Armenian Highland facts for kids
The Armenian Highland is a large mountain area. It's also called the Armenian Upland or Armenian Plateau. This region is part of the bigger Transcaucasian Highland. It's like a natural extension of the Caucasus Mountains. Sometimes, people refer to parts of it as eastern Armenia.
This area is famous for the apricot fruit. Apricots first came from China. But they spread to Europe through the Armenian Highlands. Because of this, people in ancient times often called the apricot the "Armenian fruit." Its scientific name, Prunus armeniaca, even comes from the Latin word armeniacum. Some experts think this word is linked to an older Akkadian name, armanu.
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Where Did Early Europeans Come From?
Many experts believe that the original home of the Proto-Indo-Europeans was in the Armenian Highlands. These were the people who spoke the very first versions of languages like English, Spanish, and Hindi. They also think it might have been on the plateau of Asia Minor, which is to the southwest.
However, other experts have different ideas. They believe this ancient homeland was in Eastern Europe or southern Russia. It's still a big puzzle for historians and linguists!
Ancient Mentions of Armenians
Some historians think that the first time Armenians were mentioned was a very long time ago. This was in Akkadian writings from around 2800-2700 BC. In these old texts, Armenians are called "the sons of Haya." Haya was a local god of the Armenian Highlands. This shows how old the history of this region and its people is.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Mount Artos and Lake Van seen from Akdamar Island
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The natural borders of the Armenian plateau and its surrounding areas, as drawn by H. F. B. Lynch in 1901.
