Are Pomaks Greeks?

Today the Pomaks (Greek: Πομάκοι) in Greece inhabit the region of East Macedonia and Thrace in Northern Greece, particularly the eastern regional units of Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros. Their estimated population is 50,000, only in Western Thrace.

Is Bulgaria a Pomak?

Bulgarian-speaking Muslims, commonly known as Pomaks, are most probably descendants of Bulgarian Christians who converted to Islam during the period of Ottoman rule, while retaining the Bulgarian language as well as certain Orthodox practices.

What is Bulgaria’s religion?

The largest religious belief in Republic of Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity which covers 4,374,135 people, or 82.6% of the population of the country.

How many Slavs live in Greece?

50,000–250,000 (est.) 50,000 (incl. descendants) – 70,000 (est.)

What is the main religion in Italy today?

Roman Catholicism
The major religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism. This is not surprising, as Vatican City, located in the heart of Rome, is the hub of Roman Catholicism and where the Pope resides. Roman Catholics and other Christians make up 80 percent of the population, though only one-third of those are practicing Catholics.

Where did the origin of the Pomaks come from?

The origin of the Pomaks has been debated; but they are generally considered descendants of native Eastern Orthodox Bulgarian Slavs who converted to Islam during the Ottoman rule of the Balkans. Information through Ottoman registers supports this theory.

Who was involved in the slave trade in ancient times?

Slavery has been in existence throughout history, spreading through almost every culture, nationality and religion, from ancient times to the present day. The ancient Greeks, Romans, British, Portuguese, Spanish, Incas, Aztecs, and so on, were all involved in the slave trade in one form or the other.

What was the history of slavery in Africa?

The histories of these three slave owners and their slaves show the importance of origin in West Africa. “They didn’t have racial slavery,” explains Greene. “The distinction was, and is, by kinship. People there are very clear about an individual’s background, and they retain oral records of who is who within a family.

When did the Pomaks turn to Islam in Turkey?

Ethnographic map of European Turkey from the late 19th century, showing the regions largely populated by Pomaks in brown. The mass turn to Islam in the Central Rhodope Mountains happened between the 16th and the 17th century.