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'''Gypsies''', (''alt. sp.'' Gipsy) also known as 'Romani' or 'Roma'<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> are an inherently nomadic [[ethnic]] group centered in regions of [[Romania]], but scattered across Europe and even into the bounds of Asia.  They maintain their own distinctive culture regardless of their host cultural groups.  Their current population is estimated to be approximately 15 million, but accurate data remains elusive due to their nomadic lifestyle.<ref>http://europeandcis.undp.org/uploads/public/File/rbec_web/vgr/chapter1.1.pdf</ref>  

'''Gypsies''', (''alt. sp.'' Gipsy) also known as 'Romani','Roma'<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> or 'Sigynnae'<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, are an inherently nomadic [[ethnic]] group centered in regions of [[Romania]], but scattered across Europe and even into the bounds of Asia.  They maintain their own distinctive culture regardless of their host cultural groups.  Their current population is estimated to be approximately 15 million, but accurate data remains elusive due to their nomadic lifestyle.<ref>http://europeandcis.undp.org/uploads/public/File/rbec_web/vgr/chapter1.1.pdf</ref>  

=Etymology=

=Etymology=

Our English name of ''Gypsy'' stems from the word ''Egyptian'', as many believed that their darker skin tones indicated an Egyptian origin.  Yet the vast majority of European language groups maintain variations synonymous with [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] '''Sigynnae''' (Greek:Σιγὐννας, Si-gy-nas)<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, a term that 5th century Greeks equated with "hucksters", small trader; a term most consistent with stereotypical depictions of this cultural group.  [[Herodotus]] also notes that their name was also used in [[Cyprus]] for "spears".<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>

Our English name of ''Gypsy'' stems from the word ''Egyptian'', as many believed that their darker skin tones indicated an Egyptian origin.  Yet the vast majority of European language groups maintain variations synonymous with [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] '''Sigynnae''' (Greek:Σιγὐννας, Si-gy-nas)<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, a term that 5th century Greeks equated with "hucksters", small trader; which would be most consistent with stereotypical depictions of this cultural group.  [[Herodotus]] also notes that their name was used in [[Cyprus]] for "spears".<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>

==Language Group Examples==

==Language Group Examples==

Bulgarian: циганин, '''tsiganin'''; Romanian: '''țigan'''; Serbian: циганин, '''ciganin'''; Macedonian: циган, '''cigan'''; Russian: цыганка, '''tsyganka'''; Ukranian: циганка, '''tsyhanka'''; Albanian: '''cigan'''; Croatian: '''ciganka'''; Czech: '''cikán'''; Slovak: '''cikán'''; Slovenian: '''ciganka'''; Lithuanian: '''čigonas'''; Latvian: '''čigāniete'''; Turkish: '''Çingene'''; German: '''Zigeuner''' (masculine) & '''Zigeunerin''' (feminine); Polish: '''cygański'''; Hungarian: '''cigány'''; Italian: '''zingaro''' (masculine) '''zingara''' (feminine); Danish: '''sigøjner'''; Norwegian: '''sigøyner'''; Swedish: '''zigenare'''; Fresian: '''sigeuner'''; Dutch: '''zigeuner'''; Luxembourgish: '''Zigeinerin'''; Portugese: '''cigano''' (masculine) '''cigana''' (feminine); Esperanto: '''cigano'''.

Bulgarian: циганин, '''tsiganin'''; Romanian: '''țigan'''; Serbian: циганин, '''ciganin'''; Macedonian: циган, '''cigan'''; Russian: цыганка, '''tsyganka'''; Ukranian: циганка, '''tsyhanka'''; Albanian: '''cigan'''; Croatian: '''ciganka'''; Czech: '''cikán'''; Slovak: '''cikán'''; Slovenian: '''ciganka'''; Lithuanian: '''čigonas'''; Latvian: '''čigāniete'''; Turkish: '''Çingene'''; German: '''Zigeuner''' (masculine) & '''Zigeunerin''' (feminine); Polish: '''cygański'''; Hungarian: '''cigány'''; Italian: '''zingaro''' (masculine) '''zingara''' (feminine); Danish: '''sigøjner'''; Norwegian: '''sigøyner'''; Swedish: '''zigenare'''; Fresian: '''sigeuner'''; Dutch: '''zigeuner'''; Luxembourgish: '''Zigeinerin'''; Portugese: '''cigano''' (masculine) '''cigana''' (feminine); Esperanto: '''cigano'''.

=History=

=History=

==Origins==

==Origins==

There are some such as Kenrick who claim that the ''Gypsies'' originated from present day [[Rajasthan]]<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> in [[India]] who fled over 1000 years ago due to Islamic Invasions.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/why-do-the-roma-wander.html</ref>.  Yet 5th century etymological usage (which has broadly passed to most relevant language groups) and reference to their expansive existence within Europe at that time can not be denied, necessitating a much older origin.

There are some such as Kenrick who claim that the ''Gypsies'' originated from present day [[Rajasthan]]<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> in [[India]] who fled over 1000 years ago due to Islamic Invasions.<ref>https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/why-do-the-roma-wander.html</ref>.  Yet 5th century BC usage (which has broadly passed to most relevant language groups) and reference to their expansive existence within Europe at that time can not be denied, necessitating that the Gypsies have a much older origin in Europe.

More classically, [[Herodotus]] claimed that the Sigynnae/Gypsies were colonists from [[Medes|Media]] and that they still even in his day wore Median attire.  He also understood that they predominantly lived north of the [[Danube|Ister]] but could be found as far as [[Venice]].  This position is more consistent with their physical form.

More classically, [[Herodotus]] claimed that the Sigynnae/Gypsies were colonists from [[Medes|Media]] and that they still even in his day wore Median attire.  He also understood that they predominantly lived north of the [[Danube|Ister]] but could be found as far as the [[Eneti]] on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] (regions of modern Venice).  This position is more consistent with conventional history.

==Persecution of Gypsies==

==Persecution of Gypsies==

Gypsy people have long suffered from prejudice and discrimination; one of the first concrete examples would be the laws passed in [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] which stated that any Romani on those countries' soil would automatically become a [[slave]].  

Gypsy people have long suffered from prejudice and discrimination; one of the first concrete examples would be the laws passed in [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] which stated that any Romani on those countries' soil would automatically become a [[slave]].