QUESTION BANK FOR EDUCATORS:

This question bank offers suggestions for the interactive use of the contents of Impact of an Ancient Nation in a classroom or other learning environment. It consists of straightforward fact-checking questions to encourage close reading, as well as more thoughtful, analytical questions, personal reflections, and additional directions for further research that the student or reader may wish to undertake.

Please feel free to use the question bank as you see fit, to add to it or modify it however you find useful. Lena and Nareg would love to hear any feedback, so do not hesitate to drop a line at 100years100facts@gmail.com. Thank you!

Click here to download as a PDF: Question Bank

2017-10-11

2017-10-11 (1)

 

1

– Why is April 24th marked as Armenian Genocide commemoration day?

– What do you think April 24th means today, so many years after 1915?

– There was violence and deportations even before April 24, 1915 – for example, the Armenian resistance at Van. What more can you discover about that? Does that change the meaning of April 24th as a commemorative date?

 

2

– Where does the name “Yerevan” come from?

– What significance do you think it has for Armenians today to claim that the name “Armenia” is so ancient?

– What more can you discover about the Kingdom of Urartu?

 

3

– Where and when was the first Armenian church established in the United States?

– How do you think being Armenian fits into being American or Canadian?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in the United States and Canada – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

4

– What was the name of the last ruling dynasty of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that the last Armenian king is buried outside Paris?

– What more can you discover about the dynasties that ruled Armenian Cilicia?

 

5

– Who was the first Armenian Olympic medalist in modern times? Which country did he represent?

– What difference does it make, do you think, whether or not Armenians represent Armenia or some other country at the Olympics?

– What more can you discover about Armenians at the ancient Olympic games?

 

6

– How are days of the week indicated in the modern Armenian language?

– What significance do you think it has for each day of the month to have its own name? Why not each day of the year? Or why not have only numbered days?

– What more can you discover about the names of days and months according to the ancient Armenian calendar? When would your birthday fall in that system?

 

7

– What is one common set up in which the duduk is performed?

– What significance do you think it has for the duduk or other aspects of Armenian culture to be officially listed by UNESCO?

– What other traditional Armenian musical instruments exist? What more can you discover about them? Find one new musician who plays a traditional Armenian instrument and listen to a few tracks. What did you learn or feel listening to the music?

 

8

– What public activities did Krikor Zohrab undertake in his lifetime?

– What significance do you think it has for a member of parliament of a country to be a victim of a genocide carried out by that country’s government?

– What other high-ranking Armenians were victims of the genocide in 1915? What more can you discover about them?

 

9

– What is the name of the Armenian church in St. Petersburg, Russia? Is there any special reason that name was chosen?

– What significance do you think the collapse of the Soviet Union had for the Armenians of Russia in terms of their relationship with Armenia?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in Russia – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

10

– How long did the First Armenian Republic last?

– What do you think the 1918 Republic of Armenia means for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about the leaders of the Armenian Republic in 1918?

 

11

– What is the difference between “Greater Armenia” and “Lesser Armenia”?

– What significance do you think the ancient Armenian kingdoms have for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about the dynasties that ruled Greater Armenia?

 

12

– Which newspapers reported on the massacres and deportations of Armenians?

– What difference does it make, do you think, whether or not the Armenian Genocide made it to the international media in 1915, or before, or after?

– What more can you discover about reports on Armenians after the First World War and during the early 1920s?

 

13

– When and by whom was the Zildjian company established?

– What significance do you think it has that an Armenian established a company that is world-renowned today through the blessings and investment of an Ottoman sultan in 1623?

– What more can you discover about the Zildjian family and their cymbal-making company in the 20th century, after its move to the United States?

 

14

– When and by whom did the first expedition to climb Mount Ararat take place?

– Why do you think Mount Ararat is a symbol for the Armenian people?

– What other instances can you discover about Mount Ararat as a brand name or the name of a group or organisation? Do non-Armenians use it as a symbol too?

– Do you think you would even want to climb to the summit of Mount Ararat? Why or why not?

 

15

– In which country was Cardinal Agagianian born? In which places did he live and work?

– What do you think is the significance of having an Armenian rise to the rank of cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian presence at the Vatican?

 

16

– When and where was the first Armenian journal published? What was its name?

– What significance do you think it has that Armenian merchants set up shop all the way out in India so many centuries ago?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian presence in India – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

17

– Why was Ani known as “The City of a Thousand and One Churches”?

– What significance do you think the legacy of the city of Ani has for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about the population and activities in and around Ani during its heyday?

