Changes

'''Gypsies''', (''alt. sp.'' Gipsy) also known as 'Romani','Roma'<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref> or 'Sigynnae', 'Sigynnas'<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, are an inherently nomadic [[ethnic]] group 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', 'Sigynnas'<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>, are an inherently nomadic [[ethnic]] group 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.

Our English name of ''Gypsy'' stems from the word ''Egyptian'', as many believed that their darker skin tones indicated an Egyptian origin.

Yet as regarding the origins of name ''Sigynnae'' most commonly coming to the English world through [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] ''Histories'', the English speaker is oft left in doubt concluding that "The Sigynnae were an obscure people of antiquity. They are variously located by ancient authors."<ref>Wikipedia, ''Sigynnae'', 16 January 2021</ref> But a quick panarama of Europe's language groups and there is no doubt as to who these people were.  For 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 as being synonymous with "hucksters", small trader; which would be most consistent with stereotypical depictions of this cultural group.  You will find this view presented below in the section ''Language Group Examples''.

Yet as regards the origins of the name ''Sigynnae'' most commonly coming to the English world through [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] ''Histories'', the English speaker is often left in doubt concluding that "The Sigynnae were an obscure people of antiquity. They are variously located by ancient authors."<ref>Wikipedia, ''Sigynnae'', 16 January 2021</ref>. But a quick panorama of Europe's language groups shows there is no doubt as to who these people were.  For 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 as being synonymous with "hucksters", small trader, which would be most consistent with stereotypical depictions of this cultural group.  You will find this view presented below in the section ''Language Group Examples''.

[[Herodotus]] also notes that their name was used in [[Cyprus]] for "spears".<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>  On this point Sir J. L. Myres stated that their must have been a connection between what is known as the "Sigynna Spear" (a thin bladed throwing spear produced amidst the iron-working culture of [[Hallstatt]], Austria) and this cultural group: the implication naturally alludes to an arms trade and an explanation of why the Cyprians used their name such.

[[Herodotus]] also notes that their name was used in [[Cyprus]] for "spears".<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>  On this point Sir J. L. Myres stated that there must have been a connection between what is known as the "Sigynna Spear" (a thin bladed throwing spear produced amidst the iron-working culture of [[Hallstatt]], Austria) and this cultural group: the implication naturally alludes to an arms trade and an explanation of why the Cyprians used their name such.

==Language Group Examples==

==Language Group Examples==

As discussed above regarding '''Sigynnae''', we have collected below is a list of some of the larger language groups with their local spellings and English transliterations (for non-latin text), clearly showing that their name has varied little in Europe from [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] 5th century BC Greek Σιγὐννας ('''Sigynnas''')<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>.  We have emboldened the transliterations / Latin script for easy comparison:

As discussed above regarding '''Sigynnae''', below is a list of some of the larger language groups with their local spellings and English transliterations (for non-Latin text), clearly showing that their name has varied little in Europe from [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] 5th-century BC Greek Σιγὐννας ('''Sigynnas''')<ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'', 5.9</ref>.  We have emboldened the transliterations / Latin script for easy comparison:

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'''; Ukrainian: 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'''; Frisian: '''sigeuner'''; Dutch: '''zigeuner'''; Luxembourgish: '''Zigeinerin'''; Portuguese: '''cigano''' (masculine) '''cigana''' (feminine); Esperanto: '''cigano'''.

Clearly the English, French and Spanish speaking worlds have lost the historical connection of what we now call ''Gypsies'', but the majority of these languages have preserved the Sigynnae's history embedded within themselves: thus the ancient Sigynnae are the Gypsies.

Clearly the English-, French- and Spanish-speaking worlds have lost the historical connection of what we now call ''Gypsies'', but the majority of these languages have preserved the Sigynnae's history embedded within them: thus the ancient Sigynnae are the Gypsies.

=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 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.

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 cannot 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 the [[Eneti]] on the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] (regions of modern Venice).  This position is more consistent with conventional history.

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]].  

Discriminatory laws were passed in many other countries as well; in Western [[Europe]] during the 15th century [[Ottoman]] invasion, in [[Argentina]] in 1880, and even the [[USA]] in 1885 passed laws restricting Gypsy immigration.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/timeline.htm</ref> Forced assimilation, and the abduction of children, was also practiced, in countries such as Norway, where 1500 Romani children were removed by the state from their parents<ref>http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/plen-4.4-en.html</ref> (under the, albeit later, [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]], such actions are classified as attempted [[genocide]]).

Discriminatory laws were passed in many other countries as well; in Western [[Europe]] during the 15th-century [[Ottoman]] invasion, in [[Argentina]] in 1880, and even the [[USA]] in 1885 passed laws restricting Gypsy immigration.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/timeline.htm</ref> Forced assimilation and the abduction of children were also practiced in countries such as Norway, where 1500 Romani children were removed by the state from their parents<ref>http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/plen-4.4-en.html</ref> (under the, albeit later, [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]], such actions are classified as attempted [[genocide]]).

Romani also suffered a great deal under the [[Holocaust]]; approximately 1,000,000<ref>http://www.radoc.net:8088/RADOC-3-PORR.htm</ref> of them were killed during it, a sizable fraction, in a period known as the 'Porajmos'. In the [[Bohemia]] region, this [[mass murder]] was so thorough that their culture and language became extinct there.

Romani also suffered a great deal under the [[Holocaust]]; approximately 1,000,000<ref>http://www.radoc.net:8088/RADOC-3-PORR.htm</ref> of them were killed during it, a sizable fraction, in a period known as the 'Porajmos'. In the [[Bohemia]] region, this [[mass murder]] was so thorough that their culture and language became extinct there.