Magyars

From Wikinfo

Magyars are the majority inhabitants of Hungary, while other groups of inhabitants lived or still live in Hungary as well. In English they are usually called Hungarians, except in some historical texts. Since 1918-1920, Magyars have become minority inhabitants of Romania (2million), Czechoslovakia (600.000) now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Yugoslavia (400.000) now Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Ukraine (170.000).

The Magyar leader Arpad is considered to have founded Hungary in 896, and its stability was blessed by the Pope by the crowning of Stephen I (Szent Istv�n) in 1001 when the leaders accepted Christianity. The Magyars had recently arrived in Europe from Asia, partially from Khazaria, and were threatening and trying to subdue other Europeans.

One opinion is that Hungary received its name from the similar semi-nomadic tribe: the Huns, who lived centuries earlier in the same territory. Others believe in that they got their name from the Magyars' Bulgarian name: Ungur (Slavic: Vengry; German: Ungarn), meaning "ten tribes". Calling today's inhabitants Magyars or Hungarians is considered equally correct. Hungarians call themselves only "Magyar", never "Hun" or "Hungarian".

Many scholars believe modern Magyars are ethnic descendants of the ancient Sumerians, based primarily on linguistic studies. The Sumerians are credited with, among many other firsts, the invention of agriculture and the wheel (both of which had independent, but later, inventions in other areas of the world).

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Magyar" http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magyar August 21, 2003