| Revision as of 21:50, 10 December 2006 view sourceBeh-nam (talk | contribs)8,290 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit |
Revision as of 22:12, 10 December 2006 view source 70.120.231.200 (talk) ←Replaced page with '{{subst:Userbox|border-c=#007700|border-s=3|id-c=#FFFFFF|info-c=#9cc800|info-s=8| id=40px|info=This user enjoys [[Misplaced Pages:Vandalism|vanda...'Next edit → |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
|
|
<div style="float:{{{float|left}}}; border:{{{border-width|3}}}px solid {{{border-color|{{{1|#007700}}}}}}; margin:1px;"> |
|
{{dablink|This article is about the group of peoples who speak Iranian languages. For citizens of the country of Iran, see ].}} |
|
|
|
{| cellspacing="0" style="width:238px; background:{{{info-background|{{{2|#9cc800}}}}}};" |
|
|
|
|
|
| style="width:45px; height:45px; background:{{{logo-background|{{{1|#FFFFFF}}}}}}; text-align:center; font-size:{{{logo-size|{{{5|{{{id-s|14}}}}}}}}}pt; color:{{{logo-color|{{{id-fc|black}}}}}};" | '''{{{logo|{{{3|]}}}}}}''' |
|
{{featured article}} |
|
|
|
| style="font-size:{{{info-size|8}}}pt; padding:4pt; line-height:1.25em; color:{{{info-color|{{{info-fc|black}}}}}};" | This user enjoys ] ] ] |
|
{{ethnic group| |
|
|
|
|}</div> |
|
|image=<div style="background-color:black">]</div><small>] - ] - ] - ]</small> |
|
|
|group=Iranian peoples |
|
|
|poptime= 152.7 - 205.2 million (estimates vary) |
|
|
|popplace= ], ], ], ], and also dispersed across the world due to immigration |
|
|
|langs= ] |
|
|
|rels= ], ], ], ], ], and varius others}} |
|
|
] is a prominent guardian spirit in ] and Iranian culture that is believed to be a depiction of a ].]] |
|
|
|
|
|
The '''Iranian peoples''' are a collection of ]s defined by their usage of ] and their descent from ].<ref name="Kurds"> — Middle East International Affairs, Vol. 6, No. 4 (December 2002) (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Ukraine Encyclopedia"> — Encyclopedia of the Ukraine (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="CAIS Anthro"> — The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (retrieved ] ])</ref> The Iranian peoples live chiefly in the ], ], the ], and ], though speakers of Iranian languages were once found throughout ], from the ] to western ].<ref name="Britannica"> — Encyclopedia Britannica (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Iranica"> — Encyclopedia Iranica (retrieved ] ])</ref> As Iranian peoples are not confined to the borders of the current state of ], the term '''''Iranic peoples''''' is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the citizens of Iran. |
|
|
|
|
|
The series of ethnic groups which comprise the Iranian peoples are traced to a branch of the ancient ] ]s known as the ''Iranians'' or ''Proto-Iranians''. ] finds in ], Central Asia, and the Middle East have elucidated some scant information about the way of life of these early peoples. The Iranian peoples have played an important role throughout history: the ] ] established one of the world's first multi-national states, and the ]n-] nomads dominated the vast expanses of Russia and western ] for centuries with a group of Sarmatian warrior women possibly being the inspiration for the Greek legend of the ].<ref name="World Archaeology"></ref><ref name="PBS Amazons"></ref> In addition, the various religions of the Iranian peoples, including ] and ], which some scholars believe were important early philosophical influences on ]ity.<ref>{{cite book | author=Runciman, Steven | title=The Medieval Manichee: A Study of the Christian Dualist Heresy | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=1982 | id=ISBN 0-521-28926-2}}</ref> Early Iranian tribes were the ancestors of many peoples, including the ], ], ], and many other smaller groups. The southern Iranian peoples survived ]'s conquests, ] ] attempts at cultural dominance, and devastating assaults by the ], whereas the Iranians of the north were largely assimilated by the ] and other European peoples. |
|
|
|
|
|
==Etymology and usage== |
|
|
The term ''Iranian'' is derived from ''Iran'' (''lit'': "Land of the ]s").<ref name="Farsinet"> — Farsi.net (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="1911 Encyclopedia"> — The 1911 Encyclopedia (retrieved ] ])</ref> The old ] term ''Arya'', meaning "noble", is believed to have been one of a series of self-referential terms used by the Aryans, at least in the areas populated by Aryans who migrated south from ] and/or southern ]. Their ancient homeland was referred to as '']'' and varied in its geographic range, sometimes referring to ] (according to ]), the area around ] (]'s view), and even the entire expanse of the ] (]'s designation).<ref></ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
