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Liana Sayadyan

Professor Mahé: Armenians Need to Synthesize Traditional with Modern

Professor Jean-Pierre Mahé  was on hand yesterday at the French Embassy in Yerevan to present his new work, Histoire de l'Arménie.

He co-wrote the book with his wife Annie Mahé.

Professor Mahé, a French Orientalist, philologist and historian of the Caucasus, specializing in Armenian studies, is in Armenia to attend ceremonies concluding the celebration of Yerevan as the International Book Capital.

“Armenia is a country at the crossroads of the great civilizations of the Middle East and Indian Ocean. To understand the reality of this country, whose boundaries have been so different, to show the continuity of its culture that has been nourished from foreign influences, to present this nation’s personality that is to be found in the four corners of the world, these were the challenges of the book,” Professor Mahé said.

Professor Mahé first visited Armenia in 1975 to do research on his thesis and spent two years sifting through the archives of the Matenadaran. He’s been coming back ever since.

“If Mashtots could have seen the Armenia of today, he wouldn’t be disappointed,” he said. “On the contrary, I can just imagine his pride when he saw the Matenadaran."

Professor Mahé said that Armenian studies continue to be of interest to foreigners and that Armenian studies departments exist in most of the larger universities in Europe.

“Armenia is the door to the history of world civilization. It’s impossible to study the civilization of any country or nation without referring to Armenian sources,” the historian noted.

Those attending the book launching asked Professor Mahé how Armenians could best preserve their identity in the current era of globalization.

“I believe that Armenians must follow the Japanese model of synthesizing the traditional with the modern. Armenia should not follow the example of European countries where the link between the individual and families is broken. In the case of Armenia, this won’t work,” argued Professor Mahé. 

 

 

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