ABSTRACT
In the 1860s Armenia was divided between Ottoman Turkey and tsarist Russia, a status that persisted until the collapse of Soviet rule. In 1867, the Ottoman Empire appointed Salaheddin Bey to determine the number of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. With its distinct language, religion, and art, the Armenians are a member of a group in the Indo-European-speaking family. Despite their minority status, Armenians in Ottoman Turkey owned many businesses and properties, assumed high governmental positions, and played a prominent role in the state's local and international economy. The evacuation and expulsion of the Armenian population was an important prelude to the process of the genocide and looting that followed, which usually comprised several stages. The chapter provides compelling evidence drawn from published evidentiary materials that attest to the genocidal nature of the war-time mass destruction of the Armenians.
