For centuries, the ruling element in the Ottoman Empire, the Turks, were engaged only in the administration of the country, leaving the economic field to the Christians of the country. Armenians, Greeks and other subject nations of the empire worked for centuries to keep the country’s economy prosperous1. After the Crimean war of 1853–1856, when the Ottoman Empire began to strengthen its relations with Europe and modernize its economy, Armenians were ready to play an important role between the empire and Europe. Armenian merchants knew European languages and the newest methods of European trade. That is why they were able to become mediators of Turkish–European trade and occupy an influential position in Turkish–European trade.

KeywordsConstantinople Ottoman Empire the Armenians of Constantinople Greeks periodic press trading company import export khan workshop factory

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, breweries were opened one after another in the cities of Transcaucasia. Based on the newly discovered archival documents and official statistical data, it is shown that the most viable breweries in the Yerevan province were the factories of the Dzitoghtsyans and Tsaghikyans in Alexandropol and Avetyants in Yerevan. They were in operation until World War I and contributed to the revival of Armenian urban life. After the sovietization of Armenia in December 1920, the above mentioned factories were nationalized and put back into operation.

Keywordsbeer factory production alcoholic beverages Yerevan province Nikolay Smanov Mkrtich Dzitoghtsyan Yegor Oskanov (Voskanyan) Khachatur Avetyants Harutyun Avetyants Hamazasp Tsaghikyan.