Arameans
ܐܪ̈ܡܝܐ Aremeye | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 12,000,000 (2021) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Terranihil | 12,000,000 |
| Languages | |
| Aramaic | |
| Religion | |
| Pytabian Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Arabs, Jews | |
Arameans (Pytabian: ܐܪ̈ܡܝܐ, Aremeye) are an Aramaic-speaking people in eastern Terranihi, more specifically the historical region of Alaia. The ancient Arameans were first reported in the late 2nd millenium BCE. At the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE, Aramean tribes migrated from the south and played a prominent role in the history of the Ancient Caelean Coast. Their language of Aramaic spread to become the lingua franca of the region.
Beginning in the 1st century CE, the Arameans were Christianized. The speakers of Pytabian, a prominent Aramaic dialect, were some of the earliest Christians. They began the Pytabian Christian rite. There were several prominent Aramean Christian leaders and authors who wrote in Aramaic. The Pytabian Church of the West and the Pytabian Orthodox Church became the main Aramean churches.
From the 7th century to the 10th century, Alaia was under Muslim rule by the Mutadinun Caliphate, then the Zuhraid Caliphate, and then the Emirate of Mestaga, which led to the Islamization and Arabization of many Aramean communities. However, the Aramea in the 10th century brought forth a revival of Aramean culture.
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Etymology
The word Aramea is derived from Aram which means highland, referring to the region from which the Arameans originally migrated ino Alaia from. Later, Aramea came to refer to the Aramea. Aramean is used primarily to refer to the Aramean ethnic group and its culture, and is differentiated from Aramaic which refers specifically to the Aramaic language.
History
Ancient history
The earliest reports of Aramaic speakers are from Assorian records documenting the migration of Arameans tribes into Assoria from south of Alaia during the Middle Assorian period (c. 1200 BCE), which facilitated the spread of the Aramaic language. It quickly grew in usage and importance throughout the Neo-Assorian period and increasingly replaced the Assorian language. From the 8th century BCE onwards, Aramaic became the de facto lingua franca of the Neo-Assorian Empire. Arameans entered positions of power in Assoria.
The Aramean tribes deposed the rulers of Babylonia in 1026. The Arameans competed with the Kassites and Elamites for control of Babylon, however, Babylonian rule was restored in 977 BCE. Later, Arameans were involved in the an unsuccesful rebellion of Shamashshumukin, that also included Elam, the Babylonians, and the Chaldeans, against his brother, the king of the Neo-Assorian Empire.
Alaia was then under conquered by the Tundren Empire in 515 BCE and held until 20 BCE. Arameans along with the Akadians revolted against their Kavardan rulers and fought alongside the Romanyan Empire in its conquest of Alaia. Before Romanyan rule, Arameans practiced the Alaian pagan religions. Christianity originated directly south of Alaia, in the Romanyan province of Judea, among Aramaic-speaking Jews. It quickly spread along the Caelean coast to other Aramaic speakers. Several early Christian communities developed in major Alaian cities from the 2nd to the 4th century CE.
Christianity was especially common among Pytabian Arameans, who spoke the Pytabian dialect of Aramaic. According to tradition, Pytabian Christianity was founded by Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century CE in the region of Pytabia in southern Alaia. The Pytabian Church of the West officially organized itself in 410 in Mestaga, Kagoria, and the Pytabian Orthodox Church of the Eastern Pytabian rite centered at Sipaipa split from the Catholic Church along with the other Miaphysite Orthodox Churches in 451. By the end of the 7th cenury, most Arameans had converted to Christianity.
