from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. It highlights the kingdom's unique blend of Armenian, Persian, and Hellenistic cultures, exemplified…
- Armenia's Lost Kingdom: The Principality of Khachen — Fexingo History
This episode details the Principality of Khachen, an Armenian state in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) that existed from the 10th to 18th century. It highlights its survival against invasions, its cultural contributions like Dadivank monastery,…
- Vaspurakan: The Forgotten Kingdom of Armenian Kings — Fexingo History
This episode covers the medieval Kingdom of Vaspurakan, focusing on the Artsruni dynasty, the Holy Cross Cathedral on Akdamar Island, and its history until absorption by the Byzantine Empire.
- The Battle of Avarayr: Faith and Fire in Fifth-Century Armenia — Fexingo History
The Battle of Avarayr in 451 CE saw a smaller Armenian army led by Vartan Mamikonian fight the Sassanid Empire to preserve Christianity and their cultural identity against forced Zoroastrianism. Despite a military defeat and Vartan's marty…
- Armenia and the Silk Road: Merchants, Monasteries, and Cultural Exchange — Fexingo History
This episode examines the Armenian Highlands' role as a Silk Road crossroads, detailing how Armenian merchants and monasteries facilitated trade and cultural exchange. It covers the impact on cities like Dvin and Ani, the merchant communit…
- Armenia's Medieval Kingdom of Cilicia: A Crusader State — Fexingo History
This episode covers the medieval Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, a crusader state established in the 12th century. It details the founding by the Rubenid dynasty, its role as an ally to Crusader states, the crowning of Levon I, the Hethumid d…
- The Armenian Alphabet: A Script That Saved a Nation — Fexingo History
This episode details the creation of the 36-letter Armenian alphabet by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 AD. It explores the script's role in cultural preservation, its unique features, the challenges of its development, and its significance as a sy…
- Armenian Fedayi: Guerrilla Fighters Before the Genocide — Fexingo History
This episode details the Armenian fedayi, guerrilla fighters who defended villages in the Ottoman Empire prior to the Armenian Genocide, covering their origins, key figures, battles, and lasting influence on Armenian resistance.
- Armenian Music: The Soul of a People — Fexingo History
This episode details the history of Armenian music, including ancient liturgical chants, khaz notation, and the work of Komitas Vardapet. It covers the influence of the Soviet era, the revival of the duduk, and the role of music in diaspor…
- Armenian Architecture: The Hidden Masterpieces of Tatev and Geghard — Fexingo History
This episode of The Story of Armenia delves into the medieval architectural marvels of Tatev and Geghard monasteries, highlighting unique construction, the significance of khachkars, and the resilience of these sites. Hosts Lucas and Luna…
- The Armenian Diaspora: From Silk Road to Global Community — Fexingo History
This episode traces the Armenian diaspora from the medieval Silk Road to the present day, covering merchant networks in India and Persia, the first Armenian printing press, and the impact of the 1915 genocide on global Armenian communities.
- Soviet Armenia: Stalin, Spitak, and the Karabakh Movement — Fexingo History
This episode covers Armenia within the Soviet Union, including Stalin's purges, the 1988 Spitak earthquake, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It examines Soviet modernization's impact on Yerevan, the diaspora's role in the Karabakh moveme…
- The First Armenian Republic: Independence Amid Chaos — Fexingo History
This episode covers the First Republic of Armenia (1918–1920), detailing its fight for survival against the Ottoman Empire, famine, and disputes with Georgia and Azerbaijan. It highlights the Battle of Sardarabad, the Treaty of Batum, lead…
- The Armenian Genocide: Ottoman Annihilation and Survival — Fexingo History
This episode covers the 1915 Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire, detailing mass killings, deportations, and cultural erasure. It discusses the historical context, key figures, sites of atrocity, the 1.5 million death toll, and the eve…
- Armenia Under Ottoman Rule: The Millet System and the Seeds of Tragedy — Fexingo History
Lucas and Luna examine the status of Armenians under the Ottoman millet system, covering their cultural autonomy, economic contributions, and the eventual decline of these protections. The discussion details the 19th-century transition to…
- Armenia's Cilician Kingdom: Crusaders, Commerce, and Catastrophe — Fexingo History
This episode covers the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, established in 1080 by the Rubenid dynasty. It details the kingdom
- The Bagratuni Dynasty: Armenia's Golden Age — Fexingo History
This episode covers the Bagratuni dynasty's golden age in Armenia from the 9th to 11th centuries, focusing on cultural and political revival, the kingdom centered at Ani, and the factors leading to its decline.
- Armenia: Between Empires at the Crossroads of Civilizations — Fexingo History
This pilot episode covers Armenia's pivotal decisions in 301 AD, the Armenian Highlands' geopolitical challenges between empires, and the foundational elements of Armenian identity like the alphabet and church. It explores how Armenia surv…