– Can you find images of what Ani looks like today? What are your thoughts when you see them?

 

18

– What happened to the property of the Armenians driven out of their homes in the Ottoman Empire?

– What significance do you think it has that the presidential palace of the Republic of Turkey was for some ninety years the former home of an Armenian family?

– What more can you discover about the process of confiscating Armenian property in 1915, and before and after? What mechanisms did the Ottoman government use in that regard?

 

19

– What was the first book translated into Armenian?

– What significance do you think the Armenian alphabet has for the Armenian people?

– What more can you discover about the first generation of Armenian writers and translators? What was the first book originally written in Armenian?

 

20

– Who were the main gods and goddesses of the ancient Armenian pantheon?

– What do you think is the significance of the pre-Christian Armenian religion for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about ancient Armenian deities? What areas of life and nature had their own gods back then?

 

21

– Where was Alexander Mantashev born? In which places did he live and work?

– What do you think is the significance of having an Armenian oil baron in Baku at the turn of the 20th century?

– What more can you discover about Alexander Mantashev, his business and philanthropic activities?

 

22

– What are the Armenian contributions to the UNESCO World Heritage List in Iran?

– What do you think is the significance of the dialect or accent of Armenians from Iran?

– What more can you discover about the Persian-Armenian presence? What other famous names are on the Parskahye list, for example?

 

23

– When and by whom were the first coffee shops opened in Paris and Vienna?

– What do you think is the significance of the special word that Armenians have for “coffee”?

– What more can you discover about the early coffee trade routes and its development into modern times, and other Armenian connections in that regard?

 

24

– How come it can be claimed that Near East Relief “kept an entire nation alive”?

– What do you think is the significance of public participation in relief efforts in 1915 and later?

– What more can you discover about the activities of Near East Relief and other humanitarian groups in the Middle East after the First World War?

– What do you think is the responsibility of the Armenian community today in humanitarian efforts and human rights advocacy?

 

25

– What kinds of structures in Istanbul are the works of the Balyan family?

– What do you think is the significance of an Armenian family acting as the chief architects and designers of the Ottoman Empire for more than a century?

– What more can you discover about buildings made by the Balyans? Choose one in particular to study.

 

26

– On what basis do Armenians claim being the first Christians in the world?

– What do you think is the significance of a nation being the first to adopt Christianity and displaying pride about that event? How significant is Christianity for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about the way in which Armenians became Christian and how Christianity came to be adopted to the Armenian context?

27

– What was the Affiche Rouge (“Red Poster”) meant to accomplish in France during the Second World War?

– What do you think motivated Missak Manouchian to participate in the French Resistance?

– What more can you discover about Missak Manouchian’s life and literary activities, and his legacy? What more can you discover about Armenian activity during World War II, in general?

 

28

– In which country is the largest Armenian community in Latin America?

– What do you think is the significance of the Armenian presence in Latin America in terms of the worldwide Armenian Diaspora?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in Latin America – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

29

– How long did the Lebanese Rocket Society last? How many rockets did it test?

– What do you think is the significance of the Lebanese Rocket Society for the Armenian Diaspora? For the Armenian community of Lebanon? And for Lebanon itself?

– What more can you discover about the Lebanese Rocket Society and its activities?

 

30

– In how many countries have national parliaments passed resolutions about the Armenian Genocide?

– What do you think is the significance of public bodies, reputable organisations, and authoritative individuals speaking up for acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide?

– What more can you discover about how such resolutions are adopted? Pick a particular case in one country and chart the process of its proposal and passage.

 

31

– What did Zabel Yesayan do during the Armenian Genocide and in the years immediately following?

– What do you think is the significance of having a woman on the list of those to be arrested on April 24, 1915?

– What more can you discover about Zabel Yesayan’s life and works? What more can you discover about other famous female Armenian writers?

 

32

– What is the source of the tradition of the battle between Hayk and Bel?

– What do you think is the significance and the symbolism of the legend?

– What more pre-Christian Armenian legends can you discover?

 

33

– Where is St. Blaise venerated and why?

– What do you think is the significance of having early Christian saints and martyrs from Armenia venerated in Europe and beyond?

– What more can you discover about Armenian saints in the Western world?

 

34

– In which country was Israel Ori’s plan to liberate Armenia met with most enthusiasm?

– What do you think is the significance of Israel Ori’s activities for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about the various plans to liberate Armenia during the 17th-18th centuries?

 

35

– Where is the oldest Armenian church in the UK?

