Slavic History - Population - Ethnocultural Subdivisions

Ethnocultural Subdivisions

Slavs are customarily divided along geographical lines into three major subgroups: East Slavs, West Slavs, and South Slavs, each with a different and a diverse background based on unique history, religion and culture of particular Slavic group within them. Apart from prehistorical archaeological cultures, the subgroups have had notable cultural contact with non-Slavic Bronze- and Iron Age civilisations.

• The East Slavs have origins in early Slavic tribes who mixed with the local Sarmatian tribes (Alans) and Scythians, Hellenic colonies, as well as Uralic peoples. The East Slavs trace their nation-building to the tribal unions of Kievan Rus', beginning in the 10th century. The East Slavs were particularly influenced by the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and the Orthodox Church, while Eastern Catholic Churches were established in the 16th century in areas such of Ukraine.

• The West Slavs have origins in early Slavic tribes who mixed with the local Germanic tribes. The West Slavs were influenced by the Western Roman Empire (Latin) and the Roman Catholic Church.

• The South Slavs have origins in early Slavic tribes who mixed with the local Proto-Balkanic tribes (Illyrian, Dacian, Thracian, Pannonian, Paeonian and Hellenic tribes), Celtic tribes (most notably the Scordisci), as well as Romans (and the Romanized remnants of the former groups), and also remnants of temporarely settled invading East Germanic, Asiatic or Caucasian tribes such as Gepids, Huns, Avars and Bulgars. The South Slavs were particularly influenced by the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and the Orthodox Church, while the Western Roman Empire (Latin) and the Roman Catholic Church were more pertinent in areas such as Dalmatia.