Constructing Armenia and Armenians: History Textbooks for Armenian Parochial and Russian Schools in the Late Imperial Period

• In Event: Shaping Nations: Education, Media, Identity, and Politics in the Late Imperial and Early Soviet Caucasus

Abstract

This paper examines Armenian history textbooks published during the late imperial period, designed for use in Armenian parochial schools and imperial schools. It investigates how concepts of Armenianness and Armenia were represented in these textbooks, highlighting their role in shaping Armenian identity in a rapidly changing socio-political environment of the revolutionizing Empire. By analyzing the narratives, themes, and pedagogical approaches of textbooks intended for distinct educational systems, the study explores whether and how these representations differed based on the institutional context. Through a comparative textual analysis, the paper reveals the strategies employed by textbook authors to negotiate national identity within the constraints and opportunities of the imperial framework. Ultimately, this study sheds light on the broader dynamics of identity formation and education among Armenians in the South Caucasus during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Author

• Naira E Sahakyan, American U Armenia (Armenia)