The Arbëreshë-Arvanite Connection: Why did our paths diverge?
I’ve been looking into the shared roots of the Arbëreshë in Italy and the Arvanites in Greece. Historically, both groups come from the same ancestral population (Arbëror). A major piece of evidence is the traditional song **'Moj e bukura More'** (My Beautiful Morea), which laments the loss of the Morea (Peloponnese)—a region where many Arvanites also originated and were forced to abandon after ottoman invasion.
However, there is a big difference today: The Arbëreshë in Italy preserved their language and still identify strongly with their Albanian roots and albanian national hero like Scanderbeg . In contrast, most Arvanites in Greece have assimilated and identify solely as Greeks, often distancing themselves from the 'Albanian' label.
Why do you think the assimilation was so different?
Is it because religion?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this connection.