Serbs and Serbia: interesting facts (6 photos). Serbs are a people with ancient traditions and a broad soul

Let's try to lift the curtain on a very complex and quivering topic about the relationship between several peoples inhabiting the Balkans and being neighbors of the Montenegrins. First of all, we will talk about Albanians and Croats, a little less about Serbs and Bosnians. There is less about the Serbs, primarily because of their more or less the same community as the Montenegrins, although some researchers even have their own well-founded opinion on this fact.

In the days of Broz Tito, there was such an anecdote- Question: When will communism come to Yugoslavia?
Answer: When Macedonian stop being sad when Serb call Croatian your brother when Slovenian will pay in a restaurant for his friend when Montenegrin starts working and when Bosnian all THIS IS will understand!

Serbs-Montenegrins and Croats

So, Serbs and many Montenegrins do not like Croatian and Croats respectively pay them the same coin. Let's start with history and religion.

Catholics in Croatia account for 76.5% of the population, Orthodox - 11.1%, Muslims - 1.2%, Protestants - 0.4%. In Serbia, 62% are Orthodox, 16% are Muslims, 3% are Catholics. According to historical facts, in 1054, the Christian Church disintegrated into the Western Roman Catholic and Eastern Greek Catholic "great schism", without delving into the reasons and subtleties of this process. , it should be noted that in the Eastern Roman

empires spoke Greek, and in the West in Latin. Although even in the time of the apostles at the dawn of the spread of Christianity, when the Roman Empire was united, Greek and Latin were understood almost everywhere, and many could speak both languages. However, by 450, very few in Western Europe could read Greek, and after 600, rarely anyone in Byzantium spoke Latin, the language of the Romans, although the empire continued to be called Roman or Romaic.
If the Greeks wanted to read the books of Latin authors, and the Latins the writings of the Greeks, they could only do so in translation.

And this meant that the Greek East and the Latin West drew information from different sources and read different books, as a result, more and more moving away from each other in different directions. The final division between East and West came with the beginning of the Crusades, which brought with them the spirit of hatred and malice, as well as after the capture and devastation of Constantinople by the Crusaders during the IV Crusade in 1204. On April 12, the crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, on their way to Jerusalem, committed, in the words of Sir Stephen Runciman, "the greatest crime in history", sacking Constantinople. Setting fire, looting and raping in the name of Christ, the crusaders destroyed the city and took the loot to Venice, Paris, Turin and other western cities. “Since the creation of the world, no one has seen or conquered such treasures,” exclaimed the crusader Robert de Clary.

Agree that this fact was reflected in the different mentality of these two peoples, although they speak almost the same Serbo-Croatian language.

According to historian Dr.

Each ethnic group has its own haplotype, each subgroup and each family also has its own haplotype. Slavic facial features, Russian language, hair color, religion are secondary features, they are relatively recent and could have been smeared over hundreds and thousands of years of mixing genes. Unlike secondary traits, the haplotype is indestructible; it does not change for tens of thousands of years, with the exception of natural mutations. But these mutations have nothing to do with genes. Mutations in genes do not lead to anything good (miscarriage, illness, early death).

Haplotype mutations are marks, notches that show how far a descendant has gone from a common ancestor. Such natural mutations occur every few thousand years. A haplotype is a genus label. It should also be noted that every man in the Y chromosome of DNA has certain sections that are always identical in father with son, with grandson, and further down through the offspring. Let's take a look at this table next. Here are the results of a genetic study of the Balkan and neighboring peoples (Hungarians). We see the presence of various genetic lines among the Slavs.
R1a is the so-called "Aryan" gene, and I2 is the "Dinaric" gene - (gene I2a) is mysterious in that it was associated with the Illyrians. Obviously, the Slavs in genetic terms make sense only as a combination of three lines - two "Aryan" and one "Dinaric". And Serbs with Croats at the genetic level are very close and have much more differences with Russians and Ukrainians than between themselves.

Let's move on to typical representatives Serbs visually (clickable to enlarge)

Montenegrins

Ante Starevich was a supporter of the unity of the southern Slavs, however, he believed that the single name of a single people should be the word "Croat", and not the "non-folk" word "Serb" these are just those places in the north and west of the Balkans. In addition to purely religious differences and their prerequisites described above, there were also social problems between these peoples. Croatian feudal lords, landowners, who once received letters of ownership from their rulers, considered as their own those territories in which free Serbian farmers settled. At first, the conflicts that arose on this basis were not of an interethnic nature. But when Ante Starevich, the ideologist of Croatian independence, appeared on the Croatian political scene in the second half of the 19th century, he considered the Serbs not only second-class people, but also called them slaves. Modern Serbian scholars consider this period to be the beginning of a genocidal ideology, progressing up to the present day. Thus, elements of aggressiveness towards the Serbs were embedded in the self-consciousness of the Croats. Well, during the Second World War and the well-known historical fact about the accession of most of the Croats to the Wehrmacht troops and the most brutal movement of the Croatian Ustashe, differences and mutual enmity intensified even more. The more than 60-ten-year presence of Serbs and Croats in a united Yugoslavia and the events of 1991, which claimed about 30 thousand people on the territory of Croatia, did not help either. human lives and about 500 thousand refugees and displaced persons, a clear confirmation of this. As a result, it can be said with more or less high probability that despite the common genetics and common language (the main difference in spelling, since the Croatian has Latin) and even similar external signs, the Montenegrin Serbs and the Croats, on this moment, there is little chance of making friends within the framework of a single Europe or even the Schengen zone in the near future.

(581 thousand people) [for the period that has elapsed after the collapse of the SFRY (1991), accompanied by tragic events in the life of the peoples of this country, the ratio of the number of Serbs in individual states that emerged in the post-Yugoslav space has changed], in neighboring European states - Germany, Romania , Austria , Hungary , as well as in the USA , Canada , Argentina , Australia .

Serbs speak the Serbian language of the Slavic group of the Indo-European family. In those regions where Serbs live together with other peoples, they are often bilingual. Writing based on Cyrillic. Most believers are Orthodox, a small part are Catholics and Protestants, there are Sunni Muslims.

