Russians

Russians (Russian:??????? - Russkiye) are an East Slavic ethnic group, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries.

Emergence of Russian ethnicity

Russians began to be recognized as a distinct ethnic group in the 15th century, when they were referred to as Muscovite Russians, during the consolidation of Muscovy Tsardom as a regional power. Between 12th and 16th century Russians known as Pomors migrated to Northern Russia and settled White Sea coasts. As a result of the migrations and Russian conquests (following liberation from the Mongol Golden Horde domination) during 15th-16th centuries Russians settled the Volga, Urals and Northern Caucasus regions. Between 17th and 19th centuries Russian migrants settled previously mostly uninhabited areas in Siberia and Russian Far East.

Related Topics:
15th century - Muscovite Russians - Pomors - White Sea - Mongol - Golden Horde - Volga - Urals - Northern Caucasus - Siberia - Russian Far East

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According to most ethnologists ethnic Russians originated from the earlier Rus' people (East Slavs of Kievan Rus), and gradually evolved into a different ethnicity from the western Rus people who became the modern-day Belarusians and Ukrainians.

Related Topics:
Rus' people - Kievan Rus - Belarusians - Ukrainians

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Some ethnologists maintain that Russians were a distinct Slavic group even before the time of Kievan Rus. Others believe that the distinguishing feature of the Russians is not primarily their separation from Western Rus, but that ethnic Russians are a mix of East Slavic and non-Slavic (for example Finno-Ugric, Germanic, Baltic and Turkic) tribes. However, the origin of the Slavic peoples is itself a matter of on which there is no consensus.

Related Topics:
Finno-Ugric - Germanic - Baltic - Turkic - Slav

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