From a '''linguistic''' standpoint, the term ''Iranian peoples'' is similar in its usage to the term '']'', which includes various peoples who happen to speak ] such as ], ] and ], ], or the term '']'', which includes various speakers of ] including ], ], and ].<ref name="ISBNMallory"> ''In Search of the Indo-Europeans'', by J.P. Mallory, p. 22–23, ISBN 0-500-27616-1 (retrieved ] ])</ref> Thus, along similar lines, the Iranian peoples include not only the ] and ] (or eastern Persians) of ], ] and ], but also the ], ], ], ], and other groups. The academic usage of the term ''Iranian peoples'' or ''Iranic peoples'' is thus distinct from the state of ] and its various citizens (who are all Iranian by nationality, and thus popularly referred to as ''Iranians'') in the same way that ''Germanic peoples'' is distinct from '']''. Many citizens of Iran are not necessarily "Iranian peoples" by virtue of not being speakers of Iranian languages and may not have discernible ties to ancient Iranian tribes. |
|
|
|
|
|
==History and settlement== |
|
|
{{see also|History of Central Asia|History of the Middle East|History of Iran|History of the Kurds|History of Afghanistan|History of Tajikistan|History of Uzbekistan|History of Turkmenistan|History of Pakistan|History of Russia|History of the Balkans|History of India|History of Azerbaijan}} |
|
|
|
|
|
===Roots=== |
|
|
] (according to the ]).]] |
|
|
|
|
|
Having descended from the ] (Proto-]), the ancient Iranian peoples separated from the ], ]s and ] in the early 2nd millennium BCE. The ] form a sub-branch of the ] sub-family, which is a branch of the family of ].<ref name="Ethnologue"> — Ethnologue (retrieved ] ])</ref> The Iranian peoples stem from early Proto-Iranians, themselves a branch of the Indo-Iranians, who are believed to have originated in either ] or ] circa 1800 BCE. The Proto-Iranians are traced to the ], a ] culture of Central Asia. The area between northern Afghanistan and the ] is hypothesized to have been the region where the Proto-Iranians first emerged, following the separation of Indo-Iranian tribes.<ref name="Panshin"> — Panshin.com (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
By the first millennium, ] such as ], ], ]ns and ]ns populated the ], while others such as the ], ], and ] populated the steppes north of the ]. The ] and ]n tribes remained mainly in the south, and spread as far west as the ] and as far east as ]. Later offshoots, related to the Scythians, included the ], who vanished following ] and other invasions into southern Russia, the ], and the Balkans, presumably due to having been assimilated by other tribes.<ref name="Iranologie"> — Iranologie (retrieved ] ])</ref> A group of Scytho-Sarmatians are believed to have been the basis for the legendary ], who are linked by the ] to the ''Sauromatae'', and who had a matrilineal society with warrior women taking part in war alongside men.<ref name="Warriors of the Steppe">''Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. to A.D. 1700'' by Erik Hildinger. Da Capo Press (2001), ISBN 0306810654 (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Women Warriors">''Women Warriors'' by David E. Jones. VA: Bassey (1997), ISBN 1574882066 (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
There are many references to these early Proto-Iranian invaders in the early writings of the ancient ] and ]ns. Two of the early offshoots of the Proto-Iranians are known: ] speakers in Afghanistan, and ] speakers in ] in southeastern Iran. The Avestan texts known as the ] are believed to have been written by ], the founder of ], while Old Persian appears to have been established in written form following the adoption of ] from the ]ians.<ref name="Lubotsky"> — Sprache und Kultur. Akten der X. Fachtagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft, 22.-28. September 1996, ed. W. Meid, Innsbruck (IBS) 1998, 479–488. (retrieved ] ])</ref> The ] (ca. 1500–1100 BC) may mark the development of ] and the end of ] culture. |
|
|
|
|
|
The first is a ] mentioning by an Iranian tribe of their "Aryan" lineage is from an early inscription known as the ], recording a proclamation by ] that he was of Aryan ancestry and that his language was an Aryan language. The inscription thus provides a link in the Iranian languages to the usage of the term ''Arya'' in early ] texts.<ref name="Art Arena"> — Art Arena. (retrieved ] ])</ref> These ancient Persians recognized three official languages (], ], and ]), which suggests a ] society.<ref name="CAIS"> — Circle of Iranian Studies. (retrieved ] ])</ref> It is not known to what extent other Proto-Iranian tribes referred to themselves as "Aryan", or if the term has the same meaning in other Old Iranian languages. |
