THE 19TH-CENTURY ARMENIAN NATIONAL RENAISSANCE: EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

The 19th century holds a special place in the history of the Armenian people as a period of national awakening and pan-Armenian revival. During this time, Armenians, divided between the Ottoman and Russian Empires, began to redefine their national identity, develop education, culture, and political consciousness. As a result, a movement emerged, later known as the "Armenian National Renaissance" or "Zartonq," which became the foundation for the Armenian people's national-liberation struggle and the formation of modern Armenian national consciousness.

This article analyzes the multi-layered nature of the renaissance, emphasizing the role of educational, cultural, and political spheres in strengthening national awareness and shaping pan-Armenian objectives. The national movements of the 19th century were driven not only by external historical factors, such as oppressive administration and socio-political challenges, but also by internal reforms through the efforts of intellectuals, church leaders, and cultural figures. The study demonstrates that the development of knowledge, culture, and organized social activity served as the main foundation for national progress.

In conclusion, the 19th-century Armenian national renaissance was a complex, multi-faceted, and profound phenomenon that created a new political, cultural, and educational reality, shaped modern Armenian national consciousness, and laid the ideological and organizational groundwork for the restoration of Armenian statehood in the 20th century.