Why did we know merchants as Armenians in the 19th century

2025-01-27

Niko Pirosmanashvili, "Mekhile"

I knew from the “Tergdaleulebi” that trade was the craft of Armenians and that a self-respecting Georgian would not undertake this business. It turned out that it was not just about ethnic subordination and that it was written on a politically sensitive topic.

I came across the negotiations between Georgia and England regarding trade in India during the reign of Erekle II, where there was talk of concluding a Western version of the Georgievsky Treaty: Georgia would be under the protection and education of England, Armenia would come under the power of the Georgian king, and so on. And Georgia already enjoyed special privileges in trade.

Merchants always traveled in groups to Persia and India. The king would accompany a group of at least 20 men, including military personnel. Even during the war with Persia, merchants were not allowed to touch them, but brought fragile dishes, mirrors, tea and sugar. The Silk Road country stopped developing its marketing with the Treaty of Georgievsky.

After the conclusion of the treaty with Russia, we no longer had permission from England to trade, and Persia did not accept Georgian merchants in peace. Only local Armenians were brave enough to trade with both Russia and Persia for almost a century, and a century later, after Armenia’s accession to Russia in the Persian War, Armenia was given preferential trade privileges, while Georgia was limited to Moscow “fairs” and humanitarian aid.

Source: merzannablume.wordpress.com