DESCRIPTION OF THE ECONOMY IN THE PAGES OF "HISTORIOGRAPHY" BY ZAKARIA KANAKERTSI IN CONTEXT OF MEDIEVAL ARMENIAN CULTURE

Abstract

“The Chronicle”, written by the renowned 17th-century Armenian historian Zakaria Kanakertsi, is divided into three parts. It presents a historical account of Armenia from the Arshakid Kingdom and the rise of the Sassanid dynasty up to the year 1699. Zakaria Kanakertsi was born in 1627 in the village of Kanaker in the Kotayk region. He served as the abbot of the Hovhannavank Monastery in the Aragatsotn region and died there in 1699. His chronicle primarily focuses on the regions of Aragatsotn and Kotayk, highlighting the main branches of the late medieval Armenian economy, particularly agriculture — field cultivation as well as related sub-branches such as farming, fruit growing, and gardening. The information he provides serves as a valuable historical and cultural primary source. Kanakertsi based his work on the writings of earlier chroniclers and epigraphic inscriptions carved on various monuments. As a direct witness to many of the events he describes, his accounts are considered credible and accurate. He places special emphasis on the condition of the Armenian peasantry, who, under Persian domination, endured severe oppression, including the tyranny of local khans, unlawful exploitation, and a heavy tax burden. Additionally, Kanakertsi addresses the economic policies carried out by the Persian khans, driven by both political motives and personal interests. In pursuit of wealth, these khans constructed irrigation canals in the territories of Kotayk and Aragatsotn, aiming to boost agricultural productivity and, ultimately, their own profits.

“The Chronicle” of Zakaria Kanakertsi is a valuable source for the study of the historical period in which the author lived, as well as the political, social, and economic life of Armenia during the late Middle Ages. The ethnographic details contained in the work provide a crucial foundation for understanding various aspects of the daily life and economic activities of the Armenian people.        
            Unlike historians of the early and high Middle Ages, who primarily focused on secular and religious elites, 17th-century Armenian authors shifted their attention to the lives of ordinary people. Particularly noteworthy in this regard is “The Chronicle” of Zakaria Kanakertsi, in which the narrative centers on the farmer, the artisan, and the builder — representatives of the working class. Alongside other late medieval authors such as Arakel Davrizhetsi, Zakaria Aguletsi, and Grigor Daranakhtsi, Kanakertsi made a significant contribution to documenting various aspects of peasant life. The study of this aspect makes the topic of the article particularly relevant.