April is the month of mourning for Armenians around the world. On April 24, every Armenian remembers the loss of his/her family member in Turkey. Some 1.5 million Armenian systematical massacred during the years of 1915 to 1923 in their homeland, western Armenia. This barbarous crime was the first Genocide of the 20th century, the Armenian Genocide.

But who are Armenians and why their fate was so tragic. Armenians are an ancient nation with rich heritage. 2500 years ago, Darius the king of Iranian Empire conquered a region on the north west of his territory. He was so happy of his victory that ordered to curve the event on a stone hanging on one of the walls of its palace in Persepolis, noting that he captured Armenia. Many scholars believe that Armenians were living in the region between Caspian, Mediterranean and Black see for more than 3500 years. This region later has been called Asia Minor. Armenians have their own language and their own Alphabet. Armenia Alphabet is 1500 years old. Armenians were also the first nation who officially accepted Christianity in 301 AD and kept their independent church during centuries to come. They have the

The Millet system lasted for 500 years. Although the Armenians and Turks did not lived in quite harmony with eachother, the Turks refereed to Armenians as the loyal citizens of the Empire. Armenians were successful n business, they had their own political parities, and even some members of Ottoman parliament. But towards the end of 19 century, the Ottoman Empire began to decline and the prosperous Armenians began to lose their status. The last Emperor, Sultan Abdull Hamid killed almost 300,000 thousands Armenians during the last decade of 19 century. The reason was that Armenians were fed up by the high taxation system and like many other Europian nations who were demanding their independency from the Ottomans, Armenians also were demanding some autonomy.

The authorities claimed that the population was moved to a new location to be safer from the war, but that was an excuse. The annihilation plan was to deport Armenians from their towns and villages and kill them on the roads in the deserts. Some 1.5 million Armenian died during those years. And this was the first Genocide of 20th century.

During centuries, Armenians were part of different Empires. Historic Armenia was located in such a strategic and geopolitically important region where every Emperor had a great desire to have it under its control. Iranians, Russians, Arabs, Ottomans took turn in attacking and conquering Armenia. In seventh century AD, Islam swept the region. Armenians resisted the new religion, meanwhile, they lost many people due to constant attacks of Arabs forcing them to convert. By the eight century, due to the spread of Islam in the region, Armenia remained a small Christian island in an Islamic see. This was the beginning of a period that a series of invasion began. The first invasion was launched by Seljuk Turks, a tribe which was migrating towards west from Mongolia in central Asia. Seljuk Turks that just converted to Islam arrived to region and did not go out. They raided Armenian cities and towns, killing their population. Seljuk Turks and subsequent Turkish tribes which moved into Anatolia, did not leave the region since it was well suitable for their people and lifestyle. They arrived with their family, their flocks a

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