|
|
|
|
|
====Western Iranians==== |
|
|
]n Empire (mostly ]) is shown in red, other areas, dominated by ] (mostly ]), in orange.]] |
|
|
|
|
|
The ancient Persians established themselves in the western portion of the Iranian plateau, and appear to have interacted considerably with the Elamites and Babylonians, while the Medes also intermingled with local ] peoples to the west. Remnants of the ] and Old Persian show their common Proto-Iranian roots, emphasized in Strabo and Herodotus' analyses of their languages, which they believed to be very similar to the languages spoken by the Bactrians and ] in the east.<ref name="Geo Strabo"> — University of Chicago. (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="1911 Encyclopedia"> — The 1911 Encyclopedia (retrieved ] ])</ref> Following the establishment of the ], the Persian language spread from ] to various regions of the empire, with the modern dialects of Iran, Afghanistan (also known as ]) and Central-Asia (known as ]) descending from Old Persian. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Avestans' main impact was religious and liturgical, as the early inhabitants of the Persian Empire appear to have adopted the religion of ]. The other prominent Iranian peoples, such as the Kurds, are surmised to stem from Iranic populations that mixed with Caucasian peoples such as the ], due to some unique qualities found in the Kurdish language that mirror those found in ].<ref name="Edinburgh"> — University of Edinburgh, School of Informatics. (retrieved ] ])</ref> The ] relate an oral tradition regarding their migration from ], ] around the year 1000 CE, whereas linguistic evidence links ] to ] and ].<ref name="Rezakhani"> — Iranologie. (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
====Eastern Iranians==== |
|
|
While the Iranian tribes of the south are better known through their modern counterparts, the tribes which remained largely in the vast Eurasian expanse are known through the references made to them by the ancient Greeks and Persians, as well as by archaeological finds. In the 5th century BCE, ] made references to a nomadic people whom he identifies as the ]ns and describes as having dwelt in what is today southern ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
]n Horseman, '']'' felt artifact, c. 300 BCE.]] |
|
|
|
|
|
It is believed that these Scythians were conquered by their eastern cousins, the ], who are mentioned by ] as the dominant tribe which controlled the southern Russian steppe by the 1st millennium CE. These Sarmatians were also known to the ], who conquered the western tribes in the Balkans and sent Sarmatian conscripts, as part of Roman legions, as far west as ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
The Sarmatians of the east became the ], who also ventured far and wide, with a branch ending up in ] and ], as they accompanied the Germanic ] during their migrations. The modern ] are believed to be the sole direct descendants of the Alans, as other remnants of the Alans disappeared following Germanic, ], and ultimately Slavic invasions.<ref name="ISBN"> A History of Russia by Nicholas Riasanovsky, pp. 11–18, Russia before the Russians, ISBN 0-19-515394-4 (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
] king ] (r.c. 35–12 BCE). Buddhist ] symbol in the left field on the reverse.]] |
|
|
|
|
|
Some of the Saka-Scythian tribes in Central Asia would later move further south and invade the ] and northwestern ] (see ]). Another Iranian tribe related to the Saka-Scythians were the ] in Central Asia, a tribe that pressured, and ultimately overthrew, the rule of the Greek ] in Persia. The Parni replaced the Seleucids as the ]ns, a dynasty that ruled Persia during the early centuries of the 1st millennium CE and became the main rival of the ] in the east. It is surmised that many Iranian tribes, including the ], ] and ], were assimilated and/or pushed out of Central Asia by the migrations of ] tribes emanating out of Siberia.<ref name="Kimball"> — Thirteen WNET New York. (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
