17-19-րդ դդ. հայկական և իրանական սրճարաններում գործող աշուղները և պոետները

This article explores the history of coffee and café culture in Armenia and neighboring Iran from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Cafés emerged as venues for public entertainment in major cities across the East and Europe during the 17th century. Initially, these were predominantly male-oriented places where folk artists, musicians, poets, and performers had the opportunity to showcase their talent and engage with the public. Notably, cafés served as a unique environment for intercultural communication and exchange. There are accounts of folk artists from neighboring countries organizing “guest performances” in these cafés, highlighting the cross-cultural interactions that took place there. In both Iran and Armenia, artists from various regions shared their work, leading to a recognition of Armenian artists and writers in Iran (many of them were proficient in Persian). Similarly, Persian artists also performed in Armenian cafés. Over time, the role of cafés evolved, and they gradually transformed from platforms for folk art performances into places for socializing, conversation, and discussion over coffee, appealing to a broader audience. However, as societal demands and artistic expressions changed, cafés lost their primary status as entertainment venues.