2. Add this lines to the very top of code in archives.php:

<?php
/*
Template Name: Archives
*/
?>

3. Edit the <?php the_content(''); ?> to <?php wp_get_archives('arguments'); ?> (if you want other format, please read this).

Remove other unnecessary code to meet with what you need.

4. Publish a New Page, call it Archives. Change the Page Template from Default Template to Archives.

There are many tutorials about creating Archives Page. I just want to make it simpler and flexible. If you can understand the point here, you can make your Archives Page in any format. You also can create as many as pages you want, not only Archives Page.

I prefer to combine my archives page with Clean Archives Reloaded plugin.

The main idea is: make a website with static page on the home page, and set up a blog that has link to the home page, with only single installation of Wordpress in the root folder/directory.

I duplicate the Page Template / page.php and rename it homepage.php (or home.php, or intro.php, it’s up to you).  Add this code to the top line:

<?php
/*
Template Name: Homepage
*/
?>

Then I published a page, name it Home, and choose Homepage as the Page Template.

I also duplicate the index.php, and rename it to blog.php. Then I publised another page called Blog, and choose Blog as the Page Template.