– What do you think is the significance of the “Armenian” in “Armenian Paper” as a product and as a phenomenon?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in western and northern Europe today – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

36

– What books were published by the Armenians of Madras at the end of the 18th century?

– What do you think is the significance of a group of Armenians from Persia in India publishing a conceptual proto-constitution for a possible future independent Armenia?

– What more can you discover about the Madras Group and its activities?

 

37

– What did the rug woven by the orphans at Ghazir look like?

– What do you think is the significance of a rug being sent as a gift by a group of Armenian Genocide survivors to the president of the United States?

– What more can you discover about the Ghazir rug and the controversy surrounding its public display?

 

38

– What are some of the differences between Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian?

– What do you think is the significance of there being two literary versions of the modern Armenian language? What consequences exist or could there exist as a result?

– What more can you discover about how to communicate between Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian?

– What do you think should be done to preserve Western Armenian (on UNESCO’s list of “definitely endangered” languages)?

 

39

– Since when has the Armenian Catholicos had his seat at Etchmiadzin?

– What do you think is the significance of Holy Muron (or Chrism) and how it is prepared?

– What more can you discover about the Mother Cathedral at Etchmiadzin, the rites performed there, and the relics maintained by the Armenian Church in that location?

 

40

– Where did Sayat Nova spend most of his life?

– What do you think is the significance of the fact that most of Sayat Nova’s works are in the Azerbaijani Turkish language?

– What more can you discover about Sayat Nova’s music and poetry? Choose one in particular to read through and analyse.

 

41

– What is among the most popular traditional Armenian dances today? Find a video of it and describe how it is performed.

– What do you think is the significance of traditional Armenian dances modified or invented by the Armenian-American community during the 20th century?

– What more can you discover about traditional Armenian dances? Find instructional videos online and learn one.

 

42

– When and why did many Armenians from India move to Australia?

– What do you think is the significance of the April 24-April 25, 1915 connection for Armenians and Australia and New Zealand?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in Australia and New Zealand – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

43

– How many constitutions has the Republic of Armenia had? When were they adopted?

– What do you think is the significance and the symbolism of the coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia?

– What more can you discover about Armenia today – its legal system, foreign policy, modern challenges, other aspects? What is one aspect of Armenia today that you feel needs improvement and why?

 

44

– When and why did chess became a popular sport in Armenia?

– What do you think is the significance of chess players being celebrated household names in Armenia?

– What more can you discover about chess in Armenia today, such as its inclusion in the school curriculum?

 

45

– What name did Mustafa Kemal give to Hagop Martayan and why?

– What do you think is the significance of an Armenian carrying out so much work in the development of the modern Turkish language? What are your personal feelings about it?

– What more can you discover about Hagop Martayan and Hagop Çerçiyan, their lives and works?

 

46

– When and where was the Bible published in Armenian for the first time?

– What do you think is the significance of the fact that Armenian publishing first took place in such places as Venice, Vienna, Constantinople (Istanbul), Marseille, Isfahan, and Amsterdam?

– What more can you discover about early Armenian printed works? Find out about the earliest books in Armenian published in one of the cities mentioned above.

 

47

– In which places did Komitas live, study, and work?

– What do you think is the significance of the fact that Komitas did not carry out any notable musical or public activity after 1915?

– What more can you discover about Komitas’s life and works? Choose one piece in particular to listen to and analyse.

 

48

– When and how did the Forty Orphans end up in Ethiopia?

– What do you think is the significance of the Armenian church in Swaziland?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian presence in Africa – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

49

– Who was the longest-ruling king of Armenian Cilicia?

– What do you think is the significance of the ruler of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia journeying a great distance to meet and form an alliance with the Mongol Khan in the 13th century?

– What more can you discover about Armenian Cilicia and its relations with other kingdoms?

 

50

– How many Armenians served as members of the last Ottoman parliament?

– What do you think is the significance of the contributions of high-ranking Armenians in the Ottoman Empire for Armenians and Turks today?

– What more can you discover about the amira class of high-ranking Ottoman Armenians?

 

51

– What is the name for the Bible in Armenian? What does it mean?

– What do you think is the significance of the Armenian veneration of the translators of scripture?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian version of the Bible? Does it have any dissimilarities with English-language or other versions?

 

52

– Why is there more than one Armenian patriarch with the title “Catholicos”?

– What do you think was the significance of Catholicos Karekin II of Antelias being elected Catholicos Karekin I of Etchmiadzin in 1995?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia at Antelias and its relationship with the Catholicosate of All Armenians at Etchmiadzin?

