New Book Presentation by Claude Mutafian: L’Arménie du Levant (XIe-XIVe siècle)
On 30 November, 2012 at 6:00 PM, AUA Small Auditorium
At the brink of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide it should be noted that the Armenian history consists not only of tragedies and tears, but also of magnificent episodes. Especially remarkable is the beginning of the 13th century, when the Armenians managed to liberate a large part of their historical lands from the Тurkish control and set up an autonomous government. During this period “an Armenian kingdom out of Armenia” was born in Cilicia. And if we add the Armenian Diasporas in neighboring countries, then we will not have one, but three Armenias, an odd, but quite an interesting situation.
History becomes more passionate by the crusaders invasion of the Middle East in the 12th century and Mongol invasions in the 13th century. Armenians unexpectedly found themselves facing Europe through a widespread seafront. How should they confront these huge geopolitical changes that were happening in the region? Surprisingly, they adapted effortlessly, and due to their flexible diplomacy they formed the most powerful Christian state in the half of 13th century Middle East, impossible for the European and Eastern traders to bypass.
During the last decades, a number of unpublished inscriptions, colophons and other sources come out; alas these publications were either incomplete or imperfect. If we add to the above the new translations of the Arab and Persian authors, it becomes evident that the review of the history of the 11-14th Armenia is necessary. Hence, what we attempted to do.
Therefore this publication is addressed not only to the Armenians, but also those who are interested in Crusaders, Mongols, Islam in Middle Ages and the Christian Orient in general.
The book contains numerous maps and genealogical trees, as well as documents that are often inaccurately used in many historical studies, or used as a secondary (additional element) by the authors. The book showcases 200 illustrations, demonstrating the unique cultural boom in architecture, painting and especially sculpture in the form of cross stones.
The illustrations of inscriptions and manuscripts indicate the wealth of the sources used in this publication, and the sources from the neighboring cultures best demonstrate the cosmopolitan nature of “Levant’s Armenia” and the Integration of the Armenian society with the international establishment.
Book Description:
A box set with two volumes with beautiful covers
Scientific publication enriched with footnotes.
230 colorful illustrations.
74 maps.
84 genealogical trees.
Index and glossary.
Claude Armen Mutafian was born in 1942 in a family that escaped from Genocide. He’s a mathematics professor and Doctor of Historical Sciences. He is a Member of the National Academy of Science of Armenia. He taught mathematics at the Universities in France and other countries. Travels to modern Turkey and Armenia since 1980 led him to discovery of History, especially of the medieval Middle East and particularly of the Cilician Armenia.
He is an autor of several publications on this topic. Mutafian organized three big exhibitions:
“The Armenian kingdom of Cilicia”, in the chapel of Sorbonne, Paris, 1993,
“Roma-Armenia”, Sistine chapel, Vatican and Armenia, 1999,
“Arménie : La magie de l’écrit”, Marseille, 2007.
