Russians

Russians (Russian: русские, romanized: russkiye [ˈruskʲɪje]) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian, the most spoken Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Orthodox Christianity, ever since the Middle Ages. By total numbers, they compose the largest Slavic and European nation.

Genetic studies show that Russians are closely related to Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians, as well as Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, and Finns. They were formed from East Slavic tribes, and their cultural ancestry is based in Kievan Rus'. The Russian word for the Russians is derived from the people of Rus' and the territory of Rus'. Russians share many historical and cultural traits with other European peoples, and especially with other East Slavic ethnic groups, specifically Belarusians and Ukrainians.

The vast majority of Russians live in native Russia, but notable minorities are scattered throughout other post-Soviet states such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Baltic states. A large Russian diaspora (sometimes including Russian-speaking non-Russians), estimated at 25 million people, has developed all over the world, with notable numbers in the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Canada.

Ethnonym

There are two Russian words often translated as "Russians." The word русские (russkiye) usually refers to ethnic Russians. The word россияне (rossiyane), comes from the name Россия (Rossiya, meaning Russia) and includes all people living in Russia, no matter their background.

The name "Russians" originated from the Rus' people, a group of Norse traders and warriors who helped create the first East Slavic state, known as Kievan Rus'. Later, the idea of one "all-Russian nation" included the Great Russian, Little Russian (Ukrainian), and White Russian (Belarusian) peoples.

History

Main articles: Kievan Rus', Grand Duchy of Moscow, and Tsardom of Russia

Main articles: Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and Russia

The ancestors of modern Russians are the Slavic tribes, who lived in wooded areas of the Pinsk Marshes. Over time, these tribes settled in Western Russia, including areas around Moscow.

In the year 862, a new state called the Rus' was formed, ruled by leaders from Scandinavia. This state later adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire. After facing internal struggles, Moscow grew to become a key center. By the late 15th century, Moscow had united many Russian lands and ended foreign rule, becoming the Tsardom of Russia.

Later, in 1721, the state was renamed the Russian Empire. It grew into a major power in Europe. In 1917, revolution led to the creation of the Soviet Union in 1922. After facing many challenges, the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and Russia became an independent nation again.

Geographic distribution

Main articles: Ethnic Russians in post-Soviet states and Russian diaspora

Russians have spread across many parts of the world over time. Many live within areas that were once part of the old Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Some groups, like the Lipovans, moved to places such as the Danube delta, while others, like the Doukhobors, settled in Canada.

Today, you can find Russian communities in many countries. These include the Balkans, Germany, Poland, China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Big cities like New York City in the United States also have many Russian speakers. After big historical events, such as the Russian Revolution in 1917 and World War II, many Russians moved to new places around the world.

Ethnographic groups

Among Russians, there are several interesting ethnographic groups, such as the Northern Russians, the Southern Russians, the Cossacks, the Goryuns, the Kamchadals, the Polekhs, the Pomors, the Russian Chinese, the Siberians (Siberiaks), Starozhily, and some groupings of Old Believers.

The two main groups are the Northern and Southern Russians. The Pomors settled along Russia's Arctic coastline, coming from Novgorod. The Cossacks lived in areas near the Don, Terek, and Ural rivers and helped shape the history and culture of those regions.

Genetics

Main article: Genetic studies on Russians

See also: Yamnaya culture § Eastern Europe and Finland, and Fatyanovo–Balanovo culture § Genetics

Russians have two main genetic groups: northern and southern. Most Russians belong to the southern group, which shares genetic traits with other East and West Slavs, like the Poles and Czechs, as well as non-Slavic groups such as the Hungarians. Northern Russians share genetic traits with North European groups, including the Balts and Germanic peoples.

Russians also share DNA with Finno-Ugric language speakers in Russia, showing they have mixed with local populations over time. Their ancestry includes connections to Western hunter-gatherers, Early European Farmers, and Western Steppe Herders, but they also have unique genetic links to Siberian and East Asian populations. The most common genetic marker among Russians is R1a.

Assimilation and immigration

Russians have often highlighted their ability to assimilate other groups into their culture. Throughout history, especially during times of imperial expansion, people such as the Tatars, Baltic Germans, Lithuanians, and native Siberians could become part of the Russian identity by adopting the Russian Orthodoxy faith. This inclusive attitude is captured in the phrase often linked to Emperor Alexander III of Russia: “You want to be Russian - be that!” This shows how the Russian state sometimes encouraged a shared cultural identity among its diverse populations in places like Rus', Muscovy, and the Russian Empire.

Language

Main article: Russian language

Russian is the official language of Russia. It is the most spoken native language in Europe and the most widespread language in Eurasia. Russian is also the third-most used language on the Internet after English and Spanish. It is one of the official languages of the International Space Station and the United Nations.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Russia

Russian literature is very important and influential. It started in the Middle Ages with stories and histories told in Old East Slavic. Later, in the Age of Enlightenment, writers like Mikhail Lomonosov and Nikolai Karamzin became famous. The 19th century was a golden age for Russian writers, with famous names like Alexander Pushkin, Ivan Turgenev, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Leo Tolstoy. In the 20th century, writers such as Anton Chekhov, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Vladimir Nabokov made their mark. After the Russian Revolution, literature split into Soviet and émigré parts, with Maxim Gorky and Nikolai Ostrovsky being key Soviet writers.

Russian philosophy has also been very influential. It includes religious thinkers like Vladimir Solovyov and Nikolai Berdyaev, and social thinkers like Mikhail Bakunin, who helped start anarchism, and Vladimir Lenin, who developed communism. Science in Russia has many famous names, like Dmitry Mendeleev, who created the Periodic table, and Ivan Pavlov, known for his work on learning. Mikhail Lomonosov made big discoveries in chemistry, and Yuri Gagarin was the first human to travel into space.

Painting in Russia began with religious icons, and later included famous artists like Andrei Rublev and Ivan Aivazovsky. Music grew from church songs and folk dances to include famous composers like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Cinema in Russia produced world-known directors like Sergei Eisenstein and Andrei Tarkovsky. Architecture in Russia has many styles, from early wooden buildings to grand palaces and modern designs.

Most people in Russia are Eastern Orthodox Christians, but there are also followers of other religions like Islam and Baptists. Sports are very popular in Russia, especially football, ice hockey, and basketball. The country has hosted big events like the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.