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PROFESSOR MAHE: "ARMENIANS NEED TO SYNTHESIZE THE TRADITIONAL WITH THE MODERN"
Liana Sayadyan
15:01, April 18, 2013
Professor Jean-Pierre Mahe was on hand yesterday at the French Embassy
in Yerevan to present his new work, Histoire de l'Armenie.
He co-wrote the book with his wife Annie Mahe.
Professor Mahe, 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," noted Professor Mahe.
Professor Mahe 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," says the professor. "On the contrary, I can just
imagine his pride when he saw the Matenadaran.
Professor Mahe 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 Mahe 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 Eurtopean countries where the link between the
individual and families is broken. In the case of Armenia, this won't
work," argued Professor Mahe.
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/25650/professor-mah%C3%A9-armenians-need-to-synthesize-the-traditional-with-the-modern.html
From: A. Papazian
Liana Sayadyan
15:01, April 18, 2013
Professor Jean-Pierre Mahe was on hand yesterday at the French Embassy
in Yerevan to present his new work, Histoire de l'Armenie.
He co-wrote the book with his wife Annie Mahe.
Professor Mahe, 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," noted Professor Mahe.
Professor Mahe 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," says the professor. "On the contrary, I can just
imagine his pride when he saw the Matenadaran.
Professor Mahe 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 Mahe 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 Eurtopean countries where the link between the
individual and families is broken. In the case of Armenia, this won't
work," argued Professor Mahe.
http://hetq.am/eng/articles/25650/professor-mah%C3%A9-armenians-need-to-synthesize-the-traditional-with-the-modern.html
From: A. Papazian