The Republic of Armenia is a now-sovereign nation, established in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is bordered by Turkey, Iran, Georgia and Azerbaijan, and was the first nation to make Christianity its official religion.

Armenian history dates back thousands of years and is one of few ancient civilizations that remain intact today. The King of Armenia was the first ruler to adopt Christianity as the official religion of the state in 301 A.D, even before the Roman Empire. For centuries, the Armenians built a healthy and prosperous independent country that was rich with culture and tradition.

It was absorbed by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the early 16th Century, which ruled the region for more than 400 years. The Ottoman Empire was under Muslim rule, and Christian Armenians were subjected to racial discrimination and unequal treatment. The newly subjugated Armenians were regarded as infidels. Despite these obstacles, Armenians thrived. Resentment grew from the Turks, who perceived their Armenian neighbors as wealthier and better educated. Influential Turkish leaders later used these perceptions as justification for eliminating the Armenians altogether.