Overview

Armenia is a landlocked country located in south-western Asia, bordering Georgia to the north, Turkey to the west, Iran and Azerbaijan to the south and east. The countrys total land area is roughly 30,000 square kilometers, and its population is estimated at 3.4 million (2012). The capital of Armenia of Armenia is the city of Yerevan. Armenias notional day is celebrated on 21 September.

Political Overview
In 1920, Armenia was taken over by the Soviets; in 1936, it became one of the 15 constituent republics of the Soviet Union. The Republic of Armenia became independent on 21 September 1991.

Soon afterward the independence, the Armenians found themselves at war with neighboring Azerbaijan over the fate of some 150,000 Armenians living in Nagorn0-Karabakh, a pocket of territory surrounded by Azerbaijan. Only the size of Maryland and with a population totaling 3.4 million (2010), Armenia needs Russian support, even guardianship.

Economy Overview
The impact of the war on Armenia helped make public opinion more favorable toward Moscow. Azerbaijan cut the pipelines that were sending oil and natural gas from the Caspian coast to Armenia consumers; the Armenian economys subsequent collapse reminded Armenians of their vulnerability in their remote corner between historic (Turkish) and current (Azerbaijani) Muslim enemies. Armenia has economic potential, enhanced by plentiful hydroelectric power derived from Soviet-era installations. In 1998, Armenia and Russia signed an agreement whereby Russian will provide natural gas to Armenia and Armenia will allow its territory to be used for a pipeline to export gas from Russia to Turkey.

Culture Overview
In 301AD, Armenians were the first nation to officially adopt Christianity as their nation state religion, and this influenced many developments in Armenian culture, and specifically architecture. Replacing pagan temples with the first churches, Christian influences created architectural masterpieces such as the churches of Hripsime, Gayane and the gem of 7 th Century Armenian architecture, Zvartnots.

Culture Overview
Up to 97% of Armenians follow Christianity. Armenia has its own church, the Armenian Apostolic church, which most Armenians follow. It was founded in the 1 st century AD, and in 301 AD became the first branch of Christianity to become a state religion. Due to the country's large ethnic homogeneity, non-Christian religions such as Yazidism and Islam are small, particularly since the Nagorno-Karabakh War.