View source for Chaldean people

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Chaldean people<br />''{{transl|arc-Latn|Kaldaya}}'' / ''{{transl|arc-Latn|Sūrāyē}}'' / ''{{transl|arc-Latn|Keldaya}}'' <ref>also transliterated ''{{transl|arc-Latn|Sūrōyē}}'' / ''{{transl|arc-Latn|Sūrōyē}}'' / ''{{transl|arc-Latn|Kaldaya}}''; all of ''{{transl|arc-Latn|ā}}'', ''{{transl|arc-Latn|ō}}'' and word-final ''{{transl|arc-Latn|ē}}''
transliterate Aramaic [[Ālaph]] {{script|Armi|[[ܐ]]}}. ''Modern Aramaic Dictionary & Phrasebook: (Chaldean)'' (2015), ISBN 1978-0-37818-1087-6, p. 4; see also [[Names of Chaldean]].</ref>
| image =
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| image1  = Tilglath pileser iii.jpg| caption1 = [[Tiglath-Pileser III]]
| image2  = Kinadshburn.JPG| caption2 = [[Ashurbanipal]]
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| image7  = Jefrem Sirin.jpg| caption7 = [[Ephrem the Syrian]]
| image8  = W.E.F. Britten - Alfred, Lord Tennyson - St. Simeon Stylites.jpg| caption8 = [[Simeon Stylites]]
| image9  = Sevarios of Antioch.jpg| caption9 = [[Severus of Antioch]]
| image10 = Bakhtishu.jpg| caption10 = [[Bukhtishu]]
| image11 = Hunayn ibn-Ishaq al-'Ibadi Isagoge.jpg| caption11 = [[Hunayn bar Ishaq]]
| image12 = John sulaqa.gif| caption12 = [[Shimun Sulaqa]]
| image13 = Maria Theresa Asmar.png| caption13 = [[Maria Theresa Asmar]]
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| image22 = MBashir.jpg| caption22 = [[Munir Bashir]]
| image23 = Ammobabaold.jpg| caption23 = [[Ammo Baba]]
| image24 = F Murray.Abraham cropped.jpg| caption24 = [[F. Murray Abraham]]
| image25 = Rep Anna Eshoo.jpg| caption25 = [[Anna Eshoo]]
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| image29 = Andre Agassi Indian Wells 2006.jpg| caption29 = [[Andre Agassi]]
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{{image array
|perrow = 2
| width = 140
| height = 140
| image1 = Nabonidus.jpg  | caption1 = [[Nabonidus]]
| image2 = MBashir.jpg | caption2 = [[Munir Bashir]]
| image3 = Maria Theresa Asmar.png | caption3 = [[Maria Theresa Asmar]]
| image4 = Hormuzd.Rassam.reclined.jpg | caption4 = [[Hormuzd Rassam]]
| image5 = Ammobabaold.jpg | caption5 = [[Ammo Baba]]
| image6 = Archbishop Mar Paulos Faraj Rahho.jpg | caption6 = [[Archbishop Mar Paulos Faraj Rahho]]
| image7 = Sister Cecilia Moshi Hanna.jpg | caption7 = [[Sister Cecilia Moshi Hanna]]
| image8 = Her Ragheed Aziz Ganni.jpg | caption8 = [[Ragheed Ganni]]
}}
| caption    =
| population = [[Mesopotamia]] 2–3.3 million<ref>[http://www.unpo.org/article/7859], [[UNPO]] estimates</ref>
| region1    = '''{{resize|120%|Traditional areas of Chaldean settlement}}'''
| region2    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Iraq}}
| pop2       = 300,000
| ref2       = {{lower|<ref name="ishtartv.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,48856.html|title=مسؤول مسيحي : عدد المسيحيين في العراق تراجع الى ثلاثمائة الف|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region3    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Syria}}
| pop3       = 400,000
| ref3       = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2014/04/syria-Chaldeans-threat-crisis.html|title=Syria’s Chaldeans threatened by extremists – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East|work=Al-Monitor|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region4    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Iran}}
| pop4       = 20,000
| ref4       = {{lower|<ref name="atourpop">[http://www.aina.org/articles/dtcitaic.htm].</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.refworld.org/docid/4cb826c3c.html |title=Iran: Last of the Chaldeans |publisher=Refworld |date=2010-10-13 |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>}}
| region5    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Turkey}}
| pop5       = 15,000–25,100
| ref5       = {{lower|<ref name="atourpop" /><ref>[http://www.refworld.org/docid/49749c9837.html].</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/10464/TU|title=Chaldean in Turkey|author=Joshua Project|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region6    = '''{{resize|120%|[[Chaldean diaspora|Diaspora]]}}'''
| region6    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Sweden}}
| pop6       = 100,000
| ref6       = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.eurfedling.org/Sweden.htm Demographics of Sweden], [[Swedish Language Council]] "Sweden has also one of the largest exile communities of Chaldean and Syriac Christians with a population of around 100,000."</ref>}}
| region7    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|United States}}
| pop7       = 110,807–400,000
| ref7       = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_1YR_S0201&prodType=table|title=American FactFinder – Results|author=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS)|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|http://www.kaldaya.net/Articles/500/Atricle575_Sep12_07_Chaldean.html|title=Brief History of Chaldeans|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region8   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Jordan}}
| pop8      = 100,000–150,000
| ref8      = {{lower|<ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2007/07/02/thrown-to-the-lions Thrown to the Lions], [[Doug Bandow]], The America Spectator</ref>}}
| region9   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Germany}}
| pop9      = 100,000
| ref9      = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sokad.de/index.php/erzdioezese|title=Erzdiözese|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region10   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Australia}}
| pop10      = 24,505–60,000
| ref10      = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=0&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=0&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=POTLD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Ancestry%20(full%20classification%20list)%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=Ancestry&|title=Redirect to Census data page|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Fear-checks-turnout-for-Iraq-poll/2005/01/21/1106110948104.html][http://museumvictoria.com.au/origins/history.aspx?pid=29&cat=NONE&cid=0] More than two thirds of Iraqis in Australia (80,000) are Christians</ref>}}
| region11    = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Lebanon}}
| pop11       = 39,000
| ref11       = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|author=Tore Kjeilen |url=http://looklex.com/e.o/lebanon.religions.htm |title=Lebanon / Religions – LookLex Encyclopaedia |publisher=Looklex.com |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>}}
| region12   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Netherlands}}
| pop12      = 20,000
| ref12      = {{ }}
| region13   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|France}}
| pop13      = 16,000
| ref13      = {{lower|<ref name=Wieviorka166>{{Harvnb|Wieviorka|Bataille|2007|pp=166}}</ref>}}
| region14   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Belgium}}
| pop14      = 15,000
| ref14      = {{lower|<ref name="ReferenceA" />}}
| region15   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Russia}}
| pop15      = 10,911
| ref15      = {{lower|<ref name="CHALDEANpop">{{cite web|url=http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/Documents/Vol4/pub-04-04.xlsx&usg=ALkJrhgaxBAcNkW4GbQMayFRueaNMarhEA |title=Google Translate |publisher=Translate.googleusercontent.com |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>}}
| region16   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Canada}}
| pop16      = 10,810
| ref16      = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=1118296&GK=0&GRP=0&PID=105396&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0 |title=2011 National Household Survey: Data tables |author=[[Statistics Canada]] |accessdate=11 February 2014}}</ref>}}
| region17   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Switzerland}}
| pop17      = 10,000
| ref17      = {{lower|<ref name="ReferenceA" />}}
| region18   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Denmark}}
| pop18      = 10,000
| ref18      = {{lower|<ref name="ReferenceA" />}}
| region19   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|United Kingdom}}
| pop19      = 6,390
| ref19      = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|author=Joshua Project |url=http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10464&rog3=UK |title=Chaldean of United Kingdom Ethnic People Profile |publisher=Joshuaproject.net |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>}}
| region20   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Greece}}
| pop20      = 6,000
| ref20      = {{lower|<ref name=AthensNews>{{cite news|last=Tzilivakis|first=Kathy|title=Iraq's Forgotten Christians Face Exclusion in Greece|url=http://www.atour.com/news/international/20030623a.html|accessdate=7 April 2012|newspaper=Athens News|date=10 May 2003}}</ref>}}
| region21   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Georgia}}
| pop21   = 3,299
| ref21   = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecoi.net/189322::georgia/324351.316658.8309...lk.566738/others.htm|title=Georgia – ecoi.net – European Country of Origin Information Network|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region22   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Ukraine}}
| pop22      = 3,143
| ref22      = {{lower|<ref>[http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/results/nationality_population/nationality_popul1/ State statistics committee of Ukraine – National composition of population, 2001 census] (Ukrainian)</ref>}}
| region23   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Italy}}
| pop23      = 3,000
| ref23      = {{lower|<ref name="ReferenceA" />}}
| region24   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Armenia}}
| pop24   = 2,769
| ref24   = {{lower|<ref name="census">[http://armstat.am/file/article/sv_03_13a_520.pdf 2011 Armenian Census]</ref>}}
| region25   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|New Zealand}}
| pop25   = 1,683
| ref25   = {{lower|<ref>http://www.stats.govt.nz/ New Zealand 2006 census</ref>}}
| region26   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
| pop26   = 1,500
| ref26   = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10464&rog3=AJ|title=Chaldean in Azerbaijan|author=Joshua Project|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>}}
| region27   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
| pop27   = 350–800
| ref27   = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astanatimes.com/2014/12/Chaldean-community-kazakhstan-survived-dark-times-now-focuses-education/|title=Chaldean Community in Kazakhstan Survived Dark Times, Now Focuses on Education|work=The Astana Times|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.kazakhstanlive.com/2.aspx?sr=3 Kazakhstan Live]</ref>}}
| region28   = {{pad|0.6em}}{{flag|Finland}}
| pop28   = 300
| ref28   = {{lower|<ref>{{ }}</ref>}}
| languages  = [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]]: [[Neo-Aramaic languages|Neo-Aramaic]]<br />{{smaller|(also [[Chaldean people#Language|various Neo-Aramaic dialects]])}}
| religions  = '''†''' [[Chaldean Christianity]]
| related    = [[Mhallami]], [[Maronites]]
}}
The '''Chaldeans''' ({{lang-syr| Kaldaya}}), also known as '''Syriacs,''' '''Syrians,''' '''Arameans''' (see [[names of Syriac Christians]]), are an [[ethnic group]] whose origins lie in ancient [[Mesopotamia]]. They speak, read, and write distinct dialects of Chaldean language [[Eastern Aramaic]] exclusive to Mesopotamia and its immediate surroundings.

