Gypsies say they are the richest people. As their legends tell, the other tribes God allocated only particles of the Earth, and the Gypsies gave the whole world. And indeed, it is possible to meet representatives of this nation in any corner of our planet, in completely different countries.
It is such a feature of Gypsies that causes questions from researchers, because for the approval of the origin of the people it is necessary to find his roots. Saving your amazing and bright culture, the Gypsy people remains a mystery - attractive, but unknown. What can tell the story of Gypsies? Who were their ancestors? And how did the gypsy tribes succeed all over the world?
Ethnonym
Starting acquaintance with any people should examine his name, because there may be some aspects of history and formation. The most famous option for self-sizing Gypsies was the word "rum" or "Roma".
What is interesting, depending on the region of living, the naming can change. For example, "scrap" is used in Armenia. According to linguists, these definitions will go up to the Indo-European Word "D'Om", the first sound of which could transform over time.
The usual word "Roma" appears for the first time in the "life of St. George Aphonsky", which date the XI century. It is there that you can notice the word "atcingan", which was applied to the ethnic group. Translated from Greek, it meant "untouchables". Why it was used exactly such a definition - it is not possible, but the word firmly fixed for this nation.
If you own foreign languages, in particular English, then surely have already remembered another name Roma. The British call them "Jeepsi" - by analogy with the Egyptians. Such a concept reflected the old ideas about the gypsies as immigrants from Egypt.
Origin of Gypsy
Since Gypsy has no writing for a long time, only the legends of this people reached this day about its origin. But the facts, alas, very little, so you have to build more and more hypotheses. In the "Brockhaus and Efron" dictionary, it is said that the Gypsies have Indian roots, which was established by a number of researchers in the XVIII century.
The most common, so to speak "Official", the point of view of scientists is reduced to the fact that the birthday of the ancestors of modern Gypsies were the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Genetics also confirm this version, however, it is noted that the separation from Indoarian tribes occurred no later than the 5th century of our era.
But how and why the ancestors of Gypsies decided to leave their native land? These questions, even mast historians cannot give accurate answers. It is believed that the small group of Indians was submitted to the Persian King.
It is impossible to exclude that in the future the gypsies were divided, and one part of them went to the Palestinian lands, the other to Egypt (here is the explanation of the name "Djips"). And here, too, I also recommend contacting the most accurate modern data - genetics. Studies show that the settlement of Gypsies was initially an atpon manner, since at first they represented a holistic ethnic structure in which there were practically no foreign impurities.
Gypsies in Western Europe
The territory of European countries, Roma came from Byzantium. In the Byzantine Empire, they treated them in a special way, allocating in society, but this was not aimed at infringement of rights or the like.
The disintegration of the once powerful power again pushed Roma to seek the best life. One of the first to Europe came marginal elements, fraudsters, beggars and sorcerers, which influenced the negative attitude of Europeans to representatives of the nation as a whole.
The ambiguous behavior of the Gypsies, the emergence of their nomadic ties against the background of the economic crisis in European countries turned the people into a special group, which often appeared in the laws and decrees (not in positive light). At the same time, the gypsy discrimination was observed.
Writers N. Bessonov and N. Demeter in his book "The History of Roma. The new look "leads the following data:
"In Moravia, Gypsies cut off the left ear in Bohemia. In the ERCGeritzogenia, Austrian was preferred to brand and so on. Perhaps the most cruel turned out to be Friedrich Wilhelm I Prussian. In 1725, he commanded the death of all the Male and female gypsies over eighteen years old. "As you can see, it was already about the genocide of the wrath of the people. Nevertheless, Roma managed to survive and preserve - not only their ethnos, but also an extraordinary original culture, which today becomes more and more fans.
In Eastern Europe and Russia
But if in Western Europe, such a negative attitude towards the Gypsy tribes was observed, then the Eastern neighbors of Europeans were completely different. There, Gypsies have proven themselves as skillful artisans, blacksmiths, bugs.
Even the Ottomans who captured Europe, a sufficiently soft policy was held in relation to Roma. Alas, and here it did not cost without sad exceptions. In the Moldavian and Volosch principalities, where Christianity quickly spread, with contempt relate to the gypsies. They were declared slaves from birth.
Announcement of 1852 says:
"Monastery of St. The first lot of Gypsy slaves is put up for sale, on May 8, 1852, consisting of 18 men, 10 boys, 7 women and 3 girls: in excellent condition. "It should be noted that in the Russian Empire to the gypsies did not have an unequivocal relationship. The Russians, undoubtedly, appreciated the ability of Gypsies to care for horses, excellent qualities of riders. Many representatives of this people were enrolled in horse shelves. Nevertheless, in the records of the Russian historian S.M.Solovyov, it is quite openly said: "Gypsy .... They counted the people dangerous due to the illiteracy and the spawns of their ".
Of course, Gypsies have the right to be offended for such contradictory perception of their people. Unfortunately, it is exactly the case when the "Spoon is hit by the barrel of Möday spoil." Despite the fact that among the Gypsies today there are far from the most honest people, do not forget that many representatives of this ethnos are open, talented people, sincerely devotees to their work and managed to preserve a truly beautiful culture of ancestors.