Quote:
Originally Posted by Errigal
I don't know much about either Armenia or Georgia but I would say one important measure of their European-ness would be the extent of interaction with other European nations throughout their history. Did they have closer links with the Ottomans and Persians than with Europe?
|
Before the Ottoman Empire's growth into Europe, both nations interacted the most with Byzantium and with various states in the Balkans -- i.e. Bulgaria & Serbia.
I know most of the icons in Serbia and Bulgaria in mediev al monasteries were originally made by Georgian Iconographers and that alot of the designers of monasteries in Serbia and Bulgaria were Armenians.
After the Ottomans spread into Europe, to me at least, it seems that Georgia interacted more with the Turks and Persians. The Armenians continued to have interaction with Europe, all be it at a decreased and mostly commercial level.
I wouldn't consider Georgians Europeans given the pro-Turkish nature of the Georgians now. To me they seem like a non-Muslim variant of Albanians.
Armenians. I don't really have an opinion on.