KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

On September 20, Peter Cowe, Head of the Chair of Armenian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), delivered a lecture for the MA students of the Faculty of History and Law of Armenian State Pedagogical University. Edgar Hovhannisyan, Dean of the Faculty of History and Law, introduced the professor of the well-recognised university to the audience and said ‘it is always interesting to hear the opinion of foreign Armenologists on different periods of the history of the Armenian nation.’

“There is no history without methodology,” the Armenologist began the lecture quoting a 5th century historian. He focused on the medieval period in Armenian history and culture and tried to present it in the context of geopolitical events. The professor said historical and cultural facts should be presented from micro and macro perspectives; only through their combination is it possible to make a comprehensive and multi-layered study.

Peter Cowe also spoke about Armenia, its history, literature and culture, starting from the pre-Christian period until the late Middle Ages. He presented in detail the influence of global events on the country’s history and couture.

He presented Alexandria as the centre of the philosophical culture and spoke about its influence on the secular life in Armenia. With regard to the novel “The Love story of Alexander the Great” which is written in Greek prose style, Peter Cowe stressed that geopolitical factors influence the micro world and dwelt on the Armenian history, culture and literature under Hellenic, Persian and Arab influences.

“If you’re interested in Armenia and its people, you need to have a wider view to be able to correctly express your approaches in Armenology,” the professor said at the end of the lecture. He advised the future historians to never be satisfied with what they know.