The Armenian Genocide, started on April 24, 1915 and lasted until 1918. It was known as the first genocide of the modern world and contributes to the understanding of the nature of violence in modern history. To understand the nature of violence in this genocide, there must be a clear interpretation of the meaning. The World Health Organisation defines violence as ‘the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation’. The Armenian Genocide showed the true horror that mankind can inflict on society. The Armenian race experienced the
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Through this, it enhances our understanding of the nature of violence in this genocide in modern history, how the elimination of almost an entire race. The Armenians were a Christian people living in the predominantly Muslim Ottoman Empire. Due to most of the Ottoman rulers being Muslim, they permitted religious minorities like the Armenians to maintain some independence, but they also subjected Armenians, who they viewed as ‘non-believers,’ to unequal and unjust treatment. Christians had to pay higher taxes than Muslims, and for example, and they had very few political and legal rights. It is evident that the Armenians were a very 'easy' target for politicians looking for scapegoats. At the same time, the Ottomans religious authorities declared jihad, or holy war, against all Christians except their allies. Military leaders began to argue that the Armenians were traitors; ”If they thought they could win independence if the Allies were victorious, the Armenians would be eager to fight for the enemy”. Through this, military leaders turned against the Armenians, which is how the outbreak of mass killings started with the depletion of the Armenians. Hence, by targeting the Armenians, a particular group people, it enhanced the understanding of the nature of modern …show more content…
This genocide was the first of its kind, the first systematic genocide of the twentieth century where the elimination of Armenians was evident. The coordination of the violence by the Young Turks the created a mass of conflict which lead to the mistreatment of the Armenians and inhumane act of rights. The coordination of the mass killings were highly advanced for the time, with the use of coded telegrammed orders which were transmitted to all provincial governors throughout Turkey. A telegram received by from Constantinople on July 16, 1915 from the American Ambassador claims that Ottoman Turkey is seeking to exterminate the Armenian population, “Deportation of and excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion.” It is clear, through this telegraph, the extent to which the nature of violence has been used through the coordination of mass killings, genocide. Further, Armenian political leaders, educators, writers, clergy and dignitaries in Constantinople were taken from their homes, briefly jailed and tortured, then hung or shot. With this in mind, arrests on mass were made by Turkish soldiers, with local Turks joining to the systematic killing by arming
Through this, it enhances our understanding of the nature of violence in this genocide in modern history, how the elimination of almost an entire race. The Armenians were a Christian people living in the predominantly Muslim Ottoman Empire. Due to most of the Ottoman rulers being Muslim, they permitted religious minorities like the Armenians to maintain some independence, but they also subjected Armenians, who they viewed as ‘non-believers,’ to unequal and unjust treatment. Christians had to pay higher taxes than Muslims, and for example, and they had very few political and legal rights. It is evident that the Armenians were a very 'easy' target for politicians looking for scapegoats. At the same time, the Ottomans religious authorities declared jihad, or holy war, against all Christians except their allies. Military leaders began to argue that the Armenians were traitors; ”If they thought they could win independence if the Allies were victorious, the Armenians would be eager to fight for the enemy”. Through this, military leaders turned against the Armenians, which is how the outbreak of mass killings started with the depletion of the Armenians. Hence, by targeting the Armenians, a particular group people, it enhanced the understanding of the nature of modern …show more content…
This genocide was the first of its kind, the first systematic genocide of the twentieth century where the elimination of Armenians was evident. The coordination of the violence by the Young Turks the created a mass of conflict which lead to the mistreatment of the Armenians and inhumane act of rights. The coordination of the mass killings were highly advanced for the time, with the use of coded telegrammed orders which were transmitted to all provincial governors throughout Turkey. A telegram received by from Constantinople on July 16, 1915 from the American Ambassador claims that Ottoman Turkey is seeking to exterminate the Armenian population, “Deportation of and excesses against peaceful Armenians is increasing and from harrowing reports of eye witnesses it appears that a campaign of race extermination is in progress under a pretext of reprisal against rebellion.” It is clear, through this telegraph, the extent to which the nature of violence has been used through the coordination of mass killings, genocide. Further, Armenian political leaders, educators, writers, clergy and dignitaries in Constantinople were taken from their homes, briefly jailed and tortured, then hung or shot. With this in mind, arrests on mass were made by Turkish soldiers, with local Turks joining to the systematic killing by arming