The Armenians themselves change dramatically in the…

The Armenians themselves change dramatically in the mid-nineteenth century.

An intellectual awakening influenced by Western and Russian ideas, a new interest in Armenian history, and an increase in social interaction creates a sense of secular nationality among many Armenians.

Instead of conceiving of themselves solely as a religious community, Armenians—especially the urban middle class—begin to feel closer kinship with Christian Europe and greater alienation from the Muslim peoples among whom they live.