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• History of Christianization of Europe
• Soviet Union, Communist influence
• Map of European ethnic groups
• Map of Fascism in Europe (1922-75)
• History of Islamic conquest in Europe
• Religions & ethnic groups in Russia

--MORE & NON-ENGLISH--

• Muhammad cartoon crisis in pictures
• Stalin's private summer home
• Ravenna: capital of Gothic empire
• Czar Nicholas II's Ukrainian palace
• European traditional costumes/dress
• Inside the Vatican, house of all wealth

--MORE & NON-ENGLISH--

• Islamic Mujahidin vs. Spain & El Cid
• Poland-Lithuania vs. Teutonic Order
• Nevskiy's Russia vs. German Crusaders
• Mussolini vs. Libyan Islamic fighters
• Qadafi: Europe will soon be Islamic
• Ivan the Terrible vs. Muslim Tatars 

--MORE & NON-ENGLISH--

• Inside Albania, Europe's only Muslim culture (with rare pictures)
• History of Jihad in Chechnya
& Caucasus vs. Russians
• History of the Muslim Tatars in Russia
• Ethnic & religious history of Serbs, Croats, & Bosnians
• History of Italy: from Roman rule to Germanic barbarian
• The cost & bloodshed of the Serb-Albanian conflict in Kosovo
• Inside Bulgaria, 1st Slavic nation,
land of Thracian masters of gold
• Visual history of Yugoslavia
• Inside Muslim Turkey: right for the European Union? 

--MORE & NON-ENGLISH--

Map of European ethnic groups
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)

Print this Article    •    About the Author    •    Bibliography/Sources

Below is a map the EHL has published charting the major dispersal of dominant ethnic and cultural groups in the European continent. As with religion, ethnic heritage is the keystone which symbolizes the organic nations of Europe. As in studying our other ethno-cartographic maps, studying the below map will gain a better understanding of European cultural heritage and the impact they have upon the world. With the exclusive EHL cultural cartography, one can find a country on the map layer and thus determine its religious composition or ethnic heritage by looking at our colour indications! If you have any questions, please feel free to notify us.

Mapping Information & Extra Notes:

The field of ethnocartography is difficult and often controversial. Many communities and cultures claim falsely to be be completely independent ethnic or racial groups because of independence movements and nationalism, like the Catalans of Spain. Other communities include other unrelated groups as their relatives for the same reason. Romanians and Bulgarians often link themselves to the original inhabitants of the region, the ethnically-Iranian Thracians, out of national pride and distinction, though there often is little evidence or even common agreement. Many Europeans dismiss the Albanians as Slavic tribes who mixed in with the hated Muslim enemy (i.e. with the Turkish race), though Albanians claim descent from an ancient Roman era culture (the Illyrians) despite having almost no factual basis for it. This makes ethnic cartography difficult. Further, the growth of modern multicultural and liberal characteristics, primarily derived from American academia, have worked to transfer the meaning of "ethnicity" from racial heritage to language use, largely for sociopolitical means. This error dismisses the blatant reality of the unique and independent histories, customs, cultures, and genetics of the many different peoples of Europe. On this map, each color represents a different ethnic family in Europe. For example, "German" and "Danish" are not known instead of "Germanic" to denote their same genetic relation, and Portuguese and Spaniards are linked as "Iberian" because of a common ethnic heritage (as opposed to both being "Spanish"). Notes have been carefully made to prevent confusion of political control. For example, the island of Malta, so close to the other Italian islands, may confuse some readers into thinking the island is owned by Italy like Sicily is, but it is rather its own state, ethnically Italic with an Arabic-derived language. Different communities with disputed heritage are written to prevent confusion or fallacy. For example, Lithuanians are described in different ways as Slavs, Balts, or even their own race. This conflict is clearly noted where it applies. Note that naturally, the colouring on this map refers to the dominant cultural and ethnic heritage of that region or country. Minority groups are not discerned. Also be aware that due to the finite number of colors, some colors are re-used. This does NOT imply that the two groups are related, like Romania and Finland both being light-blue.

Click the below map for the full-size version! Click on the map to zoom.

If an error has been made, or you think some important information has been omitted and needs inclusion for clarity, please notify the EHL Staff.

________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Mayfield is the owner and Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I am working for a doctorate in history, with a specific emphasis on Islamic and European histories. I am well versed in all world cultures, ethnicities, religions, languages, politics, and historical evolution in relation to and against each other.

BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES USED:

The image used as the basis for the map is widely redistributed and is not protected.