The Armenian Diaspora: Silk Road Merchants to Global Networks

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the centuries-old story of the Armenian diaspora, tracing its roots from the fall of the Bagratid kingdom and the Mongol invasions through the Safavid deportations under Shah Abbas I, which created a merchant colony in New Julfa, Isfahan. They discuss how Armenian trade networks spanned the Silk Road from India to Amsterdam, the role of the Armenian Church in preserving identity abroad, and the forced migrations under Ottoman and Russian rule that shaped modern diaspora communities. The conversation highlights key figures like the merchant-prince Khoja Safar, the intellectual Emin of Tiflis, and the cultural impact of early Armenian printing presses in Venice and Constantinople. Lucas explains how diaspora networks financed liberation movements and kept Armenian language and culture alive through centuries without a state. The episode ends with a reflection on the global Armenian community today and the ongoing connection to the homeland. #ArmenianDiaspora #SilkRoad #NewJulfa #ShahAbbas #ArmenianMerchants #ArmenianGenocide #IndoEuropean #PersianHistory #OttomanHistory #RussianEmpire #DiasporaStudies #TransnationalHistory #ArmenianChurch #CulturalSurvival #History #FexingoHistory #Caucasus #WorldHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo