Finno-Ugric
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The Finno-Ugric peoples are a diverse group inhabiting a vast area from Norway to Siberia and into central Europe. Their history and dispersion are primarily understood through linguistic evidence, as historical records are recent and archaeological findings are scarce. The Finno-Ugric languages, along with Samoyed languages, form the Uralic language family, which began to diverge around 5000–4000 BCE.12
These peoples are linguistically distinct, forming enclaves surrounded by speakers of other language families like Germanic, Slavic, and Turkic. Major groups include the Hungarians, Finns, Estonians, Sami, and various peoples in Russia such as the Khanty, Mansi, Mari, Mordvins, Udmurts, and Komi. Their traditional beliefs, often referred to as Finno-Ugric religion, are a blend of pre-Christian and pre-Islamic practices, influenced by their environment and interactions with other cultures, leading to significant variations across different groups.3145
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FinlandEthnic groupsPeoples of Uralic (specifically Finno-Ugric) stock dominated two settlement areas. Those who entered southwestern Finland across the Gulf of Finland were the ancestors of the Hämäläiset (Tavastians, or Tavastlanders), the people of southern and western Finland (especially the historic region of Häme); those who entered from the southeast were…
Read MorePeoples of Uralic (specifically Finno-Ugric) stock dominated two settlement areas. Those who entered southwestern Finland across the Gulf of Finland were the ancestors of the Hämäläiset (Tavastians, or Tavastlanders), the people of southern and western Finland (especially the historic region of Häme); those who entered from the southeast were…
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SiberiaPrehistory and early Russian settlementManchu-Tungus (Evenk [Evenki], Even), Finno-Ugric (Khanty, Mansi), and Mongolic (Buryat), among others.
Read MoreManchu-Tungus (Evenk [Evenki], Even), Finno-Ugric (Khanty, Mansi), and Mongolic (Buryat), among others.
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Baltic statesPrehistory to the 18th centuryIn prehistoric times Finno-Ugric tribes inhabited a long belt stretching across northern Europe from the Urals through northern Scandinavia, reaching south to present-day Latvia. The predecessors of the modern Balts bordered them along a belt to the south, stretching west from a region in what is now central…
Read MoreIn prehistoric times Finno-Ugric tribes inhabited a long belt stretching across northern Europe from the Urals through northern Scandinavia, reaching south to present-day Latvia. The predecessors of the modern Balts bordered them along a belt to the south, stretching west from a region in what is now central…
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history of Central AsiaThe Russian conquestsThe native Finno-Ugrians—Samoyed or Tungus hunters accustomed to paying their fur tribute—were little concerned with the nationality of the tax collectors and found it no more unpleasant to deal with the Russians than with Turks or Mongols. Russian penetration was marked by the building of small forts,…
Read MoreThe native Finno-Ugrians—Samoyed or Tungus hunters accustomed to paying their fur tribute—were little concerned with the nationality of the tax collectors and found it no more unpleasant to deal with the Russians than with Turks or Mongols. Russian penetration was marked by the building of small forts,…
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- Finno-Ugric religionThe Finno-Ugric peoples
The area inhabited by the Finno-Ugric peoples is extensive: from Norway to the region of the Ob River in Siberia and southward into the Carpathian Basin in central Europe and Ukraine. The history of their geographic dispersion is based almost entirely on linguistic…
Read MoreThe area inhabited by the Finno-Ugric peoples is extensive: from Norway to the region of the Ob River in Siberia and southward into the Carpathian Basin in central Europe and Ukraine. The history of their geographic dispersion is based almost entirely on linguistic…
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shamanismPersistence of shamanism…other religions, as in the Finno-Ugric peoples who became Christians (see Finno-Ugric religion), Turkic peoples in Central Asia and Asia Minor who became Muslim, and Mongols who became Buddhists. Among the Finns, the tietäjä, a figure equivalent to the shaman, also is born with one more tooth than normal. Among…
Read More…other religions, as in the Finno-Ugric peoples who became Christians (see Finno-Ugric religion), Turkic peoples in Central Asia and Asia Minor who became Muslim, and Mongols who became Buddhists. Among the Finns, the tietäjä, a figure equivalent to the shaman, also is born with one more tooth than normal. Among…
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