The ethnic history of the Yugoslav peoples, including the Serbs, is associated with the mass migration of Slavic tribes to the Balkans in the 6th-7th centuries. The local population was mostly assimilated, partly pushed to the west and to the mountainous regions. Slavic tribes - the ancestors of the Serbs, Montenegrins and the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina (actually Serbs, Duklians, Tervunians, Konavlyans, Zahlumyans, Narechans) occupied a significant part of the territory in the basins of the southern tributaries of the Sava and Danube, the Dinaric Mountains, the southern part of the Adriatic coast. The center of the settlement of the ancestors of the Serbs was the region of Raska (the basins of the Drina, Lim, Piva, Tara, Ibar, Western Morava rivers), where an early state was formed in the second half of the 8th century.

In the middle of the 9th century, the Serbian principality was created. In the X-XI centuries the center political life moved to the south-west, to Duklja, Travuniya, Zakhumya, then again to Raska. From the end of the 12th century, the Serbian state intensified its policy of conquest and in the 13th - first half of the 14th centuries. significantly expanded its borders, including at the expense of the Byzantine lands. This contributed to the strengthening of Byzantine influence on many aspects of the life of Serbian society, in particular, on the system of social relations, art, etc. After the defeat at Kosovo Field in 1389, Serbia became a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, and in 1459 was included in its structure. Ottoman domination, which lasted almost five centuries, held back the processes of consolidation of the Serbs.

During the period of Ottoman rule, the Serbs repeatedly moved both within the country (mainly to the mountainous regions) and abroad, especially to the north to Vojvodina - to Hungary. These movements contributed to a change in the ethnic composition of the population. The weakening of the Ottoman Empire and the intensified movement of the Serbs for liberation from foreign power, especially the First Serbian Uprising (1804-13) and the Second Serbian Uprising (1815), led to the creation of an autonomous (1833), and then independent (1878) Serbian state. The struggle for liberation from the Ottoman yoke and state unification was an important factor in the formation of the national identity of the Serbs. There were new major population movements in the liberated regions. In one of the central regions - Shumadia - the absolute majority were immigrants. This area became the center of consolidation of the Serbian people, the process began national revival. The development of the Serbian state and market relations, economic and cultural ties between individual regions led to some leveling in the culture of their population, the blurring of regional borders and the strengthening of a common national identity.

The historical destinies of the Serbs developed in such a way that for a long time they were separated politically, economically and culturally as part of different states (Serbia, the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary). This left an imprint on the culture and life of different groups of the Serbian population (some specificity remains today). So, for the villages of Vojvodina, the development of which was carried out according to the plans approved by the authorities, a typical layout is in the form of a rectangle or square with wide streets, with a rectangular central square around which various public institutions are grouped. Separate elements of the culture of the Serbian population of this region were formed under the influence of the culture of the population of Vojvodina, with whom the Serbs lived in close contact.

The Serbs are aware of their national unity, although the division into regional groups (Shumadians, Uzhians, Moravians, Machvans, Kosovos, Srems, Banachans, etc.) is preserved in the memory of the people. There are no sharply defined boundaries in the culture of certain local groups of Serbs.

The unification of the Serbs within the framework of a single state took place in 1918, when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was created (later the name and partly the borders of this state changed). However, after the collapse of the SFRY, the Serbs again found themselves divided by the borders of the countries that emerged in the post-Yugoslav space.

In the past, the Serbs were mainly engaged in agriculture - agriculture (mainly cereals), horticulture (the cultivation of plums retains a special place), viticulture. An important role was played by cattle breeding, mainly of the distant-pasture type, and pig breeding. They were also engaged in fishing and hunting. Crafts have received significant development - pottery, wood and stone carving, weaving (including carpet weaving, mostly lint-free), embroidery, etc.

The Serbs were characterized by a scattered (mainly in the mountainous regions of the Dinaric massif) and crowded (eastern regions) type of settlement with a diverse form of planning (cumulus, ordinary, circular). In most settlements, quarters were distinguished, separated from each other by 1-2 km.

The traditional dwellings of the Serbs are wooden, log cabins (they were widespread in the middle of the 19th century in forested areas), as well as stone (in karst areas) and frame (Moravian type). Houses were built on high foundations (the exception is the Moravian type), with four- or gable roofs. The oldest dwelling was single-chamber, but in the 19th century the two-chamber dwelling became predominant. Stone houses could have two floors; The first floor was used for business purposes, the second - for housing.

The folk clothes of the Serbs vary considerably by region (if there are common elements). The oldest elements of men's clothing are a tunic shirt and trousers. Outerwear- vests, jackets, long raincoats. Beautifully decorated belts were an obligatory accessory for a man's costume (they differed from women's in length, width, and ornament). Characteristic leather shoes such as moccasins - opanki. The basis of the women's traditional costume was a tunic-shaped shirt richly decorated with embroidery and lace. Women's costume included an apron, a belt, as well as various vests, jackets, dresses, sometimes oar. Folk clothes, especially women's clothes, were usually decorated with embroidery, woven ornaments, cord, coins, etc.

Traditional food also differed by regions and depended not only on the financial status of the family, but also on the direction of the economy. Everywhere they ate bread - sour or unleavened. A significant place in the diet was occupied by corn (bread was baked from it, porridge was cooked from it), beans, potatoes, cabbage (fresh and sauerkraut), pepper. Ate dairy products. Meat dishes (most of all, Serbs love pork) were eaten mainly in winter and on holidays.

The public life of Serbs in the past was characterized by rural communities. Various forms of mutual assistance and joint work were widespread, for example, when grazing livestock. The Serbs had two types of family - simple (small, nuclear) and complex (large, zadruzhnaya). Back in the first half of the 19th century, the zadruga was widespread (up to 50 or more people). Zadrugs were characterized by collective ownership of land and property, collective consumption, virilocality, etc.

Among calendar and family customs - family fame(a kind of collective name day of the whole family), the customs of twinning and sisterhood, the institution of nepotism.

In the oral folk art of the Serbs, a special place is occupied by epic genre(youth songs), which reflected the historical fate of the Serbian people, their struggle for freedom. For folk dances characteristically Roundabout Circulation(kolo), close to a round dance.

