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How Original European Peoples Splintered into Distinct Ethno-Groups (i.e. Nations) Lingual Differences Ancient European peoples formed into "ethno groups" or "nations" primarily according to language differences. Most European languages trace their roots back to a common base language, known as Proto-Indo-European. This theoretical language originated in the Ural Mountain region in Russia (the divide between Asia and Europe) around 5000 BC. It spread westward throughout Europe, branching off into descendant languages due to variations which occurred as people became separated by time, space and geographical barriers. (Continued Below)
Proto-Indo-European is theoretical in that linguistic experts have been able to find markers in most European languages showing strong evidence of a common base language. The variances in lingual characteristics increased among ancient peoples the farther out they settled from the theoretical epicenter of the Ural Mountains over time. At the onset of this era of language dissemination, the more mutually intelligible (understood) a tribe's language was with a neighboring tribe, the more likely they were to share a common "national" identity, although ancient peoples during this time did not have the same vision of nationality as we do today. Variation Over Distance For example, the Proto-Baltic-Slav people were a single, homogenous nation, with a common language, existing between about 3000 to 1000 BC, and inhabiting the southeastern coastlines of the Baltic Sea. As they naturally sprawled southward, deeper into the agriculturally-productive lands of continental Europe, variations in language developed among this nation of people, even though they were largely contiguous, without a pronounced geographical barrier to naturally divide them into separate nations. By 1000 BC, the language of those to the southern extremities of the area covered by Proto-Baltic-Slav peoples had diverged just enough that it was no longer mutually intelligible with the core group. This division in language precipitated cultural differences as well, in terms of religious practice, art, etc. As a result, the core group became the Baltic "nation", while the group that had expanded furthest to the south became the "Slav" nation. Even though there was not a distinct geographical barrier that separated the two new nations, just the fact that the languages were now different caused the people in these two successor nations to identify more with those that spoke their same (or close to the same) language, and consequently exhibited similar cultural characteristics. The Baltic people would go on to become ancestors to modern Lithuanians, while the Slavs would sub-divide several more times throughout history, becoming ancestors to modern Russians, Poles, Serbs, Czechs, Ukrainians, etc. Maps.com - The World's Largest Maps Store!
This is similar how other peoples divided into distinct nations during ancient times. In a similar situation, the Finnic people in northern modern Russia migrated west to the eastern edge of the Gulf of Finland. Those that spread north remained part of the Finnic nation, while those that migrated south became a separate Finnic nation, later known as Estonian (forefathers to modern nation of Estonia). In this case, a geographical feature (aside from mere "space/distance") did play a role. The Gulf of Finland served as a barrier between the northern and southern groups. Throughout time, other nations would physically severe the two groups from one another, by conquering the eastern shores of the Gulf of Finland. Migrations In other cases, a distinct nation (typically in the form of a federation of loosely-organized tribes that happened to speak the same language and share common cultural traits) might migrate to a new homeland from a far-away place of origin. This could happen for a variety of reasons, including famine or military attacks from a rival group. The Magyars, for example, were migrated south as a group from the Ural Mountains to the northern shores of the Caspian Seas. They would eventually be pushed westward by nomadic Asian barbaric peoples (such as the Huns), ultimately landing in modern Hungary, at which point they would become known as Hungarians, founders of the modern nation of Hungary. The Etruscans are another group that traveled a great distance to their newfound "homeland". They were a West Asian group (likely originating in modern Turkey) that found there way to the Italian peninsula under unknown circumstances. They would eventually mix with the other diverse groups that found themselves on the peninsula (such as Celts migrating from the north, and Greek colonists from the southern coasts), forming the basis for the "Italian" ethno-group. After the era of initial migrations, military conflict and expansionist ambitions would begin to play a role. The Roman Empire would absorb the Celts, while the Germanic people would resist, ending the "Celt nation", while cementing the survival of a cohesive "German nation". Save up to 85% on over 1300 magazines at BlueDolphin.com
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