The most dominant surviving Eastern Iranians are represented by the ], whose origins are generally believed to be in southern Afghanistan, from which they began to spread until they reached as far west as ] and as far east as the ]. The ] shows affinities to ], as both languages are believed to be of ] origin. The modern ] claim to be the descendants of the Alano-Sarmatians, and their claims are supported by their Northeast Iranian language, while culturally the Ossetians resemble their Caucasian neighbors, the ]ians, ] and ].<ref name="ISBN">From Scythia to Camelot by Littleton and Malcor, pp. 40–43, ISBN 0-8153-3566-0 (retrieved ] ])</ref> Various extinct Iranian peoples existed in the eastern Caucasus, including the ], while some Iranian peoples remain in the region, including the ]<ref name="Talysh"> — Ethnologue. (retrieved ] ])</ref> and the ]<ref name="Tats"> — Ethnologue. (retrieved ] ])</ref> (including the ],<ref name="Judeo-Tat"> — Ethnologue. (retrieved ] ])</ref> who have relocated to ]), found in Azerbaijan and as far north as the Russian republic of ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
===Later developments=== |
|
|
In ancient times, the majority of southern Iranian peoples became adherents of Zoroastrianism, ] (in parts of Afghanistan and Central Asia), ] and ] ] (largely among the Kurds and Persians living in Iraq).<ref name="ISBN 2"> The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates by Hugh Kennedy, pp. 12–13, ISBN 0-582-40525-4 (retrieved ] ])</ref> The Ossetians would later adopt Christianity as well, with ] becoming dominant following their annexation into the ], while some converted to Islam due to the influence of the ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
] "king of Egypt" at the ] citadel.]] |
|
|
|
|
|
Starting with the reign of ] in 634 CE, ] ]s began a conquest of the Iranian plateau. The Arabs conquered the ] of the Persians and seized much of the ] populated by the Kurds and others. Ultimately, the various Iranian peoples, including the Persians, Kurds and Pashtuns, were converted to ]. The Iranian peoples would later split along sectarian lines as the Persians (and later the ]) adopted the ] sect, while the majority of other Iranian peoples remained adherents of ]. As ancient tribes and identities changed, so did the Iranian peoples, many of whom assimilated foreign cultures and peoples.<ref>Ibid. p. 135</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
Later, during the 2nd millennium CE, the Iranian peoples would play a prominent role during the age of Islamic expansion and empire. ], a noted adversary of the ]rs, was an ethnic Kurd, while various empires centered in Iran (including the ]) re-established a modern dialect of Persian as the official language spoken throughout much of what is today Iran and adjacent parts of Central Asia. Iranian influence spread to the Ottoman Empire, where Persian was often spoken at court, as well as in the ], which began in Afghanistan and shifted to India. All of the major Iranian peoples reasserted their use of Iranian languages following the decline of Arab rule, but would not begin to form modern ] identities until the 19th and early 20th centuries (just as Germans and Italians were beginning to formulate national identities of their own). |
|
|
|
|
|
==Demographics== |
|
|
{{see also|Iranian plateau}} |
|
|
|
|
|
] |
|
|
|
|
|
There are an estimated 150 million native speakers of Iranian languages. Currently, most of these Iranian peoples live in ], ], ], western-], parts of ] (especially ] and ]), the ] (] and ]), and the ] areas (referred to as ]) of ], ], Iran and ]. Smaller groups of Iranian peoples can also be found in western ], ] and ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
Due to recent migrations, there are also large communities of speakers of ] in Europe and the ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
==Diversity== |
|
|
It is largely through linguistic similarities that the Iranian peoples have been linked, as many non-Iranian peoples have adopted Iranian languages and cultures. However, other common traits have been identified as well, and a stream of common historical events have often linked the southern Iranian peoples, including ] conquests, the various empires based in ], Arab ]ates, and ] invasions. |
|
|
|
|
|