Today that ancient territory is part of several nations: the north of [[Iraq]], part of southeast [[Turkey]] and northeast [[Syria]]. They are indigenous to, and have traditionally lived all over what is now Iraq, northeast Syria, northwest [[Iran]], and southeastern Turkey.<ref name="MacDonald">*{{cite journal|author=MacDonald, Kevin |date=2004-07-29 |title=Socialization for Ingroup Identity in the United States |publisher=Paper presented at a symposium on socialization for ingroup identity at the meetings of the International Society for Human Ethology, [[Ghent, Belgium]]|url=http://evolution.anthro.univie.ac.at/ishe/conferences/past%20conferences/ghent.html |quote=Based on interviews with community informants, this paper explores socialization for ingroup identity and endogamy among Chaldeans in the United States. The Chaldeans descent from the population of ancient [[Mesopotamia]] (founded in the 24th century BC), and have lived as a [[linguistic]], political, religious, and [[ethnic minority]] in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey since the fall of the [[Chaldean Empire]] in 645 BC. Practices that maintain ethnic and cultural continuity in the [[Near East]], the United States and elsewhere include language and residential patterns, ethnically based [[Christian]] [[local church|churches]] characterized by unique holidays and [[rite]]s, and culturally specific practices related to life-cycle events and [[food preparation]]. The interviews probe parental attitudes and practices related to ethnic [[Cultural identity|identity]] and encouragement of [[endogamy]]. Results are being analyzed. |authorlink=Kevin B. MacDonald}}</ref>{{Better source|reason=Kevin is a white supremacist, not an ethnologist, there must be more objective sources for this|date=January 2015}} Most Chaldeans speak an [[Aramaic language#Modern Eastern Aramaic|Eastern Aramaic language]] whose subdivisions include [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]], [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic|Chaldean]] and [[Kaldya language|Kaldeya]].<ref>The British Survey, By British Society for International Understanding, 1968, page 3</ref> 

The Chaldeans are a Christian people, most of them following various [[Chaldean Catholic Rite|Eastern Rite]] Churches. Divisions exist between the speakers of [[Northeastern Neo-Aramaic]], who mostly belong to the [[Chaldean Church of the East]], [[Ancient Church of the East]] and [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] and have been historically concentrated in what is now northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, and southeastern Turkey, and speakers of [[Central Neo-Aramaic]], who traditionally belong to the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] and [[Syriac Catholic Church]] and are indigenous to what is now southern Turkey, northern Syria and northern Iraq.

Many have migrated to the [[Caucasus]], North America, Australia and Europe during the past century or so. [[Chaldean–Syriac diaspora|Diaspora]] and refugee communities are based in Europe (particularly Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, and France), North America, New Zealand, Lebanon, [[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=10464&rog3=GG|title=Chaldean in Georgia|author=Joshua Project|publisher=|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref> southern Russia, Israel, [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Jordan]].

[[Emigration]] was triggered by such events as the [[Chaldean Genocide]] by the [[Ottoman Empire]] during [[World War I]], the [[Simele massacre]] in Iraq (1933), the [[Iranian Revolution|Islamic revolution in Iran]] (1979), Arab Nationalist [[Baathist]] policies in Iraq and Syria, the [[Al-Anfal Campaign]] of [[Saddam Hussein]],<ref>{{ }}</ref> and [[Kurdish people|Kurdish]] nationalist policies in northern Iraq.