The cardinal socio-economic transformations that took place in the life of the Serbs in the second half of the 20th century, the transition of a significant number of them from agriculture to industry, the service sector, and the growth of the intelligentsia lead to some leveling of culture. However, the Serbs, who have defended their independence and freedom in the centuries-old struggle, carefully treat historical and cultural monuments, folk architecture, traditional crafts, and oral folk art. folk traditions are combined with innovations in the layout of dwellings, the cut and decoration of clothing, etc. Some elements of traditional culture (clothing, food, architecture, crafts) are sometimes revived artificially (including to attract tourists). Traditional folk art is preserved - decorative weaving, pottery, carving, etc.

Epochs of development of the Serbian people

Name Serbs connects the representatives of the current Serbian people with one tribe as part of the Proto-Slavic community and with the era of the Great Migration, when part of this tribe moved far south, to the territory of the Roman Empire. The memory of this tribal migration remained in the names of some cities in modern Poland, as well as in the vast territory of modern Germany, where along the Elbe (Laba) and Sala rivers stretched limes Sorabicus and where until the XII century. there were political alliances of the Serbs (surbi, sorabi, zribia). In one of the small areas former territory Serbs are still living their distant descendants - Lusatian Serbs.

The extremely scarce data of that time do not give us an idea of ​​how the Slavic tribes differed from each other, as well as what the originality of the Serbs consisted of. Does anything else, besides the name, connect the representatives of groups so far removed from each other in time and space? This connection was once thought to be common origin: there was an idea that the people multiplied numerically, like a large family, and retained their originality thanks to their cultural heritage. In the era of romanticism, a new belief appeared, according to which every nation has a "folk spirit", which, in turn, finds expression in language, customs and folk art. However, for the Lusatian Serbs, who are descendants of the Serbs from the north, as well as for the Serbs from the Balkan Peninsula, a common "folk spirit" is hardly possible. According to linguists, “in the circle of Slavic language types, Lusatian and Shtokavian dialects are the most distant from each other in their features” (Pavle Ivic). So, the linguistic data do not support the idea of ​​a possible genealogical connection between Serbs from the Balkans and Serbs from Laba; or else we must assume that in the centuries that have passed since the migrations, the language has changed fundamentally even in its most stable elements.

In any case, the great distances that separated the tribes at the end of the migrations interrupted and made impossible the ties and mutual influence of the northern and southern Slavs, despite the fact that the latter still remembered their northern origin for some time. But in contrast to the spatial and temporal disunity with ancestors from the north, the spatial and temporal continuity between the tribes of the Serbs who settled in the Balkans and the Serbian people who developed here in the following centuries is beyond doubt. Thus, it becomes clear that the natural starting point of the history of this people is their resettlement to the Balkan Peninsula in the 6th-7th centuries. AD

Such a late and modest beginning of the history of the Serbs, however, could not satisfy patriotic journalism. Since the middle of the XIX century. Authors began to appear who disputed the fact of resettlement and represented the Serbs as autochthonous inhabitants not only of the Balkan Peninsula, but also of a significant part of Europe and Asia Minor. For some of these authors, all Slavs were descendants of Serbs, dating back to the time of construction Tower of Babel. Such pseudo-historical literature has not disappeared even today; in the latest publications in this direction, an attempt was made to shift Serbian history into antiquity, where there is room for an unbridled fantasy game.

Undoubtedly, the Serbs brought their Slavic heritage to the Balkans: language, material culture, pagan religion and origin legends. The oldest material culture is very poorly known, since archaeological data are unsuitable for any conclusions: the settlements of the first Slavic settlers from the point of view of archeology cannot be distinguished from other settlements, they are not visible, unrecognizable. Religious ideas can be vaguely guessed by the names of pagan deities, preserved in toponymy and in literary works of later times. The names of deities and toponyms testify to the connection between the religion of the Serbs and the religion of the rest of the Slavs, but these data are not enough to talk about differences in the religious ideas of individual tribes. Despite the efforts of researchers, it is still impossible to reliably say who was the supreme god of the Serbian pagan pantheon.

Legends about the northern origin and migration are found not only among the Serbs, but also among their neighbors the Croats: both of them survived until the 10th century. and became famous due to the fact that they were recorded in the scientific work of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus (Porphyrogenet). The first centuries after the resettlement of the Serbs are in the full sense of the "dark ages", in which it is impossible to recognize a single element of the Serbian individuality, except for the names and legendary tales about the origin of the ruling clans - however, everything that is known about them, we know from the testimonies of other peoples.

The first epochal turning point in the history of the Serbs was Christianization (around 870), the adoption of the religion of Scripture, accompanied by the creation of special alphabets adapted to Slavic dialects (Glagolitic and Cyrillic). Thus, the foundation was laid for the development of culture and literature. In the literature, which initially consisted only of liturgical books, an instructive Christian literature, followed by business documents and artwork. Thus, along with baptism and writing, the Serbs had the opportunity to preserve their historical memory and self-consciousness, and at the same time survive as a people.

Together with pagan beliefs, the first Christian missionaries also supplanted tribal customs and traditions, eliminating differences between tribes rooted in paganism. But, on the other hand, with the spread of Christianity, new differences arose related to the activities of various missionary centers: these are differences in the language of worship, in the forms of writing (Cyrillic and Latin), which subsequently spread to spiritual culture in general and significantly affect the processes of differentiation and integration. ethnic groups in the Balkans.

Christianity also influenced changes in social organization, formed a different worldview, a different view of oneself and one's place in the world. The new faith legitimized ruling structures, consisting of representatives of very ancient families, included them, along with their subjects, in the Christian Universe, which was personified by the Roman Empire, headed by the vicar of Christ on earth. Local rulers found themselves in the position of imperial governors, and, as the history of political relations shows, they were not always satisfied with such a position; among them there were also renegades who united with the enemies of the emperor.

For the Slavs who lived in the eastern and central parts of the Balkan Peninsula, the period from the 9th century. - the time of the adoption of Christianity, until the end of the XII century. was simultaneously a period of absolute hegemony of the Byzantine Empire. For three centuries, Byzantium continuously and strongly influenced the Bulgarians and Serbs, as a result of which they took over from Byzantium many character traits. Byzantine influence continued into the next era.