Although most of the Iranian peoples settled in the ] region, many expanded into the periphery, ranging from the ] and ] to the ] and western ]. The Iranian peoples have often mingled with other populations, with the notable example being the ]s, who display a distinct ]-] background that contrasts with most other Iranian peoples.<ref name="Hazara"> — Library of Congress Country Studies (retrieved ] ])</ref> Similarly, the ] have mingled with the ]-speaking ] (who have been strongly modified by Iranian invaders themselves), while the ] have invariably mixed with ] and other Caucasian peoples. The ] vary with some having mingled with fellow Iranian groups such as the Tajiks and ] and those to the east who have mingled with ] and ] peoples. Moreover, the Kurds are an eclectic Iranian people who, although displaying some ethnolinguistic ties to other Iranian peoples (in particular their ], and some cultural traits), are believed to have mixed with Caucasian and Semitic peoples.<ref name="Kurdish Genes"> — Annals of Human Genetics (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Edinburgh"> — University of Edinburgh, School of Informatics. (retrieved ] ])</ref> Modern Persians themselves are also a heterogeneous group of peoples descended from various ancient Iranian and indigenous peoples of the Iranian plateau, including the ]ites.<ref name="ISBNFrye"> ''The Golden Age of Persia'', by Richard Frye, ISBN 1-84212-011-5 (retrieved ] ])</ref> Thus, not unlike the ] of Germanic peoples including the ], who are both of Germanic and ]ic origin, Iranians are an ethno-linguistic group, and the Iranian peoples display varying degrees of common ancestry and cultural traits that denote their respective identities. |
|
|
|
|
|
==Culture and assimilation== |
|
|
{{see also|Proto-Indo-European society|Indo-Iranian mythology|Iranian philosophy}} |
|
|
|
|
|
] |
|
|
|
|
|
Many of the cultural traits of the ancient Iranians were similar to other ] societies. Like other Indo-Europeans, the early Iranians practiced ritual sacrifice, had a social hierarchy consisting of warriors, clerics, and farmers, and poetic hymns and sagas to recount their deeds.<ref name="ISBNMallory"> ''In Search of the Indo-Europeans'', by J.P. Mallory, p. 112–127, ISBN 0-500-27616-1 (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
Following the Iranian split from the Indo-Iranians, the Iranians developed an increasingly distinct culture. It is surmised that the early Iranians intermarried with and ] local cultures over a long period of time, and thus a ] identity was never needed or created by the Iranians—in sharp contrast with the ].<ref>Ibid.</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
Various common traits can be discerned among the Iranian peoples. For example, the social event ] is an Iranian festival that is practiced by nearly all of the Iranian peoples as well as others in the region. Its origins are traced to ] and pre-historic times. |
|
|
|
|
|
Some Iranian peoples exhibit distinct traits that are unique unto themselves. The Pashtuns adhere to a code of honor and culture known as ], which has a similar counterpart among the ], called Mayar, that is more hierarchical.<ref name="Baloch"> — Library of Congress Country Studies (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
===Religion=== |
|
|
{{see also|Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations}} |
|
|
|
|
|
]'s ] in ] is a structure of cobalt blue and turquoise minarets, attracting visitors and pilgrims from all over the world. Many such Muslim ] monuments can be attributed to the efforts of the Iranian peoples who are predominantly followers of Islam today.]] |
|
|
|
|
|
The early Iranian peoples may have worshipped various deities found throughout other cultures where ] invaders established themselves.<ref name="Iranologie"> — Iranologie (retrieved ] ])</ref> The earliest major religion of the Iranian peoples was ], which spread to nearly all of the Iranian peoples living in the Iranian plateau. |
|
|
|
|
|
Modern speakers of Iranian languages mainly follow ]. Some follow ], ] and the ], with an unknown number showing no religious affiliation. Of the Muslim Iranian peoples, the majority overall are followers of the ] sect of Islam, while most Persians and Hazaras are ]. Shi'a Islam and Sufism in Iran are both thought to be affected by ]. The Christian community is largely represented by the ] denomination, followed by Ossetians and ]. ] is followed mainly by ], ], ], and ] (of the Caucasus), most of which are now found in ]. The historical religion of the Persian Empire was Zoroastrianism and it has some followers. They are known as the ]s in India, or ] and Pakistan. |
|
|
|
|
|
===Iranian influence on Turkic peoples=== |
|
|
In matters relating to culture, the various ]-speaking minorities of Iran (notably the ]) and Afghanistan (] and ]) are often conversant in Iranian languages, in addition to their own Turkic languages, and also have Iranian culture to the extent that the term ''Turko-Iranian'' can be applied.<ref name="ISBN 3"> Turko-Persia in Historical Perspective, edited by Robert Canfield, ISBN 0-521-52291-9 (retrieved ] ])</ref> The usage applies to various circumstances that involve historic interaction, intermarriage, cultural assimilation, bilingualism, and cultural overlap or commonalities. |