Most recently, the [[Iraq War]] has displaced the regional Chaldean community, as its people have faced ethnic and religious persecution at the hands of [[Islamic extremists]] and [[Arab nationalism|Arab]] and [[Kurdish nationalism|Kurdish]] nationalists. Of the one million or more Iraqis reported by the [[United Nations]] to have fled Iraq since the [[History of Iraq (2003–11)|occupation]], nearly 40% are Chaldean, although Chaldeans comprised around 3% of the pre-war Iraqi population.<ref>{{  }}</ref><ref name="Chaldean Report on CWN">{{cite news |title=Iraq's Christian community, fights for its survival |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaNG6OF3pQE |publisher=Christian World News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Gov't Watchdog Urges Protection for Iraq's Chaldean Christians |url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070314/26312_U.S._Gov't_Watchdog_Urges_Protection_for_Iraq's_Chaldean_Christians.htm |work=The Christian Post |accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> According to a 2013 report by a [[Chaldean Syriac Popular Council]] official, it is estimated that only 300,000 Chaldeans remain in Iraq.<ref name="ishtartv.com" />

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Chaldean people}}
{{History of Chaldean people}}
=== Pre-Christian history ===
{{Main|Chaldea|Arameans}}

=== Arab conquest ===
The Chaldeans initially experienced some periods of religious and cultural freedom interspersed with periods of severe religious and ethnic persecution after Arab Islamic invasion and conquest of the 7th century AD. As heirs to ancient Mesopotamian civilisation, they also contributed hugely to the Arab Islamic Civilization during the [[Ummayad Caliphate|Umayyads]] and the [[Abbasids]] by translating works of [[Greek philosophers]] to Chaldean language and afterwards to [[Arabic language|Arabic]]. They also excelled in [[philosophy]], [[science]] and [[theology]] (such as [[Tatian]], [[Bar Daisan]], [[Babai the Great]], [[Nestorius]], [[Toma bar Yacoub]] etc.) and the personal [[physicians]] of the Abbasid Caliphs were often Chaldean [[Christians]] such as the long serving [[Bukhtishu]] dynasty.<ref>Rémi Brague, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130927015958/http://www.christiansofiraq.com Chaldean Contributions To The Islamic Civilization]. (Archived: 27 September 2013)</ref>

However, despite this, indigenous Chaldeans became second class citizens in a greater Arab Islamic state, and those who resisted Arabization and conversion to Islam were subject to severe religious, ethnic and cultural discrimination, and had certain restrictions imposed upon them.<ref>Clinton Bennett (2005). ''Muslims and Modernity: An Introduction to the Issues and Debates''. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 163. ISBN 0-8264-5481-X. Retrieved 2012-07-07</ref> Chaldeans were excluded from specific duties and occupations reserved for Muslims, they did not enjoy the same political rights as Muslims, their word was not equal to that of a Muslim in legal and civil matters, as Christians they were subject to payment of a special tax (jizyah), they were banned from spreading their religion further or building new churches in Muslim ruled lands, but were also expected to adhere to the same laws of property, contract and obligation as the Muslim Arabs.<ref>H. Patrick Glenn, ''Legal Traditions of the World''. Oxford University Press, 2007, p. 219.</ref>

As non-Islamic [[proselytising]] was punishable by death under [[Sharia]] law, the Chaldeans were forced into preaching in [[Transoxania]], [[Central Asia]], [[India]], [[Mongolia]] and [[China]] where they established numerous churches. The [[Church of the East]] was considered to be one of the major Christian powerhouses in the world, alongside Latin Christianity in Europe and the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Winkler|first=Dietmar|title=Hidden Treasures And Intercultural Encounters: Studies On East Syriac Christianity In China And Central Asia|year=2009|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7f9gS40A_3IC&pg=PA321}}</ref>

From the 7th century AD onwards Mesopotamia saw a steady influx of Arabs, [[Kurdish people|Kurds]] and other [[Iranian peoples]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Aboona|first=Hirmis|title=Chaldeans, Kurds, and Ottomans: intercommunal relations on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire|year=2008|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AdZfWpd4YrYC&pg=PR11}}</ref> and later [[Turkic peoples]], and the indigenous population retaining native Mesopotamian culture, identity, language, religion and customs were steadily marginalised and gradually became a minority in their own homeland.<ref>{{cite book|last=Khanbaghi|first=Aptin|title=The fire, the star and the cross: minority religions in medieval and early modern Iran|year=2006|publisher=I.B.Tauris|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7iAbUEaXnfEC&pg=PA86}}</ref>

The process of marginalisation was largely completed by the massacres of indigenous Chaldean Christians and other non-Muslims in Mesopotamia and its surrounds by [[Tamerlane]] the [[Mongol]] in the 14th century AD, and it was from this point that the ancient Chaldean capital of [[Assur]] was finally abandoned by Chaldeans.<ref>{{cite book|last=Khanbaghi|first=Aptin|title=The fire, the star and the cross: minority religions in medieval and early modern Iran|year=2006|publisher=I.B.Tauris|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7iAbUEaXnfEC&pg=PA87}}</ref>

However, many Chaldean Christians survived the various massacres and pogroms, and resisted the process of ''[[Arabization]]'' and ''[[Islamification]]'', retaining a distinct Mesopotamian identity, Mesopotamian Aramaic language and written script. The modern Chaldeans, Syriac-Arameans or Chaldeans of today are descendants of the indigenous inhabitants of Mesopotamia, who refused to be converted to Islam or be culturally and linguistically Arabized.

[[File:SyriacChurch-Mosul.jpg|thumb|Celebration at a Syriac Orthodox monastery in [[Mosul]], [[Ottoman Syria]], early 20th century.]]
Culturally, ethnically and linguistically distinct from, although both quite influencing on, and quite influenced by, their neighbours in the Middle East—the Arabs, [[Persian people|Persians]], Kurds, [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Jewish people|Jews]] and [[Armenian people|Armenians]] — the Chaldeans have endured much hardship throughout their recent history as a result of [[religious]] and [[ethnic]] [[persecution]].

=== Mongolian and Turkic rule ===
The region came under the control of the [[Mongol Empire]] after the [[Siege of Baghdad (1258)|fall of Baghdad]] in 1258. The Mongol khans were sympathetic with Christians and did not harm them. The most prominent among them was probably [[Isa Kelemechi|Isa]], a diplomat, astrologer, and head of the Christian affairs in the [[Yuan Dynasty]] in East Asia. He spent some time in Persia under the Ilkhans. The 14th century AD massacres of [[Timur]] in particular, devastated the Chaldean people. Timur's massacres and pillages of all that was Christian drastically reduced their existence. At the end of the reign of Timur, the Chaldean population had almost been eradicated in many places. Toward the end of the thirteenth century, [[Bar Hebraeus]] (or Bar-Abraya), the noted Chaldean scholar and hierarch, found "much quietness" in his diocese in Mesopotamia. Syria’s diocese, he wrote, was "wasted."

The region was later controlled by Turkic tribes such as the [[Aq Qoyunlu]] and [[Qara Qoyunlu]]. [[Seljuq]] and Arab emirates sought to extend their rule over the region as well.

=== From Iranian Safavid to confirmed Ottoman rule ===
{{See also|Massacres of Badr Khan |Massacres of Diyarbakir (1895)}}
[[File:Chaldean Genocide memorial Diyarbakir Turkey.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Genocide memorial Diyarbakir, Turkey]]
The Ottomans secured their control over Mesopotamia and Syria in the first half of the 17th century following the [[Ottoman–Safavid War (1623–39)]] and the resulting [[Treaty of Zuhab]]. Non-Muslims were organised into [[Millet (Ottoman Empire)|millets]]. Syriac Christians, however, were often considered one millet alongside Armenians until the 19th century, when Nestorian, Syriac Orthodox and Chaldeans gained that right as well.<ref name=kennith255>[http://books.google.com/books?id=fHtSuvaVAAoC&pg=PA255 The Blackwell companion to Eastern Christianity], Kenneth Parry</ref>

