Many Syrians believe that the Armenian presence in Syria began in 1915 with those who sought refuge from the Armenian massacres being committed by the Ottoman Empire. Historian Raphael Lemkin described it as follows: “What happened to the Armenians was not just mass killing, but an attempt to annihilate an entire nation.”
In fact, it was Lemkin who coined the term “genocide” for the first time. However, the historical reality is much deeper than just this modern tragedy.
The Armenian presence in the region extends for thousands of years, with ancient records pointing to interaction between Armenians and the Syrian and Mesopotamian civilizations dating back at least 2,300 years. This interaction was a geographical and economic necessity and played a significant role in shaping and developing the Armenian cultural identity from the beginning of their existence.
It is well-documented that Syrian civilization is among the oldest in the world, having had significant and profound impacts on the cultures of neighbouring nations over time. Due to Syria’s geographical location at the crossroads of land and sea trade routes connecting the East and the West, the Syrian civilization played a pivotal role in the exchange of ideas and knowledge with nearby civilizations. To understand the impact of Syrian civilization on the Armenian community, particularly on key milestones that left clear marks on Armenian society, it is important to consider the historical evidence from each period.
During the Canaanite period, Syrian kingdoms like Ugarit and Byblos were in constant contact through trade with regions such as Anatolia and ancient Armenia. Goods like pottery, metals, and textiles were exchanged, contributing to cultural influences.
By the Aramaic period, the Aramaic language had become a dominant language in the Near East. It spread to Armenia, where it influenced the Armenian language and culture. This language was a key means of communication between Armenians and neighbouring communities. Armenian script first emerged in 405 AD, created by the Armenian saint and scholar Mesrop Mashtots with the support of the Armenian King Vramshapuh and Patriarch Sahak Partev.
The main purpose of creating this alphabet was to translate the Holy Scriptures (the Bible) into Armenian and strengthen the cultural and religious identity of Armenians after adopting Christianity. The Armenian alphabet thus became a significant symbol of national and cultural identity, helping preserve the Armenian language and unifying the Armenian people across the ages.
In addition to introducing Armenians to the Aramaic language, Syria played a pivotal role in introducing Christianity to Armenia. The city of Edessa (modern-day Urfa in Turkey) was an important Christian center in ancient Syria, and from there, the process of converting Armenians to Christianity began. According to the narratives of Armenian Christian tradition, Abgar V, the king of Edessa, wrote to Jesus Christ asking for healing from leprosy. Jesus replied, promising to send one of his disciples to the city. Later, Armenians became one of the first nations to adopt Christianity as the official religion in 301 AD, thanks to the work of St. Gregory the Illuminator.

Following the Islamic conquests in the 7th century AD, Armenia came under the influence of the Umayyad Caliphate. Syria played a significant role in these conquests, with Damascus becoming the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. During the Umayyad period, relations with Armenian Christians were often based on religious tolerance in exchange for paying a tax called the “jizya.” Some Islamic cultural influences also spread to Armenia through trade and military interactions during this period.
Under the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258), the Muslim caliphs attempted to impose more direct control over Armenia. However, there were also periods of cooperation, with the Abbasids granting some local autonomy to Armenian princes. Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasids, was a center of learning and science and Armenians were influenced by the scientific renaissance there, particularly in fields like medicine and astronomy.
During the Ottoman era (1299–1922), Armenian Christians were given a special status as “dhimmis,” allowing them to practice their religion in exchange for paying the jizya. However, they also faced discrimination and occasional violence. Conflicting relations between Armenians and Muslim Turks had escalated over time, inciting violence against Armenians during wartime crises. As the Ottoman Empire collapsed during World War I, Ottoman authorities began systematically persecuting Armenians due to their belief that the Armenians were collaborating with Western powers and Russia which were attempting to divide the Ottoman Empire.
What came to be known as the 1915 genocide was additionally fueled by a Turkish nationalist movement led by the Committee of Union and Progress, which sought to unify Turkish peoples by eliminating ethnic minorities like the Armenians. Consequently, many sought refuges in Syria.
With the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011 and the subsequent armed conflicts, political, and economic turmoil, the Armenian community in Syria, like other sects, once again faced great challenges. Syrian Armenians, primarily concentrated in cities like Aleppo and Damascus, found themselves in difficult situations due to increasing violence and security threats. Although the Syrian regime viewed minorities as natural allies, the escalating violence and expanding scope of the war placed Armenians and other minorities in a defensive position and many saw migration as a necessary choice for survival.
Since Syrian Armenians maintained strong ties to their ancestral homeland, returning to Armenia became a logical choice for many, especially since the Armenian government also offered support programs to help them resettle. Still some chose to migrate to countries like Lebanon, Canada, and Europe instead.
Prior to the current conflict, Syrian Armenians constituted an important part of the economic fabric of Syria, particularly in areas such as trade, industry, and skilled professions. Many Syrian Armenians had operated small and medium-sized businesses in the trade and industry sectors. Their migration caused a loss of essential skills and expertise in these sectors, weakening the local economy in some cities, especially Aleppo, which had the largest concentration of Armenians in Syria. With their departure, many of these businesses closed, leading to a decline in commercial activity in certain regions.
Armenians had also contributed to the cultural diversity of Syria, which positively influenced the economy through crafts, artistic professions, and international trade. The loss of this diversity may negatively affect Syria’s ability to rebuild its economy after the war.
The migration of Armenians and other skilled Syrians will also make reconstruction more challenging, as Syria needs all its human and economic resources, particularly in industry, to recover. The absence of these individuals may partially delay the recovery of the Syrian economy. Syrian Armenians had also established strong trade networks that linked Syria to Europe as well as Armenia. With their migration, these connections have diminished, weakening Syria’s potential to develop international trade relations after the crisis.
As we study the evolution of global societies we can see that Armenian civilization was profoundly shaped by its neighbours throughout history; from the Canaanites and Arameans to Christian influence from Syria, to Islamic conquests and periods of Umayyad and Abbasid rule. These periods were filled with cooperation, but also witnessed moments of conflict and persecution, as seen in the Ottoman massacres of 1915.
Sadly, the most recent migration of Armenians from Syria is not just a demographic loss, but a loss of significant human and economic capital. This migration will have lasting negative effects on Syria’s reconstruction and economic development, particularly in the fields where Armenians excelled, such as industry and trade.