The ancient migration from the Caspian shores to the Anatolian mountains
In short: For centuries, a group of people has moved through the history of Anatolia, carrying a language closely linked to the shores of the Caspian Sea. Known as the Zazas, their origins may lie in the fierce Daylamite expansions of the Middle Ages.
The origins of the Zaza people are deeply tied to a long-standing scholarly theory regarding the Daylamites. Many researchers, including figures like Vladimir Minorsky and Richard N. Frye, have supported the thesis that Zazas are descendants of the Daylamites from the region of modern northern Iran. This theory suggests that during a period of expansion between the 9th/10th and 12th centuries AD, Daylamite factions migrated from the southern Caspian Sea, penetrating territories such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, and eventually Anatolia.
This historical movement is reflected in the very names used to describe them. While they call themselves 'Şarê ma' (Our people), neighbors have historically used the term 'Dımli' or 'Dımıli'. Scholars suggest this endonym likely derives from the Daylam region, with Armenian historical records even using variations like 'delmik' to describe these groups. Interestingly, the name 'Zaza' itself may have originated as a pejorative, meaning 'stutterer,' due to the high frequency of sibilants and affricates in their language.
Today, the Zaza population is estimated at approximately 2 to 3 million people, primarily living in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions of Turkey. Their identity is complex and multifaceted, divided internally by both dialect and religion. The language itself is a dialect continuum, with the northern dialect spoken by Alevi Zazas and the southern and central dialects spoken by Sunni Zazas of the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools. While many live in Turkey, a significant diaspora exists in Western Europe, particularly in Germany, where Zaza culture has seen a modern revival.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Zazas
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