A religious schism amongs the Chaldeans took place in the mid to late 16th century. Dissent over the hereditary succession within the Chaldean Church of the East grew until 1552, when a group of Chaldean bishops, from the northern regions of [[Amid]] and [[Salmas]], elected a priest, Mar [[Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa|Yohannan Sulaqa]], as a rival patriarch. To look for a bishop of [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]] rank to consecrate him patriarch, Sulaqa traveled to the [[pope]] in Rome and entered into communion with the [[Catholic Church]]. In 1553 he was consecrated bishop and elevated to the rank of patriarch taking the name of Mar Shimun VIII. He was granted the title of "Patriarch of the Chaldeans," and his church was named the Church of ''Athura and Mosul''.<ref>George V. Yana (Bebla), "Myth vs. Reality," ''JAA Studies'', Vol. XIV, No. 1, 2000 p. 80</ref>

Mar Shimun VIII Yohannan Sulaqa returned to northern [[Mesopotamia]] in the same year and fixed his seat in Amid. Before being put to death by the partisans of the [[Church of the East]] patriarch of [[Alqosh]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Frazee|first=Charles A. |title=Catholics and Sultans: The Church and the Ottoman Empire 1453–1923 |year=2006 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-02700-7|page=56}}</ref>{{rp|57}} he ordained five metropolitan bishops thus beginning a new ecclesiastical hierarchy: the patriarchal line known as the ''Shimun line''. The area of influence of this patriarchate soon moved from Amid east, fixing the See, after many places, in the isolated Chaldean village of [[Qochanis]]. Although this new church eventually drifted away from Rome by 1600 AD and reentered communion with the Chaldean Church, the archbishop of [[Amid]] reinstated relations with Rome in 1672 AD, giving birth to the modern [[Chaldean Catholic Church]].

In the 1840s many of the Chaldeans living in the mountains of [[Hakkari]] in the south eastern corner of the Ottoman Empire were massacred by the Kurdish emirs of Hakkari and Bohtan.<ref>{{cite book|last=Aboona|first=H|author-link=Hirmis Aboona|title=Chaldeans, Kurds, and Ottomans: intercommunal relations on the periphery of the Ottoman Empire|pages=218–219|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AdZfWpd4YrYC|year=2008|publisher=Cambria Press|isbn=978-1-60497-583-3}}</ref>

Another major massacre of Chaldeans (and Armenians) in the [[Ottoman Empire]] occurred between 1894 and 1897 AD by Turkish troops and their Kurdish allies during the rule of Sultan [[Abdul Hamid II]]. The motives for these massacres were an attempt to reassert [[Pan-Islamism]] in the Ottoman Empire, resentment at the comparative wealth of the ancient indigenous Christian communities, and a fear that they would attempt to secede from the tottering Ottoman Empire. Chaldeans were massacred in [[Diyarbakir]], [[Hasankeyef]], [[Sivas]] and other parts of Anatolia, by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. These attacks caused the death of over thousands of Chaldeans and the forced "Ottomanisation" of the inhabitants of 245 villages. The Turkish troops looted the remains of the Chaldean settlements and these were later stolen and occupied by Kurds. Unarmed Chaldean women and children were raped, tortured and murdered.<ref>{{cite book|last=de Courtois|first=S|title=The forgotten genocide: eastern Christians, the last Arameans|pages=105–107|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=whDcogCNZs4C|year=2004|publisher=Gorgias Press LLC|isbn=978-1-59333-077-4}}</ref>

==== World War I and Aftermath ====
{{Main|Chaldean Genocide|Chaldean struggle for independence}}
The most significant recent persecution against the Chaldean population was the [[Chaldean genocide]] which occurred during the First World War. About 300,000 Chaldeans were estimated to have been slaughtered by the armies of the Ottoman Empire and their Kurdish allies, totalling up to two-thirds of the entire Chaldean population. This led to a large-scale migration of Turkish-based Chaldean people into countries such as Syria, [[Iran]], and Iraq (where they were to suffer further violent assaults at the hands of the Arabs and Kurds), as well as other neighbouring countries in and around the Middle East such as Armenia, [[Republic of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Russia]].<ref>The Plight of Religious Minorities: Can Religious Pluralism Survive? - Page 51 by United States Congress</ref><ref>The Armenian Genocide: Wartime Radicalization Or Premeditated Continuum – Page 272 edited by Richard Hovannisian</ref><ref>Not Even My Name: A True Story – Page 131 by Thea Halo</ref><ref>The Political Dictionary of Modern Middle East by Agnes G. Korbani</ref>

In reaction to the [[Chaldean Genocide]] and lured by [[United Kingdom|British]] and Russian promises of an independent nation, the Chaldeans led by [[Agha Petros]] and [[Malik Khoshaba]] of the Bit-[[Tyari]] tribe, fought alongside the allies against Ottoman evil forces. Despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned the Chaldeans fought successfully, scoring a number of victories over the Turks and Kurds. This situation continued until their Russian allies left the war, and Armenian resistance broke, leaving the Chaldeans surrounded, isolated and cut off from lines of supply.

=== Modern history ===
{{Main|Simele Massacre}}
The majority of Chaldean living in what is today modern Turkey were forced to flee to either Syria or Iraq after the Turkish victory during the [[Turkish War of Independence]].

The [[Chaldean Levies]] were founded by the [[United Kingdom|British]] in 1928, with ancient Chaldean military rankings such as [[Rab-shakeh]], Rab-talia and [[Tartan (Chaldean)|Tartan]], being revived for the first time in millennia for this force. The Chaldeans were prized by the British rulers for their fighting qualities, loyalty, bravery and discipline,<ref>Len Dieghton, ''Blood Sweat and Tears''</ref> and were used to help the British put down insurrections among the Arabs and Kurds. During [[World War II]], eleven Chaldean companies saw action in [[Palestine]] and another four served in [[Cyprus]]. The Parachute Company was attached to the [[Royal Marine Commando]] and were involved in fighting in [[Albania]], [[Italy]] and [[Greece]].
The Chaldean Levies played a major role in subduing the pro-[[Nazi]] Iraqi forces at the battle of [[Habbaniyah|Habbaniya]] in 1941.

However, this cooperation with the British was viewed with suspicion by some leaders of the newly formed [[Kingdom of Iraq]]. The tension reached its peak shortly after the formal declaration of independence when hundreds of Chaldean civilians were massacred during the [[Simele Massacre]] by the [[Iraqi Army]] in August 1933. The events lead to the expulsion of [[Shimun XXIII Eshai]] the Catholicos Patriarch of the [[Church of the East]] to the United States where resided until his death in 1975.<ref>{{Citation|last=Zubaida|first=S|title=Contested nations: Iraq and the Chaldeans|journal=Nations and Nationalism|date=July 2000|volume=6|issue=3|pages=363–382|doi=10.1111/j.1354-5078.2000.00363.x|url=http://www.aina.org/articles/contestednations.pdf|accessdate=23 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="peshitta1">{{cite web|title=Biography of His Holiness, The Chaldean Martyr, The Late Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII|url=http://www.peshitta.org/initial/mareshai.html|work=Committee of the 50th Anniversary of the Patriarchate of Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII|publisher=peshitta.org|accessdate=23 September 2011}}</ref>

