1914–1918 CEReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
World War I and the Armenian Genocide
On the timeline · around 1914–1918 CE ·
What happened
The Ottomans entered World War I on Germany's side in 1914. Amid the war, the government carried out the systematic deportation and mass murder of its Armenian population — the Armenian Genocide — in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians died.
Why it matters
The genocide is widely regarded as the first modern genocide. The disastrous war, meanwhile, shattered what remained of Ottoman power.
How we know
Documented extensively by survivors, diplomats and historians; recognized as genocide by most scholars, though the Turkish state disputes the term.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. The Armenian Genocide (1915–16): Overview · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. The Ottoman Empire · Reputable source
Related timelines
- World War I → — The Ottomans' catastrophic war