 

53

– Why was Diana Apcar referred to as “The Little Mother to a Nation”?

– What do you think is the significance of a woman officially representing Armenia in Japan in the years following the First World War?

– What more can you discover about Diana Apcar, her writings, and her public activities?

 

54

– From where was the Republic of Armenia declared in 1918? Why from that city?

– What do you think is the significance of the special names that Armenians and Georgians have for each other in their languages?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in Georgia – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

55

– In which places did Armenian volunteers fight with British and French forces during the First World War?

– What do you think is the significance of the transformation of La Légion d’Orient to La Légion Arménienne?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian volunteers and their legacy? How are they remembered in Armenia and the Diaspora today?

 

56

– Why was an Armenian cook granted a tract of land in Constantinople (Istanbul) in the 16th century?

– What do you think is the significance of the Armenian Genocide being commemorated in Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1919?

– What more can you discover about Armenian properties that were confiscated by the authorities in Istanbul in the 1920s, ’30s, and later? What repurcusions have those confiscations had? How are they being dealt with today?

 

57

– What is Armeno-Kipchak?

– What do you think is the significance of using Armenian letters to write such languages as Turkish or Kurdish? How is that different from using Latin letters to write English, French, German, etc. or Cyrillic letters for Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, etc.?

– What more can you discover about Armeno-Turkish publications and their legacy today?

 

58

– What’s special about Armenian Christmas in the city where Jesus is believed to have been born?

– What do you think is the significance of possible Armenian pilgrimages to Jerusalem even before Armenia itself became Christian?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and its past and present activities?

 

59

– What were Hovsep Emin’s connections with Israel Ori’s plans to liberate Armenia?

– What do you think is the significance of Hovsep Emin’s activities for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about Hovsep Emin’s life and work?

 

60

– Why could Beirut claim to have been the capital of the Armenian Diaspora for some decades during the 20th century?

– What do you think is the significance of the fact that there has been and continues to be such a vibrant Armenian presence in the Arab world?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in the Arab world – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

61

– What works of art and architecture are noted from the era of Bagratouni rule over Armenia?

– What do you think is the significance and the symbolism of the flag of the House of Bagratouni?

– What more can you discover about Armenia during the 9th to the 11th centuries? What relationship did the Bagratouni throne have with other Armenian lords and with foreign kings?

 

62

– Where does the word “genocide” come from? Who came up with it and why?

– What do you think is the significance of that term?

– What more can you discover about Rapahel Lemkin’s life and activities? What happened with him after the Genocide Convention was adopted in 1948?

 

63

– What was Mkrdich Cezayirliyan’s main business interest?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that a substantial proportion of entrepreneurs and merchants in the Ottoman Empire were Armenian?

– What more can you discover about the philanthropy of the amira class of high-ranking Ottoman Armenians? What happened to the amiras over the course of the 20th century? Pick one family and try to trace its path.

 

64

– When did the Vatican officially accept an Armenian Catholic community? When did the Ottoman Sultan do so?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that there is an “Armenian branch” of the Catholic Church? Or that there is a “Catholic version” of the Armenian Church?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian Catholic Church and its activities that have contributed to the Armenian nation?

 

65

– Why was Calouste Gulbenkian nicknamed “Mr. Five Percent”?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that the biggest dealer in oil in the Ottoman Empire and in the world market was an Armenian?

– What more can you discover about Calouste Gulbenkian, his life and work, and his legacy?

 

66

– Why doesn’t the Republic of Armenia officially recognise the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that there are essentially two Armenian countries, two Armenian governments right next to each other? Are there any other such examples in the world today?

– What more can you discover about the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and the peace process currently in place? How would you solve the conflict?

 

67

– What are some of the contributions of Armenians to public life in Singapore?

– What do you think is significant about having an Armenian community in China during the 20th century and its growth into the 21st century?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian presence in eastern Asia – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

68

– Why did Armin Wegner receive high public honours from both Armenia and Israel?

– What do you think is the significance of the photographs he took?

– What more can you discover about Armin Wegner’s life and works, his writing and public activities?

– What do you think about the importance of photojournalism in today’s world?

 

69

– When and where did the Rasulid dynasty rule?

– What do you think is the significance of Armenian being one of the six languages in the medieval glossary prepared in what is Yemen today?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian presence in the eastern Mediterranean after the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia fell in 1375?

 

70

– When and by whom was the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople established?