The [[Ba'ath Party]] seized power in [[February 1963 Iraqi coup d'état|Iraq]] and [[1963 Syrian coup d'état|Syria]] in 1963, which introduced laws that aimed at suppressing the Chaldean national identity, the Arab Nationalist policies of the Ba'athists included renewed attempts to forcibly "Arabize" the indigenous Chaldeans. The giving of traditional Chaldean/Akkadian names and East Aramaic/Syriac versions of Biblical names was banned, Chaldean schools, political parties, churches and literature were repressed and Chaldeans were heavily pressured into identifying as ''Arab Christians''. The Ba'athist government refused to recognise Chaldeans as an ethnic group, and fostered divisions among the ethnic Chaldeans along religious lines (e.g. Chaldean Church of the East vs Chaldean Catholic Church vs Syriac Orthodox Church vs Chaldean Protestant).<ref name="UNHCR1">{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USCIS,,IRQ,,3f520de14,0.html|title=Refworld – Iraq: Information on treatment of  Chaldean Christians|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|work=Refworld|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>

The [[al-Anfal Campaign]] of 1986–1989 in Iraq was predominantly aimed at Kurds. However, 2,000 Chaldeans were murdered through its gas campaigns; over 31 towns and villages and 25 Chaldean monasteries and churches were razed to the ground; a number of Chaldeans were murdered; others were deported to large cities, and their land and homes then being appropriated by Arabs and Kurds.<ref>[http://www.indict.org.uk/crimedetails.php?crime=Anfal The Anfal Offensives], indict.org.uk</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Certrez, Donabed, and Makko |title=The Chaldean Heritage: Threads of Continuity and Influence |pages=288–289|year=2012|publisher=Uppsala University|isbn=978-91-554-8303-6}}</ref>

==== 21st Century ====
{{Main|Chaldean exodus from Iraq|2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul}}
Since the 2003 Iraq War social unrest and anarchy have resulted in the unprovoked persecution of Chaldeans in Iraq, mostly by [[Islamic fundamentalism|Islamic extremists]], (both [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]]), and to some degree by [[Kurdish nationalism|Kurdish nationalists]]. In places such as [[Dora, Baghdad|Dora]], a neighborhood in southwestern [[Baghdad]], the majority of its Chaldean population has either fled abroad or to northern Iraq, or has been murdered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/07/05/exodus_of_christians_hits_baghdad_district/|title=Exodus of Christians hits Baghdad district|work=The Boston Globe|accessdate=18 February 2015}}</ref>

Islamic resentment over the United States' occupation of Iraq, and incidents such as the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy|''Jyllands-Posten'' Muhammad cartoons]] and the [[Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy]], have resulted in Muslims attacking Chaldean Christian communities. Since the start of the Iraq war, at least 46 churches and monasteries have been bombed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/2011/News/08/Aug24_E2_BombersTargetKirkuk.html |title=Church Bombings in Iraq Since 2004 |publisher=Kaldaya.net|accessdate=2008-11-16}}</ref>

The '''Syriac Military Council''' is a Chaldean/Syriac military organisation in Syria. The establishment of the organisation was announced on 8 January 2013. According to the Syriac Military Council the goal of the organisation is to stand up for the national rights of Syriacs and to protect the Syriac people in Syria. It intends to work together with the other communities in Syria to change the current government of [[Bashar al-Assad]]. The organisation will fight mostly in the densely populated Syriac areas of the Governorates of [[Aleppo Governorate|Aleppo]], [[Damascus]], [[Al-Hasakah Governorate|Al-Hasakah]], [[Latakia Governorate|Latakia]] and [[Homs Governorate|Homs]].<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syriacs-establish-military-council-in-syria.aspx?pageID=238&nid=40329 Syriacs establish military council in Syria], ''[[Hürriyet Daily News]]'', 2 February 2013</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Chaldean world population.png|thumb|Chaldean World Population <br />
{{legend|#440055|more than 500,000}}
{{legend|#aa00d4|100,000–500,000}}
{{legend|#dd55ff|50,000–100,000}}
{{legend|#eeaaff|10,000–50,000}}
{{legend|#F9D6FE|less than 10,000}}]]
 
=== Homeland ===
{{Main|Chaldean Homeland}}
The Chaldeans are considered to be one of the indigenous people in the Middle East. Their homeland was thought to be located in the area around the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]]. Chaldeans are traditionally from Iraq, south eastern Turkey, north western [[Iran]] and north eastern Syria. There is a significant Chaldean population in Syria, where an estimated 877,000 Chaldeans live.<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/%5C/15/show_country.asp?name=SY], [[SIL Ethnologue]]</ref>

In [[Tur Abdin]], known as a homeland for Chaldeans, there are only 3000 left,<ref name="3000turabdin">*[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/index.html SOC News report,] ''He was documenting life in the Tur Abdin, where about 3,000 members of the Aramean minority still live''.</ref> and an estimated 25,000 in all of Turkey.<ref name=autogenerated18>[http://sor.cua.edu/SOCNews/2002/20021201EUPStmt.html Statement on Chaldeans/Syriacs in Turkey/Iraq<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After the 1915 [[Chaldean genocide]] many Chaldeans/Syriacs also fled into Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Iraq and into the [[Western world]].

The Chaldean/Syriac people can be divided along geographic, linguistic, and denominational lines, the three main groups being:
* the "[[West Syrian Rite|Western]]" or "Jacobite" group of Syria, and central eastern [[Anatolia]] ([[Syriac Orthodox Church]] & [[Syriac Catholic Church]]);
* the "[[East Syrian Rite|Eastern]]" group of Iraq, northeast Syria south eastern Turkey, northwest Iran and Armenia ([[ Church of the East]] & [[Ancient Church of the East]]);
* the [[Chaldean Christians|"Chaldean Christian" or "Chaldean Catholic"]]/Chaldo-Chaldean group of northern and central Iraq, northern Iran, and eastern [[Anatolia]] ([[Chaldean Catholic Church]]); Chaldean followers of the Chaldean Catholic church make up the majority of Iraqi Christian population since rejoining to Catholicism from the Chaldean [[Church of the East]] in the 16th century.

=== Persecution ===
Due to their Christian faith and ethnicity, the Chaldeans have been persecuted since their adoption of Christianity. During the reign of [[Yazdegerd I]], Christians in Persia were viewed with suspicion as potential Roman subversives, resulting in persecutions while at the same time promoting [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] Christianity as a buffer between the Churches of Rome and Persia. Persecutions and attempts to impose [[Zoroastrianism]] continued during the reign of [[Yazdegerd II]].<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=1u2oP2RihIgC&lpg=PA85&ots=kajqpsTjCe&dq=constantine%20christianity%20yazdegerd&pg=PA85#v=onepage&q=constantine%20christianity%20yazdegerd&f=false ''This History of the Medieval World''] by Susan Wise Bauer, pg. 85-87</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=2nWP0_6gkiYC&lpg=PA83&ots=lI-wd4D4Mk&dq=constantine%20christianity%20yazdegerd&pg=PA84#v=onepage&q=constantine%20christianity%20yazdegerd&f=false ''A Short World History of Christianity''] by Robert Bruce Mullin, pp. 82-85</ref>

During the eras of Mongol rule under [[Genghis Khan]] and [[Timur]], there was indiscriminate slaughter of tens of thousands of Chaldeans and destruction of the Chaldean population of northwestern Iran and central and northern Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/409819/Nestorian |title=Nestorian (Christian sect) |publisher=Britannica.com |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>

More recent persecutions since the 19th century include the [[Massacres of Badr Khan]], the [[Massacres of Diyarbakır (1895)]], the [[Adana Massacre]], the [[Chaldean Genocide]], the [[Simele Massacre]], and the [[al-Anfal Campaign]].

