Armenian Literature

Although the heathen authors have perished, traces exist to show that they were quite numerous. Christianity stimulated Armenians to study and translate from the Greek and Latin, and some books which would other wise have perished are preserved in these versions, as the Chron icle of Eusebius. In the 5th century Miesrob developed and changed the Armenian alphabet. His pupils wrote various histories and other works. Thus Yeghishe or Elisaeus treated of the wars with Persia, and Moses of Khorene was the greatest historical writer of his race. In the 6th century the succe es of the Persians destroyed literary activity for a time, though isolated writers remain from 700 to 1100. The next two centuries witne ed a revival of interest in letters. Since the 17th century the printing pre has brought about a renewed activity in literary study and production.