Yerevan’s continuous history dates back almost 3,000 years to its earliest known roots as an outpost under the Uartu kingdom (the Erebuni Fortress, still standing in the city, was built in 782 BC). Throughout history it has passed under many dozens of different regimes, most recently being established as the national capital in wake of the 1918 Armenian genocide, and then further achieving independence from Soviet jurisdiction in 1990.
Today roughly 1 million people live in Yerevan, constituting over one-third of Armenia’s total population. It is a major cultural center of the Caucasus, boasting some of the region’s most breathtaking architecture and a wide variety of museums, galleries, libraries, and theaters. The city was even named UNESCO’s ‘World Book Capital’ in 2012, a testament to its enriching cultural heritage.
Russian and Armenian are the most commonly spoken languages throughout Yerevan, although large portions of the young population are beginning to learn English as well. You should be able to get by fine while you study abroad in Yerevan even if you don’t speak either of these languages, but it will definitely pay off while communicating with locals if you make the effort to learn as much as possible!