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| Greater Armenia Մեծ Հայք | |
|---|---|
| 331 BCE–428 CE | |
 Armenia at its peak under Tigran II | |
| Capital | Armavir (331–210 BCE) Eruandashat (210–176 BCE) Artashat (176–77 BCE, 69–120 CE) Tigranakert (77 BCE–69 CE) Vagharshapat (120–330) Dvin (336–428) |
| Official languages | Ancient Greek Middle Persian |
| Common languages | Old Armenian |
| Dominant mode of production | Slavery |
| Government | Monarchy |
| History | |
• Established | 331 BCE |
• Dissolution | 428 CE |
Greater Armenia was an ancient Armenian kingdom.
History[edit | edit source]
Eruandid dynasty[edit | edit source]
A relatively short-lived kingdom formed under the Eruandid dynasty with its capital at Armavir. In 220 BCE, the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III annexed Armenia.[1]
Artashesian dynasty[edit | edit source]
After the Romans defeated the Seleucids, the Armenians were able to establish two independent states: the kingdom of Tsop'k', located west of Lake Van and led by Zareh, and the Kingdom of Armenia, located between Lake Van and Lake Sevan and led by Artashes I.[1]
Around 95 BCE, the Parthians helped Tigran II become king of Armenia, but he became too powerful for the Parthians to control. He annexed Adurbadagan and conquered former Seleucid lands in Syria. He moved his capital to Tigranakert, located southwest of Lake Van. Tigran joined Mithridates VI of Pontus's anti-Roman alliance. In 69 BCE, the Romans besieged Tigranakert after defeating Pontus. Tigran signed a peace treaty with Pompeius Magnus that reduced the size of Armenia in 66 BCE.[1]
The Parthian defeat of Crassus in 53 BCE allowed Armenia to briefly restore its independence, but Marcus Antonius once again made Armenia into a Roman vassal. Tigran III, who ruled from 20 to 6 BCE, had been raised in Rome. In the 30s CE, the relatives of Parsman I of Kartli ruled Armenia.[1]
Arshakuni dynasty[edit | edit source]
Anti-Roman nobles allied with Parthia and installed Tīridāt, a member of the Parthian royal family, as king of Armenia in 52. In 66, Tīridāt went to Rome to be crowned by Nero. Roman craftsmen renovated the Armenian capital of Artashat. In 114, Traianus declared Armenia a Roman province. In the late second century, Parthian forces combined with a popular uprising forced Hadrianus to withdraw the Roman garrison and restore Armenian independence.[1]
After the fall of Parthia, the Sasanians tried to make Armenia into a vassal but failed. Trdat III, who reigned in the late third and early fourth centuries, adopted Christianity as the state religion.[1]
Economy[edit | edit source]
Slavery was widespread, and slaves were divided into prisoners of war, household slaves, debt slaves, and slaves bought with silver. Slaves worked on royal and noble estates.[1]
Crafts and commerce were highly developed. Armenia traded with Athens, Nabāṭū, Phoenicia, and Pontus. The Artashesians minted their own coins, but markets also used Roman and Parthian coins.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.