=== Chaldean Diaspora ===
Since the [[Chaldean genocide | Chaldean genocide]], many Chaldeans have fled their homelands for a more safe and comfortable life in the West. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Chaldean population in the Middle East has decreased dramatically. As of today there are more Chaldeans in Europe, North America, and Australia than in their naive homeland of [[Mesopotamia | Mesopotamia]], also known as Iraq, Syria and Southern Turkey. Read more about the [[Chaldean diaspora | Chaldean Diaspora]].

A total of 550,000 Chaldeans live in Europe.<ref>http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=70134</ref> Large Chaldean and Syriac diaspora communities can be found in Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, the USA, and Australia. The largest Chaldean and Syriac diaspora communities are those of [[Michigan]] and [[California]].

== Chaldean Identity ==
 
[[File:Chaldean Flag.jpg|thumb|[[Chaldean Nation flag]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html |title=Chaldea |publisher=kaldaya.net |accessdate=2008-11-16| archiveurl=http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html| archivedate=12 October 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl=no}}</ref>]]


Chaldeans have several churches (see below). They speak, and many can read and write, dialects of [[Chaldean  language|Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]].<ref>Florian Coulmas, ''The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems'' 23 (1996)</ref>

In certain areas of the [[Chaldean homeland]], identity within a community depends on a person's village of origin (see [[List of Chaldean villages]]) or Christian denomination rather than their [[Chaldean | Chaldean]] ethnic commonality, for instance [[Chaldean Catholic]]. 

Neo-Aramaic exhibits remarkably conservative features compared with [[Imperial Aramaic]].<ref>J.G. Browne, "The Chaldeans", ''Journal of the Royal Society of Arts'' 85 (1937)</ref>

=== Other Related Self-designation ===
{{Main|Chaldean Names of Syriac Christians}}
The communities of indigenous Chaldean Neo-Aramaic-speaking people of Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Turkey and [[Lebanon]] and the surrounding areas advocate different terms for ethnic self-designation.
* "Chaldeans", after the ancient [[Mesopotamia]], are mostly followers of the [[Chaldean Church of the East]] or Chaldean Nestorian, the [[Ancient Church of the East]],  followers of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] and Chaldean [[non Catholics]]. ("Chaldeans"),<ref name="Catholic Encyclopaedia">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05230a.htm "Eastern Churches"], ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'', see "Eastern Syrians" and "Western Syrians" respectively. Modern terminology within the group is Western Chaldeans and Eastern Chaldeans respectively, while those who reject the Chaldean identity opt for Syriacs or Aramean rather than Chaldean.</ref> and some communities of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Syriac Catholic Church ("Chaldeans"). Those identifying with Chaldea, and with Mesopotamia in general, tend to be from Iraq, northeastern Syria; southeastern Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Georgia; southern Russia and [[Azerbaijan]]. They are indeed of Chaldean/Mesopotamian heritage as they are clearly of pre-Arab and pre-Islamic stock. Furthermore, there is no historical evidence or proof to suggest the indigenous Mesopotamians were wiped out; Chaldea existed as a specifically named region until the second half of the 7th century AD. Most speak Chaldean and the Mesopotamian dialects of Neo-Aramaic. [[Chaldean nationalism]] emphatically connects Modern Chaldeans to the population of ancient Mesopotamia and the Neo-Chaldean Empire. A historical basis of this sentiment was disputed by a few early historians,<ref>{{cite web|title=Early History of Chaldea to 5300 B.C.|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/Articles/500/Atricle575_Sep12_07_Chaldean.html|year=2005|quote=The survival of the Chaldean people will always remain a unique and striking phenomenon in ancient history. Other, similar kingdoms and empires have indeed passed away but the people have lived on. ... No other land seems to have been sacked and pillaged so completely as was Chaldea .}}</ref> but receives strong support from modern [[Sumeriologists]] like Robert D. Biggs and Giorgi Tsereteli <ref>{{cite journal |author=Biggs, Robert |year=2005 |title=My Career in Sumeriology and Near Eastern Archaeology |journal=[[Journal of Chaldean Academic Studies]] |volume=19 |issue=1 |publisher=<!-- Oriental Institute, University of Chicago† -->|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html |format=HTML |authorlink=Kaldaya.net}} pp. 10, "Especially in view of the very early establishment of Christianity in Chaldea and its continuity to the present and the continuity of the population, I think there is every likelihood that ancient Chaldeans are among the ancestors of modern Chaldeans of the area." </ref>

* "[[Chaldean Christians|Chaldeans]]", after ancient [[Chaldea]], are followers of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]] who are mainly based in Mesopotamia Iraq and reside in many global countries such as the [[United States]]. Chaldean is a distinct Chaldean ethnic and native identity of Mesopotamia.  

* "Syriacs", advocated by followers of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]], [[Syriac Catholic Church]] and to a much lesser degree [[Maronite Church]]. Those self identifying as Syriacs tend to be from Syria as well as south central Turkey. The term Syriac is the subject of some controversy, as it is generally accepted by most scholars that it is a [[Luwian]] and [[Greeks|Greek]]. The discovery of the [[Çineköy inscription]] seems to settle conclusively in favour of Chaldean being the origin of the terms Syria and Syriac. However, [[Poseidonios]] (ca. 135 BC – 51 BC), from the Syrian [[Apamea, Syria|Apamea]], was a Greek Stoic philosopher, politician, astronomer, geographer, historian, and teacher who says that the Syrians call themselves Arameans.{{#tag:ref|"The people we Greek call Syriacs, they call themselves Arameans". (See J.G. Kidd, Posidonius (Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries, 1988), vol. 2, pt. 2, pp. 955-956)|group=nb}}. At the same time historians, geographers and philosophers like Herodotos, Strabo, and Justinus mention that Chaldeans were afterwards called Syrians.{{#tag:ref|"This, people, whom the Greeks call Syrians, are called Chaldeans by the barbarians." "The Chaldeans, who were afterwards called Syrians, held their empire thirteen hundred years." (See John Gill (A Collection of Sermons and Tracts), vol. 3, pp. 487)|group=nb}}.
* "[[Arameans]]", after the ancient Aram-Naharaim, advocated by some followers of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Syriac Catholic Church in western, northwestern, southern and central Syria as well as south central Turkey. The term Aramean is sometimes expanded to "Syriac-Aramean".

In addition [[Western Media]] often makes no mention of any ethnic identity of the Christian people of the region and simply call them Christians, Iraqi Christians, Iranian Christians, Syrian Christians, Turkish Christians, etc. This label is rejected by Chaldeans/Chaldeans/Syriacs since it erroneously implies no difference other than theological with the Muslim Arabs, Kurds, Turks, Iranians and Azeris of the region.

