These pages summarise the history of the space of Romania and the peoples who have lived there with the purpose of putting the Romanians and their folklore in context. Some elements of the folklore are part of recent fashions or events, but some have their roots far deeper in history.

Ethnographic zones

There is not a set number of ethnographic zones in Romania and each Romanian text will have a different combination presented, the total number being somewhere between 60 and 120. The Romanian ethnographic zones are defined  as:

"a large or small territory precisely delimitated which presents united ethnographic characteristics determined by the traditions of socio-history crystallised in the manner it is placed, and the occupations, costumes, popular art, habitations."

This section is arranged hieratically from the modern regions of Romania down to the ethnographic sub-zones and regional minorities.

1. Moldavia (Moldova) - including Bucovina and historically the areas of the Republic of Moldova and Bugeac
2. Wallachia (Å¢ara Românească) - including Oltenia and Muntenia plus Dobrogea
3. Transylvania (Transilvania) - including MaramureÅŸ and the western Romanian regions of CriÅŸana and Banat

Ancient history

The Balkans from Neolithic to modern times, in political development maps, timelines and past and present peoples can be found on our South East European history pages.

The Romanian peoples, although descended from early Balkan peoples, only emerge late in the politics of the Balkans with their history hidden and the subject of speculation, theories and national politics. Vlach peoples still inhabit areas of the Balkans beyond Romania and probably at one time were far more widespread.