Europe

[TJ]

just out of curiosity guys, how many of you consider Armenia to be part of Europe. I personally do.

[xBaron Dants]

Eh, it's the kind of a question that never seems to get answered.
Technically, the borders of Europe to the east are defined as the Oural Mountains in Russia, as well as the Caucasus mountain range. Armenia is of course right on the Caucasus mountains, so its situation is kind of blurry. Is the range included in Europe, or not? Not too many people seem to know.

Politically, Armenia is part of the Council of Europe, and the government (especially Osganian) has made it clear that it eventually wants to join the European Union.

Less important is the fact that in the world of futbol, Armenia is in the European League.

Ooremn, draw your own conclusions.

Personally, I want Armenia to have the European standards of life, but keep that joy of living that is typically Armenian.

[Anonymouse]

This leads me to an interesting question, something we learned in my History course by the world reknowned professor Patrick Geary.

What is Europe? Then again, what is a continent in strictly geographical terms?

[TJ]

well i dont mean strictly geographicly. baron you made a good point that we are in a lot of european organizations. but i also mean our culture do you guys think it is more of eastern or a western culture. i think it is a blend leaning more to the west.

[xBaron Dants]

As far as values and culture go, I think most people would agree that Armenia is much closer to European countries, rather than Asian.

Christianity is also a factor, as Armenia shares it with the rest of Europe, and has participated. along with Europeans, in the Crusades. We even had a French king named Léon who became Levon (who I think was the last king of Cilician Armenia).

[Anonymouse]

Originally posted by TigranJamharian well i dont mean strictly geographicly. baron you made a good point that we are in a lot of european organizations. but i also mean our culture do you guys think it is more of eastern or a western culture. i think it is a blend leaning more to the west.

You see I'm studying Armenian history now and Armenians historically have tried to maintain themselves by tipping between East and West.

Throughout the Acheamenian Empire, and the Parthian Empire, etc., Armenians were more or less under the Persian cultural sphere, even though occasionally tipping West towards Rome, but it was back and forth.

After adopting Christianity, they let go of that Eastern past and were identified more along western lines. It helped alienate them from their eastern past.

But Armenians, being the resilient ones they are, have absorbed eastern and western influences and I think this is precisely what has led them to grow, and reach creative ends, and survive.

As far as 'Europe', you see it is just a eurocentric creation, since it is not a continent, as defined by strictly geographical terms. It was called Eurasia, but one can see that as Europeans moved into the era of nationalism they desired seperation from their "Asian" counterparts. Europe is strictly a creation by Europe, as well as the idea of nations or nationalism, since prior to the enlightenment there was no idea of 'nation' or 'nationalism' among peoples of the world.

[jahannam]

Originally posted by Baron Dants As far as values and culture go, I think most people would agree that Armenia is much closer to European countries, rather than Asian.

Christianity is also a factor, as Armenia shares it with the rest of Europe, and has participated. along with Europeans, in the Crusades. We even had a French king named Léon who became Levon (who I think was the last king of Cilician Armenia).

I'm gonna have to disagree with the culture being more western...
Armenian traditional music, arts and crafts, food, costumes are all closer to eastern than western...
except for christianity I think Armenia's Asian...
it just sounds cooler to say we're "a part of Europe"...
just as Turkey's been "a european country wannabe" lately...
since geographically these countries are in the middle, this continent thing is always gonna be an issue...

[Anonymouse]

Europe is not a continent.

When will be people stop clinging to this eurocentric viewpoint?

[TJ]

when will you stop puttin up pictures of retarded people as your icons.

[anileve]

Originally posted by jahannam I'm gonna have to disagree with the culture being more western...
Armenian traditional music, arts and crafts, food, costumes are all closer to eastern than western...

I agree. Our traditions are exclusively eastern. What do you consider Western and Eastern traditions, to begin with? It would be nice to clarify before you cast your judgment. Certain nations in the east are quite industrialized and successful, so that alone holds not much relevance to the establishment of country’s geographic status. Although I think that Armenia is slowly gearing towards more of European standards, it might take a few centuries but nonetheless.