West Slavs

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Countries inhabited by West Slavs (in light green)
Countries inhabited by West Slavs (in light green)
Distribution of Slavic peoples by language
Distribution of Slavic peoples by language
Map showing an approximation location of Polish tribes
Map showing an approximation location of Polish tribes
West Slavs in 9th/10th century
West Slavs in 9th/10th century

The West Slavs are Slavic peoples speaking West Slavic languages. Czechs, Kashubians, Poles, Slovaks, and Sorbs are the ethnic groups that originated from the original Western Slavic tribes. Of these, the Kashubians were assimilated by the Poles, while the Sorbs were integrated within German society; the others retained their cultural identity to this very day. The societies of the West Slavs developed along the lines of other western European nations by coming into political affiliation with the Holy Roman Empire.[1] The West Slavs experienced a cultural split with the other two main Slavic groups: while the East and South Slavs converted to Greek Orthodox Christianity, thus being culturally influenced by the Byzantine Empire, the West Slavs converted to Roman Catholicism, thus coming under the cultural influence of the Latin Church and western europe.

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[edit] History

The first Slavic states known from written sources inhabited by West Slavs were the Empire of Samo (623 - 658), the Principality of Moravia (8th c. - 833), the Principality of Nitra (8th c. - 833) and Great Moravia (833 - c. 907). The Sorbs and some of the other West Slavs came under direct Holy Roman Empire domination and had been strongly assimilated by Germans at the end of 19th century. The (eastern) Poles created their own state in the 10th century, which in the 20th century assimilated the Kashubians. For many centuries Poland has had close ties with its western neighbours, with the Polish ruler Bolesław I the Brave declared by Holy Roman Emperor Otto III as "Frater et Cooperator Imperii" ("Brother and Partner in the Empire")[2]. The Czechs created their own state, Bohemia, in the 10th century and became part of the Holy Roman Empire , but unlike Poland, Bohemia became dependent to the Empire. The Slovaks gradually came under Hungarian domination in the 10th - 11th century. Both the Czechs and the Slovaks were under the Habsburg monarchy from 1526 to 1918 (Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918).

[edit] West Slavic ethnic groups ca. 10th c.

[edit] West Slavs from the Bavarian Geographer

A graphical representation of Łowmiański's attempt to localise the tribes mentioned in the Bavarian Geographer, 845
A graphical representation of Łowmiański's attempt to localise the tribes mentioned in the Bavarian Geographer, 845

In 845 the Bavarian Geographer listed several West Slavic ethnic groups in a territory(which is today, the country of Poland) and the surrounding area, including some non-Slavic groups:

pos.: latin name in 845 polish name nr of gords
7, Hehfeldi
 Hawelanie 8
15, Miloxi
 67
17, Thadesi
 200
18, Glopeani
 Goplanie 400
33, Lendizi Lędzianie 68
34, Thafnezi
 257
36, Prissani
 Pyrzyczanie(pl) 70
37, Uelunzani
 Wolinianie(pl) 70
38, Bruzi
 Prusowie
47, Ungare
 Węgrzy
48, Uuislane
 Wiślanie
49, Sleenzane
 Ślężanie 15
50, Lunsizi
 Łużyczanie 30
52, Milzane
 Milczanie 30
56, Lupiglaa
 Głupczanie(pl) 30
57, Opolini
 Opolanie(pl) 20
58, Golensizi
 Golenczycy(pl) 5
53, Besunzane
 Biezunczanie(pl) 2
51, Diadesisi
 Dziadoszenie(pl) 20
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[edit] Gallery

Slovaks in Serbia wearing traditional dress

Girl in Upper Silesian dress from Mysłowice, Poland 2006

National costume of Lusatian Sorbs as traditionally worn in the northern part of Lusatia

National Kashubian costume

Road sign in German and sorbian in Cottbus

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Slav - Britannica Concise Encyclopedia - The online encyclopedia you can trust!
  2. ^ Rez. MA: M. Borgolte (Hg.): Polen und Deutschland vor 1000 Jahren - H-Soz-u-Kult / Rezensionen / Bücher