|
|
|
|
|
Notable among this synthesis of Turko-Iranian culture are the Azeris, whose culture, religion, and significant periods of history are linked to the Persians.<ref name="Belfer"> — Harvard University, Belfer Center, Caspian Studies Program (retrieved ] ])</ref> Certain theories and genetic tests<ref name="Iran Cambridge Genetic Study"> — ''ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency)'', 06-12-2006, news-code: 8503-06068 (retrieved ] ])</ref> suggest that the Azeris are descendants of ] who lost their Iranian language (see ]) following the Turkic invasions of Azerbaijan in the 11th century CE. In fact, throughout much of the expanse of Central Asia and the Middle East, Iranian and Turkic culture has merged in many cases to form various hybrid populations and cultures, as evident from various ruling dynasties such as the ], ], and ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
Iranian cultural influences have also been significant in ], where Turkic invaders are believed to have largely mixed with native Iranian peoples of which only the ] remain, in terms of language usage. The areas of the former Soviet Union adjacent to Iran, Afghanistan, and the Kurdish areas (such as ] and ]) have gone through the prism of decades of Russian and ] rule that has reshaped the Turko-Iranian cultures there to some degree. |
|
|
|
|
|
==Genetics== |
|
|
Genetic testing of Iranian peoples has revealed many common genes for most of the Iranian peoples, but with numerous exceptions and regional variations. Genetic studies conducted by ] have revealed that Iranians cluster closely with European groups and more distantly from Near Eastern groups. Preliminary genetic tests suggest common origins for most of the Iranian peoples: |
|
|
|
|
|
]'s "The History and Geography of Human Genes"]] |
|
|
|
|
|
{{cquote|Populations located west of the Indus basin, including those from Iran, Anatolia and the Caucasus, exhibit a common mtDNA lineage composition, consisting mainly of western Eurasian lineages, with a very limited contribution from South Asia and eastern Eurasia (fig. 1). Indeed, the different Iranian populations show a striking degree of homogeneity. This is revealed not only by the nonsignificant FST values and the PC plot (fig. 6) but also by the SAMOVA results, in which a significant genetic barrier separates populations west of Pakistan from those east and north of the Indus Valley (results not shown). These observations suggest either a common origin of modern Iranian populations and/or extensive levels of gene flow among them.<ref name="Genes"> — University of Chicago, American Journal of Human Genetics (retrieved ] ])</ref>}} |
|
|
|
|
|
Basically, the findings of this study reveal many common genetic markers found among the Iranian peoples from the ] to the areas west of the ]. This correlates with the ] spoken from the Caucasus to Kurdish areas in the ] region and eastwards to western Pakistan and Tajikistan and parts of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. The extensive gene flow is perhaps an indication of the spread of Iranian-speaking peoples, whose languages are now spoken mainly on the Iranian plateau and adjacent regions. These results relate the relationships of Iranian peoples with each other, while other comparative testing reveals some varied origins for Iranian peoples such as the Kurds, who show genetic ties to the Caucasus at considerably higher levels than any other Iranian peoples except the ], as well as links to Europe and Semitic populations that live in close proximity such as the ] and Jews.<ref name="Kurdish Genes"> — Annals of Human Genetics (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Kurdish Genes2"> — American Journal of Physical Anthropology(retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Kurdish Genes3"> — Society For Crypto Judaic Studies (retrieved ] ])</ref><ref name="Kurdish Genes4"> — American Journal of Physical Anthropology (retrieved ] ])</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
According to a recent study, the ancestors of the Kurds were from an old Mediterranean ], i.e. ] and ] groups. According to this study the ] ancestry of the Kurds and other Iranian-speaking populations in Anatolia is not supported by genetic analyses.<ref>Arnaiz-Villena, Karin, Bendikuze, a.o. in "National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)", published in PubMed - PMID: 11380939, ''"HLA alleles and haplotypes in the Turkish population: relatedness to Kurds, Armenians and other Mediterraneans"'', 2001, ()</ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
