In the early 20th century, the Armenians suffered in the genocide which was committed against them by the Ottoman government of Turkey, in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed and many more Armenians were dispersed throughout the world via Syria and Lebanon. From then on, Armenia, whose territory corresponded to much of the territory of Eastern Armenia, regained its independence in 1918, with the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia, and in 1991, the Republic of Armenia was established.