From the time of the rapid fall of Byzantium (after 1180) and the formation of the Latin Empire in 1204, the era of independent development of the Balkan Slavs (XII-XV centuries) began, which became decisive for the formation of the individuality and identity of their peoples. The fall of Byzantium created the conditions for the development of strong states with vast expanses, and within these emerging states, processes began - though not yet very active - of social integration. The rulers of the Bulgarians and Serbs - the first with the title of king, and the second with the title of king borrowed from the West - ruled "by the grace of God" their subjects, the faithful children of the Bulgarian and Serbian churches, each with its own leader and cathedral. Like the Byzantine Empire, these states were both secular and religious communities, and their rulers were appointed by the will of God and directly responsible to God. Saints appeared in the Serbian dynasty of rulers, first of all, the founder of the dynasty, Stefan Nemanja (1166–1196), and then his son, the first Serbian archbishop Savva (1175–1236). The cults of Saints Stefan Nemanja and Sava of Serbia developed a special Serbian tradition within the framework of the common Christian tradition. These Serbian historical figures are represented in icons and frescoes, in church calendar and in liturgical texts. The emergence of the holy dynasty began to be considered the beginning of the Serbian history, and all the events preceding it were repressed and forgotten. Thus, the appearance of the Serbs by the time of the existence of the holy dynasty was supplemented and enriched: on the foundation Slavic language and Slavic customs, the Eastern Byzantine Christian tradition was layered, and within the framework of this tradition, special features were formed that will become characteristic features of the Serbs' national identity and will be passed down from generation to generation for centuries.

New borders were also defined that separated Serbs not only from those who spoke a different language (Greeks, Hungarians, ancestors of Albanians - in Serbian manuscripts arbanas), but also from those who spoke a dialect understandable to the Serbs, but who had a Latin worship (Slavs in coastal cities and in neighboring territories under the jurisdiction of Catholic centers). In a later era, belonging to Catholicism or Orthodoxy will be a decisive factor in the demarcation of Serbs and Croats. With the emergence of an autocephalous Serbian archbishopric and the unification of the Church Slavonic language of the Serbian edition (edition), the differences in the Church Slavonic language heritage also became apparent: Serbian scribes and scribes complained about difficulties in translating books not only from Greek, but also from Bulgarian (the Church Slavonic language of the Bulgarian edition).

The longer political independence was maintained, the more peculiarly Serbia developed, the more stable society and more holistic culture. Beginning in the mid-14th century, when the Balkan Christian states faced Ottoman conquest, they drew closer, overcame the once-existing rivalry with Byzantium for hegemony in the region and in the religious sphere; within the framework of Byzantine Orthodoxy, Christian solidarity develops, which did not pose a threat to the identity of individual peoples.

The era of "Turkish slavery" (XV-XVIII centuries) interrupts the integration processes. Serbs as an ethnic community are undergoing great changes, as the state and its institutions cease to exist, the complex social structure is destroyed, and the nobility loses the function of the ruling class. The only factor of continuity and identity remains the Serbian Orthodox Church, which operates in difficult conditions. The theocratically organized Ottoman power emphasized religious differences by introducing a system of unequal rights and obligations for its subjects, and this, in turn, led to the fact that belonging to the church became a decisive factor in ethnic self-determination. Those who left the society of Orthodox believers ceased to belong to the Serbian people and no longer shared its traditions, they had a different attitude towards the Ottoman Empire and its authorities, they gradually changed their way of life. Dependent peasants remain from the Serbian people (in old Serbian Raya) and much more free pastoralists. For both of them, self-identity is preserved in the home, family and the Orthodox Church, which keeps the memory of the rulers, the saints, the glorious past, and folk poetry, an essential element of folk culture, keeps memories of heroes and warriors.

At the beginning of the XVIII century. the era of modernization and Europeanization begins, which has not yet ended and which is open to the future. Many turning points are distinguished in it, of which two are the most important: 1804, when the struggle for the creation of a Serbian state began, which would unite the Serbian nation divided and scattered over different lands, and 1848, when, along with the destruction of feudal privileges and remnants class system the nation is consolidated on the basis of linguistic unity and equality, when the opposition of religious and secular views on the signs of Serbian identity begins. The era of modernization at first embraced only that part of the Serbian people who had freed themselves from Ottoman rule. At first, Europe is represented by the Habsburg monarchy and Russia, which itself then took the first steps along the path of modernization; later - the great powers, the "guarantors" of the security of Serbia, and finally, the entire developed world, which includes the Serbs.

201,637
Switzerland 191,500
Austria 177,300
USA over 170,000
Republic of Kosovo 140,000
Canada 100,000-125,000
Netherlands 100,000-180,500
Sweden 100,000
Australia 95,000
Great Britain 90,000
France 80,000
Italy 78,174
Slovenia 38,000
Macedonia 35,939
Romania 22,518
Norway 12,500
Greece 10,000
Hungary 7,350
Russia 4,156 - 15,000 (according to Serbian sources)

A series of articles about Serbs Serbian languages ​​and dialects Serbian Serbian-Croatian Uzhytsky · Gypsy-Serbian Old Church Slavonic · Slavic Serbian Shtokavian · Torlaksky · Shatrovachki Serb persecution Serbophobia Jasenovac Independent State of Croatia Kragujevac October

Ethnogenesis

There are several theories about the origin of the Serbs.

According to the records of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, the Serbs (already as a single Slavic people) migrated south in the 7th century during the reign of the Byzantine king Heraclius and settled within present-day Southern Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. There they mixed with the descendants of the local Balkan tribes - the Illyrians, Dacians, etc.

A millennium later, during the time of the Ottoman conquests in Europe, many Serbs, under pressure from Turkish aggressors who devastated the country, began to leave north and east beyond the Sava and Danube rivers in the territory of present-day Vojvodina, Slavonia, Transylvania and Hungary. Later, in the 18th century, thousands of Serbs went to the Russian Empire, where they were allocated lands for settlement in Novorossia - in areas that received the names New Serbia and Slavic Serbia.

Ethnographic groups of Serbs

Ethnographic groups of Serbs are divided mainly according to the dialects of the Serbian language. Shtokavian Serbs are the largest group. There are also Gorani and other ethnographic groups.

resettlement

The main area of ​​residence of Serbs is Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are also separate regions in other countries where Serbs have been living for a long time: in Macedonia (Kumanovo, Skopje), Slovenia (Bela Krayna), Romania (Banat), Hungary (Pec, Szentendre, Szeged). Sustained Serbian diasporas exist in many countries, the most notable being in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Australia. Diasporas in New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile, although not so large, are not disappearing, but on the contrary, they continue to grow.

The exact number of Serbs living in diasporas outside the Balkans has not been established and varies according to various sources from about 1-2 million to 4 million people (data from the Ministry of Diasporas of the Republic of Serbia). In this regard, the total number of Serbs in the world is also unknown; according to rough estimates, it ranges from 9.5 to 12 million people. 6.5 million Serbs make up about two-thirds of Serbia's population. Before the military conflicts, 1.5 million lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 600 thousand in Croatia, and 200 thousand in Montenegro. According to the 1991 census, Serbs represented 36% of the total population of Yugoslavia, that is, only about 8.5 million people.

The urban population is represented in Belgrade (1.5 million Serbs), Novi Sad (300 thousand), Nis (250 thousand), Banja Luka (220 thousand), Kraguevets (175 thousand), Sarajevo (130 thousand .). Outside the former Yugoslavia, Vienna is a city with largest number Serbian residents. A significant number of Serbs live in Chicago and the surrounding area and Toronto (with Southern Ontario). Los Angeles is known as a metropolis with an impressive Serbian community, however, like Istanbul and Paris.

ethnic history

Map of the settlement of the Slavs and their neighbors at the end of the 8th century.

The history of Serbia dates back to the 6th century, from the moment the ancient Slavs settled the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. In the VIII-IX centuries, the first proto-state formations of the Serbs arose. In the -XI centuries, the territory of modern Serbia was part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. After the establishment of the Nemanjić dynasty at the end of the 12th century, the Serbian state freed itself from the rule of Byzantium and by the middle of the 14th century had developed into a major power that covered almost the entire south-east. western part Balkans. The heyday of medieval Serbia fell on the reign of Tsar Stefan Dusan (-). However, after his death, the state fell apart. The fragmented principalities are unable to stop the Ottoman expansion, some of the princes in the south of the former kingdom of Dushan are forced to recognize themselves as vassals of the Ottoman Empire. In 1389, the combined forces of some Serbian princes (together with the Bosnian detachments) are defeated by the Ottoman army in the Battle of Kosovo, which led to Serbia's recognition of the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. Serbia was finally conquered by the Turks in 1459, after the fall of Smederevo. Over the next 350 years, the Serbian lands were under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and the northern regions were part of the Austrian Empire from the end of the 17th century.

The Serbian principality was formed as a result of the First Serbian uprising in - years. against Ottoman rule. The rebels elected Georgy Petrovich, nicknamed Karageorgy, who had previously served as a non-commissioned officer in the Austrian army, as their supreme leader. In 1811, at the assembly in Belgrade, Karageorgi was proclaimed the hereditary ruler of Serbia. But in 1813 the uprising was crushed, Karageorgy fled to Austria. In 1815, the Second Serbian Uprising began, led by Miloš Obrenović, a participant in the First Uprising. It was successful, but only fifteen years later the Sultan officially recognized Milos Obrenovic as the ruler of Serbia. In 1817, Karageorgiy, who returned to Serbia, was killed by order of Milos Obrenovic. Under the terms of the Berlin Peace of 1878, Serbia gained independence, and in 1882 was proclaimed a kingdom. By the beginning of the 20th century, a parliamentary monarchy had developed in Serbia, and a rapid rise in the economy and culture began. Two dynasties of peasant origin - Karageorgievich and Obrenović - succeeded each other on the throne in Serbia until 1903. In 1903, King Alexander Obrenović and his wife Draga were killed in a palace coup. As a result of the Balkan wars - Messrs. Serbia included the territories of Kosovo, Macedonia and a significant part of the Sandjak. In World War I, Serbia sided with the Entente countries. During the war, Serbia lost, according to some estimates, up to a third of the population. After the end of the war, Serbia became the core of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (c. - Yugoslavia). During the Second World War, the territory of Serbia since April 1941 was occupied by the troops of Nazi Germany, part of the territory of the state was transferred to the satellites of Germany - Hungary and Bulgaria, as well as Albania. In - gg. Serbia was liberated Soviet Army, partisan and regular detachments of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia.

In 1945, the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed (from the city - Socialist federal Republic Yugoslavia), which included the formation People's Republic Serbia (since 1963 - the Socialist Republic of Serbia). In November 1945, the Yugoslav Assembly deprived the Karageorgievich dynasty of the rights of power. After the death of the permanent leader of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, the growth of interethnic confrontation, separatist actions, supported from outside, led in the early 1990s to a series of civil wars and the disintegration of Yugoslavia. The long period of the socialists in power in Serbia, led by Slobodan Milosevic, ended in 2000 after the bombing of Serbian cities by NATO aircraft in March-June 1999 and the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces to Kosovo. In 2006, after a referendum held in Montenegro, the state union of Serbia and Montenegro ceased to exist, the Republic of Serbia lost access to the sea.

Medieval Serbian state

Resettlement of the Slavs

The process of folding the state among the Serbs was slowed down by the isolation of the various Serb communities and the lack of economic ties between them. For early history Serbs are characterized by the formation of several centers of statehood, which in turn became the centers of the unification of Serbian lands. Proto-state formations were formed on the coast - the sclavinia of Pagania, Zachumje, Travuniya and Dukla, in the inland regions (the eastern part of modern Bosnia and Sandzhak) - Raska. Nominally, all Serbian territories were part of Byzantium, but their dependence was weak. Already from the 7th century, the Christianization of the Serbian tribes began, which ended in the second half of the 9th century with the direct participation of the disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius. The emergence of the first monuments of Serbian writing in the Old Slavonic language dates back to the same time (initially - using the Glagolitic alphabet, from the 10th century the transition to Cyrillic begins).

State formation

In the middle of the 9th century, under the influence of the attack on the Serbian regions of the Proto-Bulgarians, a princely power and a state were formed in Rashka, headed by Prince (zhupan) Vlastimir, who managed to push back the Bulgarians and subdue part of the coastal territories. The hereditary principle of the transfer of power, however, did not take shape, which led at the end of the 9th century to civil strife, the weakening of Rashka and its transition under the rule of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, and then, after its fall, to Byzantium. Some fortification of Raska in the middle of the 10th century during the reign of Prince Chaslav, who significantly expanded the territory of the state, was replaced after his death in 950 by the collapse of the country. At the same time, an active penetration of Bogomilism from Bulgaria began, which also contributed to the weakening central government in Rashka. In - gg. Belgrade and the Morava valley became the center of a mass uprising of the Slavs led by Peter Delyan against Byzantium.

Rise of Serbia

Under the direct successors of Stefan the First Crowned, the Serbian state experienced a short period of stagnation and the strengthening of the influence of neighboring powers, primarily Hungary. At the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, Serbia was divided into two states: in the north, in Mačva, Belgrade, the Branichev region, as well as in Usora and Salt, Stefan Dragutin, who leaned on Hungary, ruled, the rest of the Serbian lands were ruled by his younger brother Stefan Milutin , focusing mainly on Byzantium.

Despite the temporary division of the state, the strengthening of Serbia continued: centralized system local government, the law was reformed, a system of internal communications was created, the transition to conditional holding and a proniar system in land relations began. At the same time, the influence of the higher clergy and the church increased. Monasticism was actively developing, many Orthodox monasteries arose (including Studenica, Zhicha, Mileshevo, Gracanitsa, as well as the Hilandar Monastery on Athos), and their temples were built in accordance with the already established original Serbian architectural tradition (“rash school”). The belonging of Serbia to the Byzantine-Orthodox world was finally fixed, the Catholic influence was practically eliminated, and the Bogomils were expelled from the country. At the same time, the process of byzantization of the system began government controlled, a pompous royal court was created on the model of Constantinople. There was a rise in mining (largely due to the influx of Saxon settlers), agriculture and trade, in which the Dubrovnik merchants played a decisive role. The population of the country increased rapidly, cities grew.

The heyday of the medieval Serbian state fell on the reign of Stefan Dusan (-). In a series of military campaigns, Stefan Dušan subjugated all of Macedonia, Albania, Epirus, Thessaly, and the western part of Central Greece. As a result, Serbia became the largest state Southeast Europe. In 1346, Stefan Dušan was crowned king of the Serbs and Greeks, and the Archbishop of Pec was proclaimed patriarch. Serbo-Greek kingdom Stefan Dušan combined Serbian and Byzantine traditions, the Greeks retained the highest positions in the cities and their land holdings, culture was strongly influenced by the Greeks. In architecture, the Vardar style developed, the temples in Gracanitsa, Pec and Lesnov became striking examples of it. In 1349, the Lawyer of Stefan Dušan was published, which formalized and codified the norms of Serbian law. The central power sharply increased, an extensive administrative system was formed according to the Byzantine model, while maintaining the significant role of the assemblies (sabors) of the Serbian aristocracy. The internal policy of the king, based on the large landed nobility and led to the expansion of its prerogatives, however, did not contribute to the strengthening and consolidation of the state, especially given the ethnic diversity of Dushan's state.

Decay and Turkish conquest

Shortly after the death of Stefan Dusan, his state collapsed. Part of the Greek lands again came under the rule of Byzantium, and the rest formed semi-independent principalities. In Serbia proper, large landowners (rulers) got out of subordination to the central government, began to pursue their own policies, mint coins and collect taxes: the rule of the Balsic was established in Zeta, Mrnjavcevic in Macedonia, Prince Lazar, Nikola Altomanovich and Vuk Brankovich in Old Serbia and Kosovo . The unity of the Serbian lands after the death of the last representative of the Nemanjić dynasty, Stefan Uros V in 1371, was supported almost exclusively by the unity of the Orthodox Church represented by the Patriarchate of Peć, which in 1375 achieved canonical recognition by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In 1377, the Ban of Bosnia Stefan Tvrtko I assumed the Serbian crown, however, although Prince Lazar and Vuk Branković recognized his royal title, Tvrtko I's power was purely nominal. Internecine wars between the princes greatly weakened the defense capability of the Serbian lands in the face of the growing Turkish threat. Already in 1371, in the Battle of Maritsa, the Turks defeated the troops of the South Serbian rulers, led by King Vukashin, after which Macedonia came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

An attempt to unite the Serbian lands to organize a rebuff to the Turks, undertaken by Prince Lazar with the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church, was unsuccessful: June 15, 1389 (on the day of St. Vitus - Vidovdan) in Battle of Kosovo despite the heroic efforts of the Serbs, they were defeated. Prince Lazar is dead. Although his son Stefan Lazarevich retained his power, he was forced to recognize the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire and participate in Turkish campaigns. The Battle of Kosovo and the feat of Milos Obilic, who killed the Ottoman Sultan Murad I at the beginning of the battle, later became one of the most important plots of Serbian national folklore, a symbol of self-sacrifice and unity of the Serbian people in the struggle for independence.

In the first half of the 15th century, when the onslaught of the Turks temporarily weakened due to the threat from Tamerlane, Stefan Lazarevich made an attempt to restore the Serbian state. He took the Byzantine title of despot and, relying on an alliance with Hungary, which gave him Belgrade and Macva, again subjugated Zeta (except Primorye), Srebrenica and a number of southern Serbian regions. The central administration was revived, the power of the prince was strengthened, mining and urban crafts were actively encouraged, and the ideas of humanism and the Renaissance began to penetrate into Serbia. New rise architecture ("the Moravian school", represented in particular by the Resava and Ravanica monasteries) and literature (the works of Patriarch Danila III and Stefan Lazarević himself) survived. capital Serbian despot became Belgrade, in which a well-fortified fortress was built, partially preserved to this day. Although as a result of a new invasion of the Turks in 1425, Nis and Krusevac were lost, and then Belgrade passed under the rule of Hungary, the new capital of Serbia - Smederevo, founded by despot George Brankovich, experienced its heyday and won the glory of the second Constantinople. But already in 1438, another Ottoman offensive began. In 1439 Smederevo fell. The long campaign of the Hungarian troops of Janos Hunyadi in -1444 made it possible to expel the Turks from the territory of Serbia and briefly restore its independence. However, the defeat of the crusaders near Varna in 1444, the defeat of the Hungarian army in the Second Battle of Kosovo in 1448 and the fall of Constantinople in 1453 predetermined the fate of the country. In 1454, Novo Brdo and Pristina were captured, and in 1456 Belgrade was besieged. Finally, in 1459, Smederevo fell. By 1463, Bosnia was conquered, to - Herzegovina and, finally, in 1499 - Mountain Zeta. The Serbian state ceased to exist.

