Diasporas
Communities that live outside their ancestral homeland while keeping ties of culture, memory and family with it.
- Origin
- Greek diaspora, meaning a scattering of seeds
- Examples
- Jewish, Armenian, Chinese, Irish, Indian, Lebanese
Why people leave
Diasporas form through trade, famine, war, persecution, forced removal and the search for work. Some are voluntary and some are not, and the difference shapes how communities remember their past.
Staying connected
Food, language, religion and festivals keep communities together. Remittances, the money migrants send home, are now a major source of income for many countries.
Belonging
Later generations often hold several identities at once, which shows in their language, art and politics.