The name Macedonia is used to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples. Historically, the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula. Demographically, it is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify as Macedonians. Linguistically, the names and affiliations of languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy. Politically, the rights to the extent of the use of the name Macedonia has led to a diplomatic dispute between Greece and North Macedonia.
About Macedonia (terminology) in brief
The name Macedonia is used in a number of competing or overlapping meanings to describe geographical, political and historical areas, languages and peoples. It has been a major source of political controversy since the early 20th century. Historically, the region has presented markedly shifting borders across the Balkan peninsula. Demographically, it is mainly inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify as Macedonians. Linguistically, the names and affiliations of languages and dialects spoken in the region are a source of controversy. Politically, the rights to the extent of the use of the name Macedonia and its derivatives has led to a diplomatic dispute between Greece and North Macedonia. The region of Macedonia has been home to several historical political entities, which have used the name Macedon. The borders of each of these entities were different. The ancient Romans had two different entities called Macedonia, at different levels. Under the Roman Republic and Principate it extended west to the Adriatic and south to Central Greece. Under Diocletian, Macedonia was split off to form a new province, and central and southern Balkan provinces were grouped into the Diocese of Moesia. At some point in the 4th century this was divided into two new dioceses, mostly Greek-speaking Dacia in the north and the mostly Latin-speaking Diacia in north-east. Under Constantine the Great, the western part of the province of Macedonia was also split to form the new province of Great Macedonia in the south.
The name Macedonia derives from the Greek Macedonians, a kingdom named after the ancient Macedonian, from theGreek “ακεδόν’s” meaning “tall, slim” or “highlanders”. It was centered on the fertile plains west of the Gulf of Salonica ; the first Macedonian state emerged in the 8th or early 7th century BC. Its extent beyond the center varied; some Macedonian kings could not hold their capital; Philip II expanded his power until it reached from Epirus, across Thrace to Gallipoli, and from Thermopylae to the Danube. Alexander the Great conquered most of the land in southwestern Asia stretching from what is currently Turkey in the west to parts of India in the east. However, while Alexander’s conquests are of major historical importance as having launched the Hellenistic Age, Macedon as a state had no significant territorial gains due to them. Alexander’s kingdom fell apart after his death in 323 BC; several of his Successors attempted to forms a kingdom for themselves in Macedonia; the kingdom formed by Antigonus Gonatas contained all the land Philip II had started with and controlled much of what is now modern Greece; it lasted until the Romans divided it into four republics in 168BC. During the time of the Roman republic and Principsate it was established as a Roman province in 146 BC; its boundaries shifted from time to time.
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This page is based on the article Macedonia (terminology) published in Wikipedia (as of Nov. 20, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