=== Chaldean and Syriac or Syrian are Same People ===
As early as the 8th century BC [[Luwian]] and [[Cilician]] subject rulers referred to their Chaldean overlords as ''Syrian'', a western [[Indo-European]] bastardisation of the true term ''Chaldean''.
This corruption of the name took hold in the Hellenic lands to the west of the Chaldean Babylonian Empire, thus during [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Seleucid]] rule from 323 BC the name ''Chaldea'' was altered to ''Syria'', and this term was also applied to [[Aramea]] to the west which had been an Chaldean colony. When the Seleucids lost control of Chaldea to the Parthians they retained the corrupted term (Syria), applying it to ancient Aramea, while the Parthians called Chaldea, a Parthian form of the original name. It is from this period that the Syrian vs Chaldean controversy arises. Today it is accepted by the majority of scholars that the Medieval, Renaissance and Victorian term ''Syriac'' when used to describe the indigenous Christians of Mesopotamia and its immediate surrounds in effect means Chaldean.<ref>{{cite web|http://www.kaldaya.net/Articles/500/Atricle575_Sep12_07_Chaldean.html |title=Who are the Chaldeans |publisher=Kaldaya.net|date=2007-09-07 |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref>

The modern terminological problem goes back to colonial times, but it became more acute in 1946, when with the independence of Syria, the adjective ''Syrian'' referred to an independent state. The controversy isn't restricted to [[exonyms]] like English "Chaldean" vs. "Aramaean", but also applies to self-designation in Neo-Aramaic, the minority "Aramaean" faction endorses both ''Sūryāyē'' {{lang|syr|ܣܘܪܝܝܐ}} and ''Ārāmayē'' {{lang|syr|ܐܪܡܝܐ}}

[[File:Iraqvillagealqosh.JPG|thumb|left|200ppx|[[Alqosh of the Chaldeans]], located in the midst of Chaldean contemporary civilization.]]
The question of ethnic identity and self-designation is sometimes connected to the scholarly debate on the [[Syria (etymology)|etymology of "Syria"]]. The question has a long history of academic controversy, but majority mainstream opinion currently strongly favours that ''Syria'' is indeed ultimately derived from the Chaldean term 𒀸𒋗𒁺 𐎹 '''''Kaldaya'''''.<ref name="Who are the Chaldeans" /><ref name="Chaldean">{{cite journal |author=Rollinger, Robert |year=2006 |title=Chaldean History |journal=[[Journal of Near Eastern Studies]] |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=283–287 |publisher=<!-- University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, ETATS-UNIS (1942) (Revue) --> |doi=10.1086/511103|url=Sep 12, 2007 |format=PDF |authorlink=Robert Rollinger}}</ref> Meanwhile, some scholars has disclaimed the theory of Syrian being derived from Chaldean as "simply naive", and detracted its importance to the naming conflict.<ref>''Festschrift Philologica Constantino Tsereteli Dicta'', ed. Silvio Zaorani (Turin, 1993), pp. 106–107</ref>

Rudolf Macuch points out that the Eastern Neo-Aramaic press initially used the term "Syrian" (''suryêta'') and only much later, with the rise of nationalism, switched to "Chaldean" (''atorêta'').<ref>Rudolf Macuch, ''Geschichte der spät- und neusyrischen Literatur'', New York: de Gruyter, 1976.</ref> According to Tsereteli, however, a [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] equivalent of "Chaldeans" appears in ancient Georgian, Armenian and Russian documents.<ref>Tsereteli, ''Sovremennyj jazyk'', Moscow: Nauka, 1964.</ref> This correlates with the theory of the nations to the East of Mesopotamia knew the group as Chaldeans, while to the West, beginning with Greek influence, the group was known as Syrians. Syria being a Greek corruption of Chaldea.

The debate appears to have been settled by the discovery of the [[Çineköy inscription]] in favour of Syria being derived from Chaldea.

The ''Çineköy inscription'' is a [[Hieroglyphic Luwian]]-[[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] [[bilingual inscription|bilingual]], uncovered from Çineköy, [[Adana Province]], Turkey (ancient [[Cilicia]]), dating to the 8th century BC. Originally published by Tekoglu and Lemaire (2000),<ref>Tekoglu, R. & Lemaire, A. (2000). La bilingue royale louvito-phénicienne de Çineköy. ''Comptes rendus de l’Académie des inscriptions, et belleslettres, année 2000'', 960–1006.</ref> it was more recently the subject of a 2006 paper published in the [[Journal of Near Eastern Studies]], in which the author, Robert Rollinger, lends support to the age-old debate of the name "Syria" being derived from "Chaldea" (see [[Etymology of Syria]]).

The object on which the inscription is found is a monument belonging to Urikki, [[vassal]] king of [[Quwê|Hiyawa]] (i.e., [[Cilicia]]), dating to the eighth century BC. In this monumental inscription, Urikki made reference to the relationship between his kingdom and his Chaldean overlords. The Luwian inscription reads "Sura/i" whereas the Phoenician translation reads ''’ŠR'' or "Ashur" which, according to Rollinger (2006), "settles the problem once and for all".

== Culture ==
{{Main|Chaldean culture}}

[[File:Chaldean Fashion Models with Chaldean Flag.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Fashion Models with Chaldean Flag]]
[[File:Chaldean Fashion of the Chaldean Nation.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Fashion of the Chaldean Nation]]

Chaldean culture is largely influenced by Christianity. Main festivals occur during religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas. There are also secular holidays such as [[Kha b-Nisan]] (vernal equinox).<ref>[http://www.kaldaya.net/2010/News/04/April01_2010_E3_Akitu7310_TripToElMontePark.html  The  Chaldean New Year]</ref>

People often greet and bid relatives farewell with a kiss on each cheek and by saying "{{lang|syr|ܫܠܡܐ ܥܠܝܟ}}" ''[[Shlama]]/Shlomo lokh'', which means: "Peace be upon you." Others are greeted with a handshake with the right hand only; according to Middle Eastern customs, the left hand is associated with evil. Similarly, shoes may not be left facing up, one may not have their feet facing anyone directly, whistling at night is thought to waken evil spirits, etc.<ref>Chamberlain, AF. "Notes on Some Aspects of the Folk-Psychology of Night". ''American Journal of Psychology'', 1908 – JSTOR.</ref>

There are many Chaldean customs that are common in other Middle Eastern cultures. A parent will often place an eye pendant on their baby to prevent "an evil eye being cast upon it".<ref>Gansell, AR. FROM MESOPOTAMIA TO MODERN SYRIA: ETHNOARCHAEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON FEMALE ADORNMENT DURING RITES. Ancient Near Eastern Art in Context. 2007 – Brill Academic Publishers.</ref> Spitting on anyone or their belongings is seen as a grave insult.

=== Language ===
{{Main|Chaldean Neo-Aramaic languages}}
{{Chaldean alphabet}}

[[File:Chaldean Language Course.pdf|thumb|Chaldean Language Course]]

The Chaldean Language is native language of [Mesopotamia | Mesopotamia], the lingua franca in the later phase of the Neo- Chaldean Empire, displacing the [[East Semitic]] [[Akkadian language|Chaldean dialect of Akkadian]]. Aramaic was the language of commerce, trade and communication and became the vernacular language of Chaldea in classical antiquity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kaldaya.net/2012/Images/KaldTv/ChaldeanCourse.pdf | format=PDF |accessdate=2013-11-16| archiveurl=http://www.kaldaya.net/2012/Images/KaldTv/ChaldeanCourse.pdf| archivedate=2 December 2013 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl=no}} {{dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>Chaldean as a Lingua Franca in Mesopotamia (5,300 BC to 2015 AD).  .</ref><ref name="Chaldean Language">[http://www.kaldaya.net/2012/Images/KaldTv/ChaldeanCourse.pdf]</ref>

By the 1st century AD, Akkadian was extinct, although some loaned vocabulary still survives in Chaldean Neo-Aramaic to this day.<ref name="Akkadian words">[http://www.kaldaya.net/2012/Images/KaldTv/ChaldeanCourse.pdf Akkadian Words in Modern Chaldean]</ref><ref name="Kaufman">Kaufman, Stephen A. (1974),The Akkadian influences on Aramaic. University of Chicago Press</ref>

To the native Chaldean speaker, "Chaldean Langauge" and "Syriac" is usually called ''Soureth'' or ''Suret''. A wide variety of dialects exist, including [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]]. All are classified as Chaldean Neo-Aramaic languages and are written using [[Chaldean alphabet|Chaldean script]]. Chaldeans also may speak one or more languages of their country of residence. Being [[Stateless nation|stateless]], Chaldeans also learn the language or languages of their adopted country, usually Arabic, [[Armenian language|Armenian]], [[Persian language|Persian]] or [[Turkish language|Turkish]]. In northern Iraq and western Iran, Turkish and [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] is widely spoken.

