Historical Maps of
Maps of Finno-Ugric Distribution
Maps of Finno-Ugric Settlements and Place-Names
This map (1), shows the approximate limits of ancient Finnish settlements between the Ural Mountains and Fenno-Scandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland). Finnic people that occupy the areas between these Republics, do not have their name-sake Republic. For example, there is no Vepsä, or Korelian autonomous area. Note the spaces between these Republics, an obvious attempt to keep them separated.
The Expansion of Slavs (2) (Slaavien leveneminen) into Finno-Ugric lands. The Merjas are displaced and absorbed by neighbouring Finno-Ugric groups, especially the Mari, who themselves travel Eastward from their ancient homeland in the area where the Oka flows into the Volga. (Mareja = Maris, Vepsäläisiä = Vepsä+people - related to the Eastern Karelians, -järvi = -lake eg. Valgetj. = Valgetjärvi)
The largest Map (3) is seemlessly split into four files, and covers Karelia/Eastern Karelia, the mythical land of Kalevala.
This (4) is based on Russian maps and are according to
Zyrian I. Möššeg, not consistent with the native folklore, due to Russian
mistakes and Russification. Jurla should be Jurva, Susva = Suzva, Velva =
Völva etc. Corrections would be impossible as information is scarce. Even in this form, however, the place names show a definite Perm-Komi influence. The place-names with -ma, -nga, and -ga endings are of old Finno-Ugric origin often predating the present Komi. Many are of Lapp or other ancient arctic Finno-Ugric origin. (Suomen Suvun Tiet, E. Kuussaari,
1935).
It may also be underscored here that the scholars of prehistory and history regard ancient place-names of a country as proof of the identity of the language in which it occurs and that of their speakers who gave them to the places which they occupied and inhabited for a considerable length of time. In these maps we see the proof of Finno-Ugric inhabitation of the north since at least the last ice age, preceding the slavic by a considerable length of time. Unconquered land is not Russian by default as indicated on many Soviet era maps, such as those showing Russia extending all the way to the Baltic in the first millennium. Moscow and Novgorod were focusing on the areas north and east of Lake Ladoga and were in competition with each other for control of land occupied by Uralic people.
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