Socio-economic development

The basis of the economy of the medieval Serbian state was agriculture, primarily agriculture, as well as cattle breeding, especially in mountainous areas. Significantly longer than in Bulgaria and Croatia, large patriarchal families - zadrugi and the communal system - retained their significance in Serbia. Collective ownership of land continued to dominate the peasant economy. Gradually, however, the processes of feudalization of land relations and the enslavement of peasants intensified. Already in the Lawyer of Stefan Dushan, the dependent position of the peasantry was legally fixed and the right of transition was abolished.

It is hard to believe, but there were no extraordinary disagreements between the Balkan Slavs. Up to 19th century the most friendly nations were precisely the Croats and Serbs. The difference still existed, but only religious! Croats were under the domineering influence of Italy, Austria during the entire period of the Middle Ages. The first Croatian settlements arose in the Mediterranean in the 7th century.

These events are connected with the search for the salvation of the Slavic tribes from the Avars, Germans and Huns, scattered throughout the country. Most of all, the Slavs chose the possessions of today's Zagreb with its adjacent territories. However, they did not manage to get to the prosperous lands of the coast, which was under the leadership of the Romans. Then the Slavs created several autonomous principalities.

Croatia within Hungary

Closer to the X century, the Croats enlisted the assistance of Byzantium, gathered a considerable force to create a cohesive state. Even to this day, the Croatian people like to draw attention to their Christianity. The initial period of growth did not last long, until internal divisions became a threat to state unity. Then the noble community in 1102 recognized Kalman I, the Hungarian king, as their sovereign. As a result, Croatia became part of the Kingdom of Hungary. At the same time, the parties agreed that Kalman would leave the administrative-political structure and aristocratic privileges unchanged.

The oppression of the Hungarian kingdom

Being under the control of Hungary, the Croats had to share many difficult historical changes with this kingdom. Undoubtedly, the most significant damage was caused by the attacks of the Ottomans. Due to the fact that these advances were constantly moving north, the Hungarian government in 1553 militarized the border areas of Slovenia and Croatia. The tense military situation lasted for 25 years. During this time, most residents moved to safer areas.

However, the Turkish army, led by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Great, broke through the defenses. Moreover, the army was able to approach the gates of Vienna, but failed to capture the city itself. In 1593, the Battle of Sisak forced the Ottomans to leave the conquered Croatian lands. Only the Bosnian environs remained in their possession.

Unity and strife of two Slavic peoples

Under the influence of the Austrians and Hungarians, the Croats imperceptibly lost their national identity. However, both Croats and Serbs experienced the same feeling of contempt for the Turkish invaders. The difference existed only in one thing - the discrepancy between traditions. However, the feeling of hatred for the usurper was much stronger than the insignificant differences in customs. Examples of combat unity between Croatian and Serbian rebels are innumerable! Together they fought against the sworn Ottoman occupiers, as well as against the no less repulsive Habsburgs.

In 1918, a favorable situation arose - the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The event that took place made it possible for the southern lands to detach. This is how the united Kingdom of Yugoslavia was formed. In principle, the displacement of the Turks and the formation of a separate kingdom should have brought the Slavic peoples even closer. However, the opposite happened...

The cause of the first conflicts

The first bursts of rivalry appeared after the end of the second one. It was then that the true story of the conflict between Serbs and Croats began! The need for the reconstruction of the Balkans turned into a hostility that has not subsided to this day.

In fact, two counter currents appear simultaneously, rapidly gaining recognition. Serbian minds put forward the concept of a "Greater Yugoslavia". Moreover, the system center must be formed in Serbia. The reaction to this statement was the appearance of the nationalist publication "Name of the Serb", written by the dashing hand of Ante Starčević.

Undoubtedly, these events developed long ago. However, to this day there is an insurmountable barrier that the Croats and Serbs cannot resolve between themselves. The difference between the two fraternal peoples is distortedly manifested even in the understanding of the most pressing issue for them. If for a Serb the guest is the one who is fed by the host, then for the Croat it is the one who feeds the host.

Father of the Croatian Nation

Ante Starčević was the first to come up with the idea that Croats are not Slavs! Like, they are the offspring of the Germans, who hastily became Slavic-speaking, because in this way they want to better manage the Balkan slaves. What a terrible irony of fate! The mother of the "father of the Croatian nation" was Orthodox, and the father was a Catholic.

Despite the fact that the parents were Serbs, the son became the ideological leader of Croatia, spreading the concept of the Serb genocide in his country. It is noteworthy that his closest friend was the Jew Joseph Frank. Although Ante Starcevic had a deep disgust for this nation. Joseph himself also became a nationalist of the Croats, having converted to Catholicism.

As you can see, the author's fantasy has developed in the guy unlimitedly. There is one sad thing about this story. Starcevic's delusional parting words resonated in the hearts of Croatian youth. As a result, a series of Serbian pogroms swept across Dalmatia and Slavonia at the beginning of the century. At that time, it would never have occurred to anyone that the Croats were artificially converted Serbs!

For example, under the leadership of the "father of the nation" from September 1 to 3 in 1902, together with his friend Frank, the Croats in Karlovets, Slavonsky Brod, Zagreb destroyed Serbian shops and workshops. They uninvitedly invaded houses, threw away personal belongings, and beat them.