– What do you think is the significance of continuing the Ottoman Armenian traditions of organising church councils and elections in the Armenian Diaspora today?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and its past and present activities?

 

71

– Why did Lord Byron study the Armenian language?

– What do you think is the significance of Lord Byron’s description of the Armenian alphabet as, “the thirty-eight cursed scratches of Mesrob, the maker of alphabets”?

– What more can you discover about Lord Byron’s activities with the Mkhitarians in Venice?

 

72

– What was the most impactful product developed and marketed by Alex Manoogian?

– What do you think is the significance of the fact that Manoogian Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of Detroit?

– What more can you discover about Alex Manoogian, his life and his contributions to the Armenian world?

 

73

– When was Agos founded? What was so special about it?

– What do you think was significant about the assassination of Hrant Dink for Armenians? For Turkey?

– What more can you discover about Hrant Dink, his life and work, as well as his legacy? What kinds of activities are carried out by the Hrant Dink Foundation?

 

74

– Where is the oldest Armenian church building in Europe?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that the medieval Armenian cathedral of Lviv (Lvov) is a major central landmark for that city in western Ukraine?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in central and eastern Europe – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

75

– Who represented the Republic of Armenia for the first time at the Olympics?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that the Ottoman Empire’s first Olympic appearance was through a pair of Armenians in 1912?

– What more can you discover about Armenia at the modern Olympic games?

 

76

– What are the names of the four rivers flowing out of the Garden of Eden according to the Bible?

– What do you think is significant about associating the traditional geography of the Garden of Eden with Armenia?

– What more can you discover about references to Armenia in the Bible?

 

77

– Who is your favourite Armenian entertainer? Who is your parents’ favourite Armenian entertainer?

– What do you think is significant about there being an Armenian rock star in Turkey today? Listen to one of his songs; watch one of his videos online. Would you call it an Armenian song or a Turkish song, or something else?

– What more can you discover about Armenian celebrities? Pick a genre you like and try to find Armenian performers, both in Armenia and outside the country.

 

78

– Why did it take two years for the first book to be published in Iran?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that there is a 250-year gap between the first book being published in Armenian and the first book being published in Armenia?

– What more can you discover about Armenian printing in early modern times?

 

79

– What purposes do khachkars serve?

– What do you think is the significance of the “Tree of Life” design?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian khachkar tradition?

 

80

– Who were the fedayeen? What does that word mean?

– What do you think is significant about a woman fighting for Armenian rights in the mountains of Anatolia in the 1890s?

– What more can you discover about the fedayeen movement? Pick one figure in particular and find out more about his or her life and activities.

 

81

– What is the difference between the kaghakatsi and zuwwar Armenians of Jerusalem?

– What do you think is significant about the tradition of Armenian ceramics in and around Jerusalem?

– What more can you discover about Armenian life in the Holy Land – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

82

– Who are the heroes in each of the four cycles of the Armenian epic?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that the Daredevils of Sassoun was written down only in 1873?

– What more can you discover about the Daredevils of Sassoun? Pick an episode and try to analyse its plot, characters, and symbolism.

 

83

– When did the massacre of the Armenians of Sumgait take place?

– What do you think is significant about the Sumgait massacres in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) movement?

– What more can you discover about the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, its origins and the fighting that took place until the cease-fire in 1994?

 

84

– How many of the Vartanank died during the Battle of Avarayr, by tradition? When does the Armenian Church celebrate their martyrdom?

– What do you think is significant about the words ascribed to Vartan Mamikonian: “An unexpected death means merely dying. But a death willingly borne renders one immortal.”?

– What more can you discover about the rebellion led by Vartan Mamikonian? And the rebellion led by Vahan Mamikonian?

 

85

– Does Armenia have a port? How come around 5% of its area is water?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that there are more mobile phones than people in Armenia?

– What more can you discover about Armenia today – its geography and economy, other aspects? What are the country’s competitive advantages? What are its weakenesses?

 

86

– How was music written by Armenians before modern Western notation was introduced?

– What do you think is significant about Baba Hamparsum being a key figure in modern Turkish music?

– What more can you discover about the “Hamparsum notası” system and its impact on musicology in Turkey today?

 

87

– When and where was Mkhitar born? When and where did he die?

– What do you think is significant about the legacy of the Mkhitarians for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about the Mekhitarist Congregation and its past and current activities?

 

88

– Why did Soghomon Tehlirian plan on getting caught after killing Talaat Pasha?

