Basques - it is the people who inhabit the so-called Basque Country, located in northern Spain and southwestern France.The origin of it - is one of the great mysteries, not only for Europe but for the whole world.
Who are the Basques?Where did they come from?If we look at these issues from the perspective of citizenship, the Basques - is Spanish and the French, because they live in Spain and France.But why do these people speak this unusual language, not unlike any other language?How is it that over the millennia of war and civilization incest Basques preserved their identity?Regarding this ethnic group is still a lot of questions that researchers are still unable to find the answers.This article will try to deal with those who are the Basques, and talk about how they live today, these European rebels and the proud.
etymology of the name
To understand the meaning of the word "Basque", you need to turn to history.This word comes from the Latin vasco - so-called ancient Vasconi, who lived in pre-Roman and Roman periods in the territory, where now live the Spanish Basques.However, this is not the only people involved in their genesis.The ancestors of Basques were Aquitani and, perhaps, Cantabria, so that now they can be seen significant fragmentation dialect.
Origin
Genetic studies have established the uniqueness of the people before us.Basques - people whose blood is the highest among all Europeans the proportion of negative Rh factor (25 per cent) and one of the highest proportion of the blood of a type D (55 percent).There is a very sharp genetic differences between members of this ethnic group and other peoples, especially in Spain.Therefore, one can hardly say that the Basques - it Catalans.
list of versions about the origin of mysterious people is very wide.At one time I discussed the hypothesis that the Basques - it is Armenian.Then he expressed the opinion that they - ancient Georgians who from the territory of present-day Georgia has from time immemorial migrated to the Iberian Peninsula.
Cro-Magnons with us?
It should be noted that the version that the Basques are descended from Armenians and Georgians in the hunt for provability, but most scientists agree that it is the indigenous people of Europe, is directly descended from Cro-Magnon, another 35 thousand years ago, came to the European landfrom Africa and stayed there.
Cro-Magnons probably did not participate in any subsequent migration of peoples, because archaeologists have not found any evidence to talk about changing the population in this area at all times, until the arrival of the Romans.So all those people who today call themselves Europeans, compared with the Basques just kids.Amazing, is not it?
Eskuara
true Basques - are those from birth speak the language, called "eskuara."Such people now number about one million, of which more than eight hundred thousand people live in Spain, more than a hundred thousand - in France, and the rest - in the United States and Latin America.
secret origin eskuara linguists seek to unravel a very long time.Some researchers hypothesize that are genetically linked to the Basque language ibereyskim language, which is now gone;other do not support this idea, but by the build version eskuara on the basis of the Afro-Asiatic born assumption that the Basque ancestors were Jews.So, in 1900, the world saw the book by J. Espanyol, the French abbot, in which he argued the origin of the mysterious people of Spartan colonists, had Jewish roots.
people - the language
At the time, tried to intertwine eskuara well as Arabic, then - the Japanese, not so long ago, there was speculation that the Basque language is linked with the languages of the nomadic tribes living in West Africa.However, all hypotheses are not confirmed.Recently, French linguists conducted another study and proved that eskuara is an autonomous language and for eight thousand years, ever since the Paleolithic, developed independently.This unique pre-Roman European language, which came from the depths of thousands of years before our time.
way of life
As already mentioned, the Basques - the mysterious people who live mainly in the territory of the two countries - Spain and France.In the French Basque provinces, all the houses are white and contain red wooden elements.The traditional structure of stone survived only in mountainous regions.In general, the Basques are very sensitive to the traditions.And in the cities and in the villages they are - young and old - to play pelota, organize competitions bulls are famous berets on their heads.This small nation unique ethnic identity.
Character Basque
Basques - in spite of their identity - similar to other inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula insatiable penchant for fun.But along with this they are also very quick-tempered.But neither cheerful disposition, or emotion do not prevent them to stick to the patriarchal way of life.This applies especially to the Basques, who live far away from industrial centers.Residents of mountain areas are very religious (most of them - orthodox Catholics) and lead a secluded life.
Kitchen
one of the best in Europe is considered to be the Basque cuisine, and it's not in use sophisticated recipes, but the fact that this nation to create dishes for the most part uses only fresh products.For example, when ripen the fruit and vegetables, the Basques eat them;when slaughtered sheep, eat meat.Marinating, salting, freezing - all of these and similar blanks this people are not accepted.Basques prefer to eat boiled or steamed foods, they practically do not eat fried foods, and do not use spices.The most famous dish - cod in white sauce and stewed pike fins.Love Basques mushrooms, truffles, rice, seafood.They do all kinds of desserts, nuts, berries, fruits and milk.This nation produces fine cheeses and wines.
Clothing
look very elegant costumes Basque.Women consists of lush blue or blue skirt and black short jacket, decorated with lace and shiny appliques.The most popular materials for such attire - a velvet and chintz.Male costume is a tight black or brown breeches, black stockings, a belt of the same color, black vest and a jacket made of leather or thick fabric with shiny buttons.
To have survived samples Basque dress, dating from the late Middle Ages (16th century).It was a cloak of sheep, coarse thread sewn on the sides and had a cutout for the head.
Echoes of history
attempts to divide the territory inhabited by the Basques date back to the sixth-eighth centuries.At various times, the lands on both sides of the Pyrenees, owned by England, Aquitaine, Spain, France.And every time the owners wanted to subjugate completely "dissolve" mysterious people.Ultimately Basque sovereignty replaced local autonomy: for more than five centuries, the Basques in France and Spain enjoyed a special status and privileges in taxation, trade, and military service.
All these provisions were contained in the traditional code of laws, which is known as "fueros".All the cities, rural communities, villages, towns had their own fueros, but at the end of the nineteenth century Basque self-government institutions were abolished, private fueros destroyed and territories were included in the Spanish state and become part of the administrative and judicial system of Spain.
From that time there was unquenchable passion, perseverance and dedication desire to become a separate Basque state.
freedom-loving and proud
After the elimination in 1937 of the Basque autonomy of a movement of the people for national self-determination.In the fifties of the twentieth century it was established a terrorist organization "Euskadi Ta Askatasuna" (translated as "Homeland and Freedom", for short - ETA).For fifty years, when it carried out the attacks killed 800 people within.
recently this, following the Irish extremists, announced the termination of terrorist activity.But for how long?After all, the budget of the Basque terror consisted of more than a dozen million euros ... Of course, I would like to believe and hope that good.Even the Basques, even those who live in remote communities, tired of having the reputation of irrepressible, persistent and bloody in the claims of the people.In fact, they do not like ...
