Slavenae

The Slavs are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic group in Europe, primarily residing in eastern and southeastern Europe, with some populations extending into northern Asia. They speak Slavic languages, which are part of the Indo-European language family. The Slavs are traditionally divided into three main groups: East Slavs (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians), West Slavs (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks), and South Slavs (Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Slovenes, Macedonians, Montenegrins).1

Historically, the Slavs are believed to have originated in eastern Europe and began expanding around the 6th century CE. Their cultural and political development varied significantly, with West Slavs integrating into the broader European pattern, while East Slavs and Balkan Slavs experienced periods of isolation and different political structures. Religious divisions are also notable, with many Slavs adhering to Eastern Orthodoxy and others to Roman Catholicism, often reflected in the use of Cyrillic or Latin alphabets, respectively.1