Edited by a leading historian of the Republic of Armenia, this is a history of an extraordinary country from its earliest foundations, through the Crusades, the resistance to Ottoman and Tsarist rule, the collapse of the independent state, its brief re-emergence after World War I, its subjugation by the Bolsheviks, and the establishment of the new Republic in 1991. Written by foremost experts on each period in Armenia's history, the book contributes to the understanding of the complexities of Transcaucasia. Armenia fell under foreign domination in the Middle Ages. This volume presents the differing Armenian experiences under Turkic, Persian and Russian rule. The intellectual revival and role of diasporan communities in the articulation of programmes for reform and emancipation are explored. In the 20th century, the Armenian people fell victim to genocide in the Ottoman Empire, failed in their attempt to establish an independent republic after World War I, continued their national existence in Soviet Armenia for seven decades, and emerged once more into separate statehood in the final decade.