– What do you think is significant about Soghomon Tehlirian’s and Talaat Pasha’s final resting places?

– What more can you discover about Operation Nemesis? Who were involved? Who were the targets?

 

89

– When and where was Vahan Cardashian born? When and where did he die?

– What do you think is the significance of Vahan Cardashian’s activities for Armenians today?

– What more can you discover about Vahan Cardashian and the development of Armenian-American advocacy efforts?

 

90

– Who was Stepan Shahumyan, what was he noted for?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that Armenians were substantial players in the early oil industry in Baku?

– What more can you discover about past Armenian life in Baku – churches, schools, other community activities or establishments?

 

91

– What was the relationship between the enker and the khwaja in the Julfa-Armenian trade network?

– What do you think is the significance of an Armenian merchant ship being taken over by an English pirate in the Indian Ocean in the late 17th century?

– What more can you discover about the early modern Armenian trade network?

 

92

– In which cities were American schools and colleges to be found in the Ottoman Empire?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that there were around 800 Armenian schools in the Ottoman Empire in 1915?

– What more can you discover about Armenian schools in the Ottoman Empire? Which groups and organisations established and ran them?

 

93

– What purposes do Armenian embroideries serve?

– What do you think is the significance of the colours and patterns of the Marash style of needle-point?

– What more can you discover about traditional Armenian crafts? How have they developed up to our times?

 

94

– How many Armenian evangelical schools and colleges exist in the world today?

– What do you think is significant about the Armenian Evangelical Church and its relationship with the rest of the Armenian world?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian Evangelical Church and its activities that have contributed to the Armenian nation?

 

95

– In which two countries was The Forty Days of Mousa Dagh banned and burnt? Why?

– What do you think is the significance of a Jewish person writing a novel about the Armenian Genocide in the 1930s?

– What more can you discover about Franz Werfel’s life and works?

 

96

– Who were the three composers supported and promoted by the Soviet Union until the late 1940s?

– What do you think is significant about Aram Khachaturian’s avant-garde musical motifs?

– What more can you discover about Aram Khachaturian’s life and works? Pick a piece of music by him and analyse it.

 

97

– How long is the Wings of Tatev aerial tramway?

– What do you think is significant about investments by the Diaspora in Armenia?

– What other Diaspora-Homeland connections can you discover in terms of infrastructure and/or large-scale, long-term investments? And smaller investments? Which ones do you find most impactful?

 

98

– Who are the “crypto-Armenians” or “hidden Armenians” in Turkey?

– What do you think is the significance of having an Armenian community in Turkey today?

– What more can you discover about Bolsahyes? What other “kinds of Armenians” call Istanbul or Turkey home?

 

99

– Who are the Alevis?

– What do you think is the significance of the Treaty of Lausanne in terms of minority rights in Turkey?

– What more can you discover about minority groups in Turkey today? What public issues do they face? How can those issues be resolved?

 

100

– What is special about 1965 in terms of Armenian Genocide commemorations?

– What do you think is significant about Armenian Genocide commemorations being held in Turkey since 2010?

– What more can you discover about how the Armenian Genocide is commemorated around the world? Pick two communities on two different continents and compare their public activities on April 24.

 

101

– Where did Patriarch Zaven receive his education?

– What do you think is significant about the fact that the Armenian Patriarch was exiled in 1916?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and its activities between the years 1915 and 1922?

 

102

– What motifs and design elements do Armenian carpets display?

– What do you think is significant about having carpets in pews and by the altars of Armenian churches? Do other churches do that? Do other religions decorate their houses of worship with carpets?

– What more can you discover about the Armenian carpet-making tradition?

 

103

– What does the obsidian found in the Areni cave imply about the activities of the people who lived there some five or six thousand years ago?

– What do you think is the significance of a winery from around 4000 BC being discovered right next to wine-making facilities in 2000 AD in Armenia?

– What more can you discover about pre-historic finds and excavations in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)?

 

104

– What does “vordan karmir/vortan garmir” mean?

– What is the significance of the Vordan Karmir Sanctuary in Armenia?

– What more can you discover about ancient techniques used by Armenians for colouring manuscripts, textiles, pottery, or other works of art or craftsmanship using natural sources?

 

105

– Starting around what year does modern DNA research indicate that Armenians became isolated as a population group?

– What do you think is the significance of the fact that a small sample of ancient DNA discovered in Armenia showcases quite close DNA matches with the modern-day Armenian population?

– What more can you discover about DNA research on Armenians? How is it being used in genealogical activities?