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Europeans are the focus of European ethnology, the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the states of Europe. Groups may be defined by common genetic ancestry, common language, common faith, etc. The total number of national minority populations in Europe is estimated at 105 million people, or 14% of 770 ...
- Overview
- People of Europe
- Romance, Germanic, and Slavic languages
- Other languages
A scanty population of now-extinct hominin species (see Hominidae) lived in Europe before modern humans appeared some 45,000–43,000 years ago. Throughout the prehistoric period the continent experienced continual waves of immigration from Asia. In the modern period, especially since the mid-20th century, large numbers of people have immigrated from...
A scanty population of now-extinct hominin species (see Hominidae) lived in Europe before modern humans appeared some 45,000–43,000 years ago. Throughout the prehistoric period the continent experienced continual waves of immigration from Asia. In the modern period, especially since the mid-20th century, large numbers of people have immigrated from...
Within the complex of European languages, three major divisions stand out: Romance, Germanic, and Slavic. All three are derived from a parent Indo-European language of the early migrants to Europe from southwestern Asia.
The Romance languages dominate western and Mediterranean Europe and include French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian, plus such lesser-known languages as Occitan (Provençal) in southern France, Catalan in northeastern Spain and Andorra, and Romansh in southern Switzerland. All are derived from the Latin language of the Roman Empire.
The Germanic languages are found in central, northern, and northwestern Europe. They are derived from a common tribal language that originated in southern Scandinavia, and they include German, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Icelandic, as well as the minor Germanic tongue of Frisian in the northern Netherlands and northwestern Germany. English is a Germanic language, but about half its vocabulary has Romance origins.
The Slavic languages are characteristic of eastern and southeastern Europe and of Russia. These languages are usually divided into three branches: West, East, and South. Among the West Slavic languages are Polish, Czech and Slovak, Upper and Lower Sorbian of eastern Germany, and the Kashubian language of northern Poland. The East Slavic languages are Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian. The South Slavic languages include Slovene, Serbo-Croatian (known as Serbian, Croatian, or Bosnian), Macedonian, and Bulgarian.
In addition to the three major divisions of the Indo-European languages, three minor groups are also noteworthy. Modern Greek is the mother tongue of Greece and of the Greeks in Cyprus, as well as the people of other eastern Mediterranean islands. Older forms of the language were once widespread along the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean and in southern peninsular Italy and Sicily. The Baltic language family includes modern Latvian and Lithuanian. The Old Prussian language also belonged to the Baltic group but was supplanted by German through conquest and immigration. Europe’s Roma speak the distinctive Romany language, which has its origins in the Indic branch of the Indo-European languages.
Two other Indo-European language divisions were formerly widespread but now are spoken only by a few groups. Celtic languages at one time dominated central and western Europe from a core in the German Rhineland. Cultural pressures from adjacent Germanic- and Romance-speaking civilizations eliminated the Celtic culture area, save for a few remnants in the British Isles and Brittany, in northwestern France; surviving Celtic languages include Cornish, Welsh, Irish, Scots Gaelic, Manx, and Breton. The Thraco-Illyrian branch of the Indo-European languages was formerly spoken throughout the Balkan Peninsula north of Greece. It survives solely in the Albanian language.
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Europeans are the focus of European ethnology, the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the states of Europe. Groups may be defined by common genetic ancestry, common language, or both. The total number of national minority populations in Europe is estimated at 105 million people, or 14% of 770 million ...
Nov 21, 2023 · Some countries in Western Europe have two or more major ethnic groups. One such country is Belgium. In Belgium, French-speaking Walloons live in the south, while Flemish speakers live in the north.
- What is Europe's largest ethnic minority?The Romani people are Europe's largest ethnic minority. There are about 10 to 12 million of them in Europe. Historically, the Romani have been kno...
- What is a European ethnic group?A European ethnic group is a group within Europe that shares a common language, history, and ancestry. One example of a European ethnic group is th...
- How many ethnic groups are in Europe?The content of Europe is home to 87 distinct ethnic groups, 33 of which form the majority populations of the countries in which they exist. The rem...
- What are the major ethnic groups of Europe?There are over 80 different ethnic groups in Europe. Generally speaking, most can be classified into the following groups: Germanic, Romance, Celti...
Catholics were the largest Christian group in Europe, accounting for more than 48% of European Christians. The second-largest Christian group in Europe was the Orthodox, who made up 32% of European Christians. And about 19% of European Christians were part of the Protestant tradition. Europe constitutes in absolute terms the world's largest ...
Apr 19, 2023 · The largest ethnic group in Europe is the Germans, who make up about 16% of the population. Other major ethnic groups in Europe include the French, British, Italians, Spaniards, and Poles. However, there are many smaller ethnic groups in Europe as well. For example, the Roma people, who are often referred to as gypsies, are a nomadic ethnic ...
The native peoples of Europe are seperated by common genetics, common language, or both. It is estimated there are 87 distinct native peoples in Europe, 33 of which form the ethnic majority in their country. The other 54 are minorities in their countries. The Russians are the largest group, with over 134 million.
