Greco-Thraco-Illyro-Slavs 2
Greco-Thraco-Illyro-Slavs 2
During Hellenistic period, Hellenistic culture-civilization developed. It was predominantly Hellenic (Greek) but with influences from the lands that were included in the Hellenistic kingdoms. Alexander moved eastwards and his Empire extended eastern of Hellas (Greece). So influences were Eastern. Byzantine Empire was to a large extent a continuation of Hellenistic kingdoms.
Beginning of Roman Empire was 27 BC. The first split of Roman Empire occurred in 286 AD and the final in 395 AD. Beginning of Byzantine Empire is considered either 330 AD when Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople (previously Byzantium) or 395 AD. Byzantine territory changed considerably throughout the eleven centuries of its existence (330/395-1453 AD).
In the beginning, it was a very large part of Hellenistic kingdoms. It included Antipatrid (Cassander's), Lysimachian, Ptolemaic kingdoms, Epirus and the western part of Seleucid kingdom which was eastern central Asia Minor and northern Middle East. Eastern part of Seleucid kingdom was not included but on the other hand there were more territories added in Balkans, northern of Antipatrid and Lysimachian kingdoms.
The greater extent was in 555 AD, during Justinian. It included Balkans, Turkiye, Cyprus, Middle East, North Africa, southern Spain, Italy. Most of Balkans and Turkiye were always part of it. Byzantines were all the people that lived in the Empire which was mostly Greco-Thraco-Illyrian. Emperors and ruling class were from many areas of the Empire but mainly of Hellenic, Thracian and Illyrian origin.
Indicatively, places of origin of most emperors were; Moesia, Pannonia, Constantinople, Thrace, Dacia, Isauria, Cappadocia, Phrygia, Paphlagonia, Bithynia. Moesia extended in contemporary Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania. Pannonia was next to Moesia and included part or all of contemporary; Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Serbia. Isauria, Cappadocia, Phrygia, Paphlagonia, Bithynia were in Asia Minor.
Moesia was inhabited by Thracians and Illyrians. Pannonia was originally inhabited by Illyrians who mixed with Thracians. In Asia Minor, mostly Hellenes were living at those times. Turks came much later. During Byzantine period, Hellenes, Thracians and Illyrians mingled and mixed even more since the were in the same state. They also mingled and mixed with newcomers.
These were mainly Slavs which started migrating from northern Eastern Europe into Greco-Thraco-Illyrian and Byzantine land. There was Thracian and Illyrian territory outside Byzantine Empire but similar racial and culture-civilization mix occurred in those areas. Slavs stared coming in Byzantine Empire as early as 6th century AD. Slavic migration was very large and continued for many centuries. Gradually they had a significant impact on Byzantine racial and culture-civilization mix.
Hellenic culture-civilization became Hellenistic during Hellenistic period by incorporating elements of Eastern cultures-civilizations that were in Hellenistic kingdoms. Hellenistic culture-civilization evolved into Byzantine by incorporating mainly Slavic elements during Byzantine period. Nevertheless, it remained predominantly Hellenic. Although not all Thracians and Illyrians lived in Byzantine Empire, they were close by and influenced considerably.
Towards the end of Byzantine Empire, culture-civilization inside its borders and in surrounding Illyrian and Thracian land was a mix of Hellenic, Thacian, Illyrian, Slavic and Eastern with Hellenic being predominant. Also Hellenes, Thracians, Illyrians mixed even further among them and with newcomers Slavs. So people in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory were mixed Hellenes, Thracians, Illyrians and Slavs.
Vlachs originated from Vlachia in today's Romania. Most likely they were descendants of Northern Thracians. They migrated in large numbers all over Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory. They even reached Poland. They are mentioned in documents, residing in Byzantine Empire, as early as 976 AD. The migration of Vlachs in very large numbers had as a result the increase of Thracian ancestry in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian area.
On the contrary, Arvanites migrated in large numbers mainly in the area of contemporary Hellas (Greece). Their migration started in 13th-14th century AD and lasted for many centuries. They originated from Arbanon in contemporary Albania and most likely were descendants of Illyrians. The large migration of Arvanites in Hellas had as a result the increase of Illyrian ancestry in people living in Hellas. Probably ancient Hellenic ancestry remains the first but it could be below 50%.
Hellenic, Thracian, Illryrian, Slavic are the main four ingredients of racial mix in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory. The percentages vary considerably from country to country. Obviously, in areas where Illyrians lived, Illyrian ancestry is higher. Likewise, Thracian and Hellenic ancestry is higher in areas where Thracians and Hellenes lived respectively. If we take Hellenic, Thracian and Illyrian ancestry separately, Slavic is probably higher as an average in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian area.
The numbers of Slavs were so large that eventually their percentages in people's ancestry became higher than the percentages of those living before them, since ancient times. If we take Greco-Thraco-Illyrian ancestry as one, it is probably higher on average than Slavic. But this is a rough estimate and not the result of scientific research. Bottom line is that Greco-Thraco-Illyrian and Slavic together are a very large percentage in the ancestry of the people living in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory, below Poland.
Percentage of Slavic ancestry, is from higher to lower in; Croatia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Albania, Hellas (Greece). In Croatia and Ukraine it is more than 55%. Bulgaria and Servia have around 45% and Hellas 25%. Of course, percentages vary inside countries. For instance, in Hellas (Greece), the southern island Crete has 10% and Dodecanese even lower while northern Greece has above 25%.
Someone's ancestry in Greece could be; a) Hellenic (ancient) 40% b) Slavic 25% c) Thracian 15% d) Illyrian 10% e) Uralaltaic 5% f) Other 5%. Greco-Thraco-Illyrian is 65%. In Bulgaria, someone's ancestry could be; a) Slavic 45% b) Thracian 20% c) Hellenic (ancient) 15% d) Uralaltaic 10% e) Illyrian 5% f) Other 5%. Greco-Thraco-Illyrian is 40%, almost as high as Slavic.
In Hellas, Greco-Thraco-Illyrian and Slavic percentages together are 65 + 25 = 90% while in Bulgaria they are 40 + 45 = 85%. This is only an example and not the result of scientific research. Someone can change the percentages according to his/her opinion. Although the percentages could be largely debatable, the ingredients of racial mix are not. Main ingredients are Greco-Thraco-Illyrian and Slavic.
Thracians and Illyrians assimilated into Hellenes to a large extend and became hellenized. This is why probably Thracian and Illyrian identity was lost. When Ottoman Empire broke up, there ought to be three countries established in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory, Greece, Thrace and Illyria. Instead of that, there is no Thrace and Illyria. Only Hellas (Greece) is today a country and has responsibility to preserve Thracian and Illyrian heritage, in addition to Hellenic.
Ancestral division EU’s racial deception Two Europes No European family European tribes’ mix