1915, March. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History

The Encyclopedia of World History. 2001.


1915, March

The first deportations of Armenians from eastern Anatolia. The Ottoman government organized these relocations to reduce the likelihood of Armenian insurrections behind the eastern front. Many of the deportations turned into death marches and massacres. It is estimated that between one and one and a half million Armenians perished in 1915–16. A substantial number of refugees fled east into the Caucasus and south into Syria and Lebanon, where many settled permanently. Armenians have accused the Ottoman central government of directing the attacks, a claim denied by successive Turkish governments.	1

March 25

Administrative reform of religious institutions. All Islamic courts were placed under the jurisdiction of the ministry of justice. Vakif (endowed) property was put in the hands of the finance ministry, and supervision of religious schools was transferred to the ministry of education.	2


The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.