One of the 15 Soviet Socialist Republics that made up the former Soviet Union (1920-1991, name changed in 1990). Became independent as the Republic of Armenia in 1991, after the collapse of the USSR.

Synonym of Old Armenian

The oldest attested form of the Armenian language, first written down at the beginning of the 5th century AD and spoken until 12th century; then replaced by Middle Armenian. Served as a literary language until the 18-19th centuries. Partly intelligible to speakers of modern Armenian.

One of the two standardized forms of the modern Armenian language, the other being Eastern Armenian. Following the Genocide of Armenians of 1915, it is now spoken by the descendants of Armenian survivors from the Ottoman Empire fleeing to Armenian diaspora, mainly in North America and South America, Europe and most of the Middle East except for Iran.

One of the two standardized forms of the modern Armenian language, the other being Western Armenian. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia and is the dialect spoken by Armenian diaspora in CIS countries and Iran. It developed in the 19th century in Russian Armenia.

A plateau in the north of Western Asia, connecting the Lesser Caucasus with the Taurus Mountains. Total area: about 400,000 km². Average elevation: 1500 to 2000 metres, highest point: Mount Ararat. The area lies mostly in eastern Turkey; also includes the whole of modern Armenia, southern Georgia, western Azerbaijan, northwestern Iran, Nakhichevan and Nagorno-Karabakh.

familial Mediterranean fever

Middle period of the Armenian language, written down in the 11-17th centuries. Developed from Old Armenian, replaced by modern Armenian.

The reconstructed ancestor of the Armenian language.

Old Armenian (language). The language is still used in some contexts by the Armenian Church, e.g. in some prayers and in monumental inscriptions.