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[[Image:Watching you (Bangladesh).JPG|thumb|Bengali people of [[Bangladesh]]]] | |||
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The '''Bengali people''' are the main [[ethnic]] group in the region of [[Bengal]] (now divided between [[Bangladesh]] and the [[Republic of India|Union of India]]) in [[South Asia]]. They speak [[Bengali language|Bengali]] (বাংলা Bangla), a language of the eastern branch of the [[Indo-Aryan languages]]. | |||
They are natively concentrated in the nation of Bangladesh and in the Indian states of [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]]. Some of the most well established Bengali communities are in the [[Middle East]], [[Japan]], [[Malaysia]], [[United Kingdom]] and [[United States]]. | |||
Remnants of civilisation in the greater [[Bengal]] region date back 4,000 years,<ref name=bsahistory>{{cite web| url = http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/saofbangladesh/history.htm| title = History of Bangladesh| accessdate = 2006-10-26| publisher = Bangladesh Student Association @ TTU|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20051226045659/http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/saofbangladesh/history.htm |archivedate = 2005}}</ref><ref name=xinhua>{{cite news| agency=Xinhua| date = 2006| title = 4000-year old settlement unearthed in Bangladesh| url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/12/content_4293312.htm}}</ref> when the region was settled by [[Dravidian peoples|Dravidian]], [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]] and [[Austroasiatic]] peoples. The origin of the word ''Bangla ~ Bengal'' is unknown, but it is believed to be derived from the [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian-speaking]] tribe ''Bang'' that settled in the area around the year 1000 [[BC]].<ref name=congress>{{cite book| publisher = Library of Congress| url = http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/bdtoc.html| chapter = Early History, 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1202| title = Bangladesh: A country study| editor = James Heitzman and Robert L. Worden| year = 1989}}</ref> | |||
After the arrival of [[Indo-Aryan]]s, the kingdoms around Bengal were first described in the ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' about 1000 BC. From the 6th century BC, Magadha expanded to include most of the [[Bihar]] and Bengal regions. It was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]. Magadha extended over nearly all of South Asia, including parts of [[Iran|Persia]] and [[Afghanistan]], reaching its greatest extent under the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] emperor [[Ashoka the Great]] in the 3rd century BC. One of the earliest foreign references to Bengal is the mention of a land ruled by the king Xandrammes named [[Gangaridai]] by the [[Greeks]] around 100 BC. The word is speculated to have come from ''Gangahrd'' (Land with the [[Ganges]] in its heart) in reference to an area in Bengal.<ref name=Gangaridai>{{cite web| url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/G_0019.htm| title = Gangaridai| accessdate = 2006-09-08| last = Chowdhury| first = AM| work = [[Banglapedia]]| publisher = Asiatic Society of Bangladesh}}</ref> Later from the 3rd to the 6th centuries [[AD]], the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of the [[Gupta Empire]]. | |||
== References == | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
{{Asia-stub}} | |||
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh]] | |||
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]] | |||
[[Muhammad Helal Uddin]] | |||
Revision as of 18:33, 5 December 2020
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The Bengali people are the main ethnic group in the region of Bengal (now divided between Bangladesh and the Union of India) in South Asia. They speak Bengali (বাংলা Bangla), a language of the eastern branch of the Indo-Aryan languages.
They are natively concentrated in the nation of Bangladesh and in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura. Some of the most well established Bengali communities are in the Middle East, Japan, Malaysia, United Kingdom and United States.
Remnants of civilisation in the greater Bengal region date back 4,000 years,[1][2] when the region was settled by Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman and Austroasiatic peoples. The origin of the word Bangla ~ Bengal is unknown, but it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang that settled in the area around the year 1000 BC.[3]
After the arrival of Indo-Aryans, the kingdoms around Bengal were first described in the Atharvaveda about 1000 BC. From the 6th century BC, Magadha expanded to include most of the Bihar and Bengal regions. It was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of Buddha. Magadha extended over nearly all of South Asia, including parts of Persia and Afghanistan, reaching its greatest extent under the Buddhist emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BC. One of the earliest foreign references to Bengal is the mention of a land ruled by the king Xandrammes named Gangaridai by the Greeks around 100 BC. The word is speculated to have come from Gangahrd (Land with the Ganges in its heart) in reference to an area in Bengal.[4] Later from the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD, the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of the Gupta Empire.
References
- ↑ "History of Bangladesh". Bangladesh Student Association @ TTU. Archived from the original on 2005. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archivedate=(help) - ↑ "4000-year old settlement unearthed in Bangladesh". Xinhua. 2006.
- ↑ James Heitzman and Robert L. Worden, ed. (1989). "Early History, 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1202". Bangladesh: A country study. Library of Congress.
- ↑ Chowdhury, AM. "Gangaridai". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2006-09-08.
