The Armenians (The Peoples of Europe Series) [Hardcover]

Anne Elizabeth Redgate (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1998 | ISBN-10: 0631143726 | ISBN-13: 978-0631143727 | Edition: 1st

This is a 3000 year history of one of Europe's most fascinating and important peoples.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The many virtues of the work are self-evident: illustrated by plentiful maps, handsomely produced and bibliographically comprehensive, the authoritative scholarly narrative and expert analysis on display is never less than impeccably professional." English Historical Review.

"A broadly conceived introduction to the political and social history of Armenia ... this is a valuable book which fills a serious gap. It deserves a wide circulation among those interested in the early history of the Armenian people and their Church." Ecclesiastical History.

"In this work, A. E. Redgate has brought to bear her considerable knowledge of history and her carefuul use of primary sources to provide us with a book which is learned, objective, well-argued, and eminently readable ... if a person could have only one book on Armenian history, this is the book." Canadian Journal of History

From the Back Cover

This is a 3000 year history of one of Europe's most fascinating and important peoples. Situated on the south-east coast of the Black Sea, Armenia has been a pivotal point between the forces of the east and of the west over most of its long history. That history has thus been very largely one of conquest by rival empires. In the classical period Armenia was conquered successively by the Persians, Seleucids and the Greeks (under Alexander). The flourishing of an independent and powerful Armenian society in the last three centuries before Christ was dissipated by successive invasions of Romans, Parthians and Persians.

The conversion of Armenia to Christianity in AD 301 was the prelude to conquests first by Byzantium and then by the Arabs. The dissipation of Armenian culture continued through many centuries of subjugation under the Ottoman Empire and more recently as part of the Soviet Empire.

Perhaps not surprisingly emigration from their troubled homeland has been a popular option among Armenians for at least the last 1,500 years. Armenian culture, as the author shows, has survived in enclaves throughout Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The book closes with a consideration of Armenia's first experience of independence after a gap of 1000 years. Redgate's vivid, analytical narrative is illustrated with numerous photographs and maps.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishers; 1st edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631143726
• ISBN-13: 978-0631143727
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,899,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars unreliable and poorly researched, July 14, 2000

By 

richard l ney (Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Armenians (The Peoples of Europe Series) (Hardcover)

If you want a continuation of western research that ignores findings in the Soviet era and afterwards, Elizabeth Redgate's poorly researched work should suffice. This is another example of how western writers cannot seem to pick their rear ends away from their ivory towers and actually conduct field research in the country they are attempting to describe.

Redgate doesn't simply ignore facts, she isn't even remotely aware of the body of evidence in archeological and historical findings that have been published in and out of the republic since the mid 1980's (just read her bibliography for the obvious english-language western slant in her research). Instead, Redgrave continues to rely on (mostly) British research of the pre-independence era--easy to pick up at the library, no doubt, but filled with errors and conjectures of a cold war history.

Som facts from the 1990's would be nice, and reconcile the 7000 year old Metsamor excavation with your repetitiion of another's prehistory of the area.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Immigrants" or "Contributers"?, May 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Armenians (The Peoples of Europe Series) (Hardcover)

Though the book starts off positive: "the Armenians contributing to Eastern and Western civilizations" in the end it seems as if the Armenians copied everything around them and did not at all contribute to any society (not even their own: American missionaries converting many and introducing schools in the area). The few famous Armenians around the world, according to this author, grew up in the west, like Cher.

What surprised me most was the assumption that Armenians until today believe that there were no other people living in Eastern Turkey before them. Perhaps some very conservative orthodox bishops and priests still believe this, but many modern Armenians today have names like Argishti and Nairi (or Naira). In fact, Ararat is derived from Urartu and some hotels and restaurants in Armenia carry that name.

Then Mount Ararat. Whether geographical, historical, religious or legendary, one cannot ignore the symbolic value that Ararat has had on the Armenians for centuries until today.

Also, the "first" Armenian book was printed in Venice, not New Julfa.

And finally, the reason why diasporan Armenians want the genocide to be recognized by Turkey is not to annoy the Turks but so that (finally!) peace-process talks can start, resulting in diasporan Armenians returning home.

Maybe in the next edition?

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Turgid and badly organized, November 4, 1999

By 

Andrew M Murphy - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Armenians (The Peoples of Europe Series) (Hardcover)

I ordered this book hoping for an interesting, legible, treatment of Armenia, from pre-history to more recent times. If you're tempted to buy it, don't bother. The information presented is disorganized, superficial and not very coherent.