First Slavic Tribes

Summary

This video explores the rich history of Slavic tribes, detailing their origins, cultural impact, and role in the formation of modern Slavic nations. From the medieval confederations like the Obodrites and Veleti to the South Slavic tribes such as Croats and Serbs, the script covers key tribes across Eastern and Central Europe. It also highlights the influence of neighboring empires and the eventual unification into modern nations like Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The narrative provides an engaging look at the early Slavic world and its lasting legacy in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 There are 13 Slavic countries today, but historically, about 75 Slavic tribes inhabited the region before the countries were established.
• 😀 The Obodrites were a confederation of Western Slavic tribes in what is now northern Germany and were allies of Charlemagne, defeating Saxons and Veleti before being conquered by the Danes.
• 😀 The Veleti, also known as Wends, were a group of Lechitic tribes living south of the Obodrites. They disappeared from historical records by the late 10th century.
• 😀 The Sorbs, part of the Wends, lived in Lower Lusatia and were involved in Samo's Empire in the 7th century. They were last mentioned by the end of the 10th century.
• 😀 Pomeranians were a Slavic tribe along the Baltic Sea, with their name meaning 'land by the sea' in Slavic. Despite multiple attempts by foreign powers to conquer them, they maintained their independence until the region was divided between Poland and Germany.
• 😀 The West Polans, who gave rise to the Kingdom of Poland, were a Lechitic tribe whose name comes from the Old Slavic word 'pole,' meaning field or plain.
• 😀 The Czechs originated from a legend involving the forefather Čech, who settled at Říp Mountain in the 6th or 7th century. The Duchy of Bohemia emerged in the late 9th century.
• 😀 Moravians were a West Slavic tribe that settled around Moravia, western Slovakia, and parts of Austria. They played a key role in the formation of early Slavic states.
• 😀 South Slavic tribes like the Croats and Serbs settled in the Balkans, establishing their identities and states during the Early Middle Ages.
• 😀 The Seven Slavic Tribes formed a union around the 7th century and played a crucial role in the creation of the First Bulgarian Empire, winning victories over the Byzantine Empire.
• 😀 Eastern Slavic tribes such as the Volhynians, East Polans, Tivertsi, and Severians lived in modern-day Ukraine and Belarus, often encountering challenges from neighboring powers like Kievan Rus'.

Q & A

How many Slavic countries exist today, and how many tribes inhabited the region in the past?

Today, there are 13 Slavic countries. In the past, the region was inhabited by approximately 75 different Slavic tribes.

What was the role of the Obodrites in medieval Europe?

The Obodrites were a confederation of Western Slavic tribes in North Germany. They were allies of Charles the Great, played a significant role in defeating the Saxons and Veleti, but were eventually defeated by the Danes.

What do we know about the Veleti tribe?

The Veleti, also known as the Wends, were a group of medieval Lechitic tribes that lived south of the Obodrites. Very little is known about them, as they disappeared from written records by the late 10th century.

Why is the term 'Pomerania' significant?

Pomerania derives from the Slavic term 'po more,' meaning 'land at the sea,' reflecting its location along the Baltic Sea. The Pomeranian tribes maintained their independence despite multiple attempts by neighboring powers to conquer them.

What was the historical significance of the Polans?

The Polans were a Lechitic tribe that united several West Slavic groups in the 9th century, eventually forming the Kingdom of Poland. The name 'Poland' derives from this tribe.

How did the Silesians get their name?

The Silesians, a Lechitic group in Lower Silesia, got their name from the region they inhabited. The word 'Ślagwa' means 'humid' in Old Polish, referring to the region's climate.

What is the connection between the Czechs and the myth of Forefather Čech?

According to legend, the Czechs are descended from the mythical Forefather Čech, who is said to have settled at the Říp Mountain in the 6th or 7th century. The Duchy of Bohemia, founded in the 9th century, led to the modern Czech Republic.

What role did the Moravians play in Slavic history?

The Moravians were an early West Slavic tribe in the 6th to 7th centuries, settling in Moravia and parts of Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary. They played a crucial role in the 9th century and influenced the development of Slavic Christianity.

What are the origins of the name 'Slovaks'?

The Slovaks were part of the West Slavic tribes in the Early Middle Ages. They were part of Samo's Empire in the 7th century and eventually settled in Western Slovakia.

What were the Seven Slavic Tribes, and what was their role in the formation of the First Bulgarian Empire?

The Seven Slavic Tribes were a union of tribes in the Danubian Plain that played a key role in forming the First Bulgarian Empire around the 7th century. They won a major victory over the Byzantine Empire in 681.

What was unique about the Draguvity tribe?

The Draguvity were a South Slavic tribe whose historical details are scarce, but they were among the largest regional tribes in what is now the Republic of Macedonia, Southeastern Serbia, and Western Bulgaria.

How did the Tivertsi tribe contribute to the development of modern ethnicities?

The Tivertsi were an East Slavic tribe that inhabited areas near the Dniester and lower Danube. They played a role in the formation of modern Moldovan and Ukrainian ethnicities.

What happened to the Radimichs tribe after being conquered by Oleg of Novgorod?

The Radimichs, an East Slavic tribe, were conquered by Oleg of Novgorod in 885 and became part of Kievan Rus. They briefly tried to break away in 984 but were defeated and subsequently disappeared from records.