This book brings together many testimonies, stories and objects related to the rich history of Armenian entrepreneurship. Many materials are presenteb to reabers for the first time, creating a general unberstanbing of the unique contribution and legacy of Armenian businessmen. These samples, brawn mainly from the author’s collection, introduce materials that hold exceptional historical and visual value for specialized researchers as well as the general reaber.

Armenian entrepreneurship dates back many centuries. Ancient written sources mention the lively commercial and economic relations of the natives of the Armenian highlands with the neighboring states and tribes. Located at the crossroads of the trade routes spanning from India to Europe, Armenia participated in the large-scale commodity circulation, trade, economic, and business ties of the era. In the Middle Ages, the great Silk Road contributed to the development of Armenia's economy; Ani, Dvin, Nakhichevan, Karin, Van, and many other cities flourished as a result. In the late Middle Ages, the broad geographic scope of Armenian mercantile connections in different corners of the world created a lasting and weighty reputation and constituted a formidable aspect of global Armenian identity.

Armenian merchants, however, were concerned with more than just their own interests and income. They acted as benefactors and patrons for the establishment of Armenian community and social structures in different countries, the building of Armenian Apostolic churches, and, of course, the development of Armenian printing presses and the publication of numerous volumes. Thus, Armenian businessmen and traders are remembered not only for their contracts, bonds, and products. They also achieved remarkable expressions of Armenian culture and faith in different corners of the world, in the form of hundreds of buildings and structures that engender continuing pride for Armenians around the world.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Armenian businessmen were active in the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and elsewhere. Armenian businessmen can rightly be considered the founding fathers of the oil industry in the Caucasus and the Middle East; their activities made important contributions to the economic and cultural development of these regions.

This volume is dedicated to the 400-year jubilee of the world-famous Zildjian cymbal company, as a contribution to the historical understanding of the history of Armenian business life, and in particular, the heritage of one of its finest and most enduring exemplars.

The reader will have the opportunity to see interesting items, documents, photographs and other materials stored in different institutions and private collections, which will complement our knowledge and understanding of the history of Armenian business life.
This volume complements existing literature on the history of Armenian

Այս պատկերագրքում ի մի ԵՆ բերված հայ գործարար կյանքի հարուստ անցյալին առնչվող վկայություններ, պատմություններ նյութական արժեքներ: Բազմաթիվ նյութեր ընթերցողներին մատուցվում են առաջին անգամ' ստեղծելով ընղհանուր պատկերացում հայ գործարարների բացառիկ ներդրման և հարուստ ժառանգության մասին: Այս նմուշները հիմնականում հեղինակի հավաքածուից են: Կարևոր պատմական ու պատկերագրական նյութ լինելով' դրանք աղբյուրագիտական մեծ նշանակություն ունեն: