Session Nine

The Armenian Genocide

Introduction: The ninth session focuses upon what is known as the Armenian Genocide in modern day Turkey. This genocide involved the systematic mass murder and expulsion of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians carried out in Turkey and adjoining regions by the Ottoman government between 1914 and 1923. Our reading for this session will be Ugur Ungor's essay "The Armenian Genocide, 1915," which willl be followed by the documentary film The Armenian Massacre. The importance of this event is that it was a precursor to the holocaust in Germany during WWII and it is an event for which Turkish muslims have never acknowledged or been held responsible for.

After having completed the readings for this session and reviewed the accompanying video you may choose - on a purely optional basis - to answer the study questions and submit them at etwimber@hotmail.com or to contact Dr. Wimberley by phone or email to request a time for dialogue about what you have learned. You may do so by phone or dialogue via Skype or Facetime. Dr. Wimberley's phone number is 239.405.4164. We may convene group meetings of the class using the Zoom application on our computers. You can enroll in this course by emailing etwimber@hotmail.com or by texting Dr. Wimberley at 239.405.4164.

Reading: Ugur Ungor "The Armenian Genocide, 1915,"

Video: The Armenian Massacre

Study Questions:

  1. What was the Armeninan Genocide (Massacre)?
  2. Has Turkey ever acknowledged or apoligized for this event? Explain.
  3. What characteristics of the Armenians contributed to their persecution?
  4. What was the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) and how did it contribute to the demise of the Armenians resididng in the Ottoman Empire?
  5. What were the three "streams" to be found within CUP?
  6. What were the immediate causes of the genocide?
  7. Was "revanchism" a factor in the genocide? Please explain.
  8. How did the genocide proceed and what was its ultimate outcome?