THE ETHNIC CODE OF THE VLACHS AT THE BALKANS

Abstract

The ethnic code is a basis for ethnic identification of each community, that separates it from other ethnic groups. Vlachs are one of the communities that have been analyzed from different aspects, with a tendency to be related to the identity of another ethnic group, without taking care about the possibility of their separate ethnic identity. They are, for example, related to the Romanians, Romans, Greeks, Thracians, Ilirians and others. However, if one takes into account the fact that all communities emerged in different historical periods and under different historical conditions, then the most suitable definition of the ethnic identity of the Vlachs would be: Vlachs are a community that has a separate ethnic code - a name, a language, anthropological features, folk costume, typical professions, mentality etc. In this sense we will try to reflect upon the specificities of the Vlachs, according to which they identify themselves as a distinctive community in the ethnic context of the Balkans.