The unsteady world of a united kingdom

One of the results of the First World War was the emergence of a united kingdom. Many historical data confirm the involvement of the Serbs in the fierce rejection of the Slovenes and Croats inside the kingdom.

The economy in Slovenia, Croatia was more developed. So they, in turn, asked a fair question. Why is it necessary to feed the wretched metropolis? It is much better to form your own autonomous state, living happily ever after. In addition, for a Serb, each Orthodox Slav has always been and will remain a stranger!

Croatian genocide

The existence of the kingdom of Yugoslavia did not last long - the Second World War began. In 1941, on April 6, German planes attacked Belgrade. Just two days later, the Nazi army had already captured the area. During the war, Ante Pavelić's Ustaše association gained fanatical popularity. Croatia became a German mercenary.

Belgrade historians are sure that the approximate number of those killed by the Ustashe is 800 thousand Gypsies, Jews and Serbs. Only 400 people were able to escape to Serbia. The Croats themselves do not refute this number, but claim that most of them are partisans who died with weapons in their hands. The Serbs, in turn, are sure that 90% of the victims are civilians.

If today a tourist accidentally ends up on Serbian soil, it is possible that the hosts will show a loyal interest in the guest. The Croatian side is the opposite! Even despite the absence of cumbersome Asian barriers, gates, any illegal appearance in their personal space is perceived as a manifestation of rudeness. Based on this information, one can clearly imagine who the Croats and Serbs are. Features of characters are most clearly expressed in the mentality of these two peoples.

Nazis and martyrs

After the end of the war, Yugoslavia came under the influence of the USSR. The new state was headed by Josip, who ruled with an iron fist until his death. At the same time, Tito did not take the advice of his closest comrade Moshe Piade, deliberately mixing the indigenous population of Slovenia and Croatia with the Serbs. After 1980, due to political and territorial conflicts in Yugoslavia, a split began to gradually occur, in which Croats and Serbs suffered the most. The difference between the two once fraternal peoples has again been reduced to irreconcilable enmity.

Even under the Habsburgs, the Croats who fought for federalism did not want to adapt to the Serbs. Also, the Croats did not want to admit that the very birth of the southern is due solely to the suffering and military victories of the Serbs. The Serbs, in turn, were not going to compromise with those who had only recently taken off their Austrian uniform. In addition, decisively, and at times even ruthlessly fighting on the side of Austria, the Croats never crossed over to the Serbian side. Unlike Slovaks, Czechs.

War within the country

Later, in early 1990, the USSR collapsed, during which the final split of Yugoslavia followed. As a result, Croatia, having declared independence, separated from the country. However, the Serbs in Croatia themselves fomented inter-territorial clashes within the country. After a short time, this led to a brutal civil war. Serbian and Yugoslav armies invaded Croatia, capturing Dubrovnik and Vukovar.

Nevertheless, we will try to impartially look at the erupted conflict, without dividing into “left” and “right”. Croats and Serbs. What's the Difference? If we talk about religious motives, we can say with confidence that some are Catholics, while others are Orthodox. However, this is the fate of inter-church conflicts, the main purpose of which is exclusively the prosperity of confessions. Therefore, one should not forget that the Croats and the Serbs are, first of all, two fraternal peoples, who were pitted throughout the 20th century by their common enemies.

The term "Patriotic War" in Croatia

Among the Croats, the civil war is called the Patriotic War. In addition, they are extremely offended if someone calls her differently. Against this background, not so long ago, even an international scandal broke out with Switzerland. The country has banned Croatian singer Marko Perkovich Thompson from entering its territory. It was alleged that Marco incites interracial, religious hatred with his speeches.

When the Swiss recklessly used the name "Civil War" in the text, they caused a flurry of emotions in the Croatian ministry. In response, the Croatian side sent a letter of protest, bypassing its president Stjepan Mesić. Naturally, such an act aroused just indignation in him. In addition, the president did not like the fact that Croatian officials defended the hated Thompson, who indeed was repeatedly seen in inciting conflicts. However, when the question concerns the exact wording, the rest can be ignored.

The culprit of the new war is the Yugoslav army

Undoubtedly, the war was largely civil. Firstly, the internecine conflicts that broke out in the united Yugoslavia laid the foundation. In addition, the Serbs who rebelled against the Croatian leadership were the actual citizens of this country.

Secondly, the war for Croatian autonomy was waged only at first. When Croatia received international status of independence, the war continued anyway. However, this time the issue of resuming the territorial unity of Croatia was being resolved. On top of that, this war had a clear religious connotation. However, is there one thing in this story that does not allow us to name a civil war, in which only Croats and Serbs participated?

History, as you know, is built solely on irrefutable facts! And they say that the Southern People's Army (JNA) acted as the real aggressor of Croatia. In addition, Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia, where two Croatian figures formally dominated - President Stjepan Mesic together with Prime Minister Ante Markovic. By the beginning of the attack on Vukovar, the Yugoslav army was already legally on the territory of Croatia. Therefore, the invasion that took place cannot be called aggression from outside.

However, the Croatian side absolutely does not want to admit that the JNA has never represented the interests of Serbia. Prior to the attack on Vukovar on 25 August 1991, the JNA acted as the opposing side. Subsequently, the Yugoslav army began to represent only its generals, as well as an insignificant part of the communist leadership.

Is Croatia to blame?

Even after the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Eastern Slavonia, Western Sriem and Baranya, the JNA still continued its attacks on Croatia. Particularly Dubrovnik. Moreover, pronounced aggression was manifested from Montenegro. It is important to know that Croatia also participated in the attack, in turn, also fought against the Army in the territory of Herzegovina, Bosnia.

According to experts, on the Balkan Peninsula, at least 20 thousand people became victims of the war, which lasted for four whole years. Thanks to the assistance of the UN, together with other international organizations, the war in Croatia was stopped in 1995. Today, all the talk is about the return of the refugees, who, in turn, talk more about the return than they are going to do it.

Undoubtedly, Serbian-Croatian relations today are far from cloudless. Mutual clashes continue to this day. Especially in those areas that suffered the most from the hostilities. However, the unhealthy demonization of the Croatian people, carried out throughout the 90s and continued by some now, does not coincide with reality at all!