The same 19th century English, German and French politicians and scholars that first started propagating the 6th century Slavic migration theory in the mid to late 1800's were at the same time also busy propagating an almost identical theory for another people...the Arabs. According to them, prior to the 6th century the Arabs were an uncivilised illiterate nomadic tribe of no more then several thousand that were confined to the isolated deserts of Saudia Arabia. Does this sound familar? If so, this is because it was these same 19th century English, German and French scholars and politicians also claimed that prior to the 6th century, the Slavs were also an uncivilised and illiterate tribe of no more then several thousand confined to the swamps of the Pripet marshes behind the Carpathian mountains. Furthermore, in the 6th century, the Arabs after adopting Islam were supposed to have had a huge population explosion growing from several thousand to an estimated population of 50-60 million in the space of a generation. Ironically, this is exactly the same period when the same English, German and French scholars and politicians claim that the Slavs also had a huge population explosion, growing from several thousand to well over 50-60 million in the space of a generation. Surely thats were the similarities end I hear you all ask?....NO. The Arabs then went on to conquer all of the middle east and north Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian ocean, just as the Slavs were supposed to have left the Pripet marshes to conquer almost three quarters of Europe, and all achieved within one generation. Ironically, during this same period, the overwhelming majority of the indigenous populations of North Africa and the middle east such as the Carthaginians and Phoenecians etc all 'disappeared' without a trace just like the Illyrians, Thracians and Macedonians were 'supposed' to have disappeared without a trace in the Balkans. The most remarkable this about this all is that both the Slavs and the Arabs were supposed to have made these achievements all without leaving one single piece of historical written or archaeological evidence.

So what significance does this have for us?

Well...viewing the 6th century Slavic migration theory in context with the 6th century Arab migration theory adds credence to the argument that both theories have more to do with 18th century western European politics then any genuine interpretation of history. Both theories were created with a specific aim in mind, that being to portray the Arabs and Slavs as 'newcomers' and thus diminishing the ethnic identity and claims both peoples had to their own lands. This then gave the English, Germans and French the excuse to draw up artificial borders, create artificial countries with puppet regimes and generally ensure their sphere of influence over both regions.

You've done your homework! Well done!

an interesting observation Robert, but islam was founded in 7th century wasn't it?

That's right MKD, I think the difference here is that the Arabs had the uniting force of Islam, the Slavs had no unity or uniting force or great religion, unless Slavic sounded cool to the Balkanites who were sick of lsitening to dominos patros nominos and ela re vlaka.

i'm also curious about the population expansion though.

Nothing, you grab a magic stick after the islam was founded, abracadabra, and you have milions of arabs. Same goes with the Slavs.

Anyway, well done.