Armenia & The Armenians

Armenia & The Armenians

ATTRIBUTES OF THE ARMENIANS

Jealousy was a contributory factor in the massacres. The Armenians were the most progressive people in the Ottoman Empire.

Henry Morgenthau, United States Ambassador to Turkey at the time, among other attributes writes of the Armenians in his memoirs:

"Everywhere they are known for their industry, their intelligence and their decent orderly lives. They are so superior to the Turks intellectually and morally, that most of the business and industry has passed into their hands."

The Encyclopedia Britannica states: "These are the Armenians, skilled artisans and merchants, remarkable for their industry, their quick intelligence, their aptitude for business and their enterprising spirit..."

The Armenians were relatively prosperous, well educated, ranked highest in business, professions, trade, commerce, art, architecture and agriculture. This fact disturbed the Turks immensely.

Turkey had made many attempts to assimilate the Armenians and convert them to Islam by force. The Armenians however, had remained loyal to their Christian faith, culminating in the first genocide in modern history.