The cultural-historical school as a cultural-philosophical theory is a set of ideas directly related to historical time, geographical environment and race. Having been formed in France in the last decades of the XІX century, it soon became known throughout the European continent and had many followers in different countries (G. Brandes, P. Lacombe, J. Renard, N. Pipin, etc.). Taking into account the intercultural ties that developed during this period, it becomes obvious that Armenian thinkers could not stay away from this pan-European philosophical and cultural movement. This influence is especially clearly noticeable in the scientific and artistic works of two great Armenologists - Father Ghevond Alishan and Garegin Srvandztyants.

KeywordsHippolyte Adolphe Taine cultural and historical school Father Ghevond Alishan The Mkhitaryans Garegin Srvandztyants philosophy of aestheticism historicism; the trinomial formula of environment historical moment and race; Eurocentric worldview synchronicity.

For the history of the Armenian Highland and particularly the emergence and development of Armenian nation, the geographical conditions had an important role. Its unbiased analysis can fundamentally change current dominant concepts. It is time for the in-depth study of our history in close relationship with the geographical and climatic peculiarities of the Armenian Highland, which definitely could contribute much for the solution of many problems which until now remain inexplicable. The impact of environment on society is divided into two spheres: 1) Constant influence of geographical environment, 2) global climatic fluctuations which sometimes cover many centuries, 3) natural disasters (volcanoes, earthquakes etc.). Below we shall briefly present first two factors.

KeywordsEnvironment society geographical determinism climatic changes Armenian Highland.

One of the most important events in the Armenian Highland at the turn of the 4th-3rd millennia BC is the spread of the Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes culture towards the other parts of the highland and beyond. This phenomenon is known as “Kura-Araxes expansion”. The dating of the “expansion” at around 3000-2900 BC shows that it took place during the period of drastic climate change known as “5.2 ka BP climate event”.

Keywords Kura-Araxes culture expansion climate change palaeoenvironment mobility population movement depopulation.

Тhe 7th c. BC is considered as the period of formation and rise of the Median Empire. Meantime, economic crises, political instability, ethnic migrations, decline in military power, foreign invasions and, eventually, collapse of ancient state structures and depopulation were observed in the Armenian Highland and in Mesopotamia in the same period. These phenomena have usually occurred in the dramatic periods of the history of ancient Near East and, as a rule, were conditioned by climate change-related problems.

KeywordsMedian Empire Iranian Plateau Assyria Urartu palaeoenvironment climate changes crisis ethnic migrations depopulation.