Another recent study of the genetic landscape of Iran was completed by a team of ] geneticists led by Dr. Maziar Ashrafian Bonab (an Iranian Azarbaijani).<ref name="Dr. Bonab page"> — ''Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge'' (retrieved ] ])</ref> Bonab remarked that his group had done extensive ] testing on different language groups, including ] and non Indo-European speakers, in Iran.<ref name="Iran Cambridge Genetic Study"> — ''ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency)'', 06-12-2006, news-code: 8503-06068 (retrieved ] ])</ref> The study found that the Azerbaijanis of Iran do not have a similar FSt and other genetic markers found in Anatolian and European Turks. However, the genetic Fst and other genetic traits like MRca and mtDNA of Iranian Azeris were identical to ] in Iran. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ultimately, genetic tests reveal that while the Iranian peoples show numerous common genetic markers overall, there are also indications of interaction with other groups, regional variations, and cases of genetic drift. In addition, indigenous populations may have survived the waves of early Aryan invasions as cultural assimilation led to large-scale language replacement (as with some Kurds, Hazaras and others). Further testing will ultimately be required and may further elucidate the relationship of the Iranian peoples with each other and various neighboring populations. |
|
|
|
|
|
==List of Iranian peoples== |
|
|
Speakers of Iranian languages in modern times include: |
|
|
{{col-begin}} |
|
|
{{col-3}} |
|
|
*]s |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
{{col-3}} |
|
|
*] (]) |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*]s |
|
|
*]i |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*]s |
|
|
{{col-3}} |
|
|
*] |
|
|
**] |
|
|
**] |
|
|
**] |
|
|
**]s |
|
|
**] |
|
|
**] |
|
|
|
|
|
{{col-end}} |
|
|
Note: ] are, due to historical ties with various ancient Iranians<ref></ref> and their cultural ties with Persians,<ref></ref> sometimes included as an Iranian people, although the modern ] is a ] and the issue remains debated (see ] and the ] for more details).<ref></ref> In addition, the origins of ] groups including the ], ], and ] are sometimes also linked to the Iranian peoples that settled in the Balkans such as the Sarmatians (see also: ]). |
|
|
|
|
|
==See also== |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
*] |
|
|
|
|
|
==Notes== |
|
|
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> |
|
|
<references /></div> |
|
|
|
|
|
==References and further reading== |
|
|
* Banuazizi, Ali and Weiner, Myron (eds.). ''The State, Religion, and Ethnic Politics: Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East)'', Syracuse University Press (August, 1988). ISBN 0-8156-2448-4. |
|
|
* Canfield, Robert (ed.). ''Turko-Persia in Historical Perspective'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2002). ISBN 0-521-52291-9. |
|
|
* Curzon, R. ''The Iranian Peoples of the Caucasus''. ISBN 0-7007-0649-6. |
|
|
* Derakhshani, Jahanshah. ''Die Arier in den nahöstlichen Quellen des 3. und 2. Jahrtausends v. Chr.'', 2nd edition (1999). ISBN 964-90368-6-5. |
|
|
* ], ''Greater Iran'', Mazda Publishers (2005). ISBN 1-56859-177-2. |
|
|
* Frye, Richard. ''Persia'', Schocken Books, Zurich (1963). ASIN B0006BYXHY. |
|
|
* Kennedy, Hugh. ''The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates'', Longman, New York, NY (2004). ISBN 0-582-40525-4. |
|
|
* Khoury, Philip S. & Kostiner, Joseph. ''Tribes and State Formation in the Middle East'', University of California Press (1991). ISBN 0-520-07080-1. |
|
|
* ] & ] ''From Scythia to Camelot'', Garland Publishing, New York, NY, (2000). ISBN 0-8153-3566-0. |
|
|
* Mallory, J.P. ''In Search of the Indo-Europeans'', Thames and Hudson, London (1991). ISBN 0-500-27616-1. |
|
|
* McDowall, David. ''A Modern History of the Kurds'', I.B. Tauris, 3rd Rev edition (2004). ISBN 1-85043-416-6. |
|
|
* Nassim, J. ''Afghanistan: A Nation of Minorities'', Minority Rights Group, London (1992). ISBN 0-946690-76-6. |
|
|
* Riasanovsky, Nicholas. ''A History of Russia'', Oxford University Press, Oxford (2004). ISBN 0-19-515394-4. |
|
|
* Sims-Williams, Nicholas. ''Indo-Iranian Languages and Peoples'', British Academy (2003). ISBN 0-19-726285-6. |
|
|
|
|
|
==External links== |
|
|
* ]] |
|
|
* ]] |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
|
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