Recent archaeological evidence includes a statue from Syria with [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] and [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] inscriptions.<ref>[http://www.kaldaya.net/2012/Images/KaldTv/ChaldeanCourse.pdf]</ref> It is the oldest known Aramaic text.

=== Religion ===
[[File:Syriac Christian Churches.svg|thumb|right|Historical branches of the Chaldean and Syriac Christian Churches in the Middle East]]

{{Main|Syriac Christianity}}

Since the beginning of Christianity in 30 AD, Chaldeans are the first Christians of the world.  Chaldeans currently belong to various [[Christian denominations]] such as the [[Church of the East]], with an estimated 500,000 members,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_41.html#303 |title=Adherents.com |publisher=Adherents.com |accessdate=2013-09-18}}</ref> the Chaldean Catholic Church, with about 1,500,000 members,<ref>[J. Martin Bailey, Betty Jane Bailey, Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? p. 163: "more than two thirds" out of "nearly a million" Christians in Iraq.]</ref> and the Syriac Orthodox Church ''{{unicode|(ʿIdto Suryoyto Triṣaṯ Šuḇḥo)}}'', which has between 1,000,000 and 4,000,000 members around the world (only some of whom are Chaldeans),<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_622.html Adherents.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the [[Ancient Church of the East]] with some 100,000 members, and various [[Protestant]] churches, such as the [[Pentecostal Church]] with 25,000 adherents, and the [[Evangelical Church]]. While Chaldeans are predominantly [[Christians]], a number are [[irreligious]].

{{As of|2015}} [[Mar Louis Sako]], resident in Baghdad Iraq, was [[Patriarch]] of the [[Chaldeans Catholic Church]], [[Mar Addai II]], with headquarters in Baghdad, was Patriarch of the [[Ancient Church of the East]], and [[Ignatius Zakka I Iwas]] was Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, with headquarters in [[Damascus]]. [[Emmanuel III Delly|Mar Emmanuel III Delly]], the former Patriarch of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]], was the first Patriarch to be elevated to Cardinal, joining the [[college of cardinals]] in November 2007.

Many members of the following churches consider themselves Chaldean. Ethnic identities are often deeply intertwined with religion, a legacy of the Ottoman [[Millet (Ottoman Empire)|Millet system]].
The group is traditionally characterized as adhering to various churches of [[Syriac Christianity]] and speaking Neo-Aramaic languages. It is subdivided into:
* adherents of the [[East Syrian Rite]] also known as '''Nestorians'''
** adherents of the [[Church of the East]] & [[Ancient Church of the East]]
** adherents of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]].
* adherents of the [[West Syrian Rite]] also known as '''Jacobites'''
** adherents of the Syriac Orthodox Church
** adherents of the Syriac Catholic Church

A small minority of Chaldeans of the above denominations accepted the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 20th century, possibly due to British influences, and is now organized in the [[Evangelical Church]], the [[Pentecostal Church]] and other Protestant Chaldean groups.

Baptism and First Communion are celebrated extensively, similar to a [[Bris]] or [[Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah|Bar Mitzvah]] in Jewish communities. After a death, a gathering is held three days after burial to celebrate the ascension to heaven of the dead person, as of [[Jesus]]; after seven days another gathering commemorates their death. A close family member wears only black clothes for forty days and nights, or sometimes a year, as a sign of mourning.

=== Music ===
[[File:Chaldean Music.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Folk Music since 5,300 BC]]

{{Main|Chaldean folk music|Syriac sacral music}}
The ''[[zurna|abooba]]'' {{lang|syr|ܐܒܘܒܐ}} (basic flute) and ''[[davul|ṭavla]]'' {{lang|syr|ܛܒ݂ܠܐ}} (large two-sided drum) became the most common musical instruments for tribal music. Some well known Chaldean/Syriac singers in modern times are [[Majid Kekka]], [[Sargon Gabriel]], [[Habib Mousa]], [[Josef Özer]], [[Janan Sawa]], [[Klodia Hanna]], [[Juliana Jendo]] 

The first International [[Chaldean Music Festival]] was held in Lebanon from 1 August until 4 August 2008 for Chaldean people internationally. Chaldeans are also involved in western contemporary music, such as Rock/Metal ([[Melechesh]]), Rap ([[Timz]]) and Techno/Dance ([[Aril Brikha]]).

=== Dance ===
[[File:CHALDEAN-FESTIVAL-2.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Debka Dance]]

{{Main|Chaldean folk dance}}
 
Chaldeans have numerous traditional [[dance]]s which are performed mostly for special occasions such as weddings. Chaldean dance is a blend of both ancient indigenous and general near eastern elements.

=== Festivals ===
[[File:WEBBabylonDay4.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Debka Dance]]

Chaldean festivals tend to be closely associated with their Christian faith, of which [[Easter]] is the most prominent of the celebrations. Chaldean/Syriac members of the Chaldean Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church and Syriac Catholic Church follow the [[Gregorian calendar]] and as a result celebrate Easter on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 inclusively. While Chaldean/Syriac members of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Ancient Church of the East celebrate Easter on a Sunday between April 4 and May 8 inclusively on the Gregorian calendar (March 22 and April 25 on the [[Julian calendar]]). During [[Lent]] Chaldean/Syriacs are encouraged to fast for 50 days from meat and any other foods which are animal based.

Chaldeans celebrate a number of festivals unique to their culture and traditions as well as religious ones:
* [[Kha b-Nisan]] ''{{Script/Mdnh|ܚܕ ܒܢܝܣܢ}}'', the Chaldean new year (AKA AKITU), traditionally on April 1, though usually celebrated on January 1. Chaldeans usually wear traditional costumes and hold social events including parades and parties, dancing, and listening to poets telling the story of creation.<ref>[http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/thousands-celebrate-akitu-chaldean-new-year-tradition-el-cajon]</ref>
* [[Sauma d-Ba'utha]] ''{{Script/Mdnh|ܒܥܘܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܝܐ}}'', the Nineveh fast. It is a three-day period of fasting and prayer.<ref name=SycOrth>{{cite web|title=Three Day Fast of Nineveh|url=http://syrianorthodoxchurch.org/news/2011/02/10/three-day-fast-of-nineveh/|publisher=syrianorthodoxchurch.org|accessdate=1 February 2012}}</ref>
* Somikka, the Chaldean version of [[Halloween]], traditionally meant to scare children into fasting during Lent.

* Sharra d'Mart Maryam, usually on August 15, a festival and feast celebrating St. Mary with games, food, and celebration.<ref name="cultureofiran.com" />
* Other Sharras (special festivals) include: Sharra d'Mart Shmuni, Sharra d'Mar Shimon Bar-Sabbaye, Sharra d'Mar Mari, and Shara d'Mar Zaia, Mar Bishu, Mar Sawa, Mar Sliwa, and Mar Odisho
* Yoma d'Sah'deh (Day of Martyrs), commemorating the thousands massacred in the [[Simele Massacre]] and the hundreds of thousands massacred in the [[Chaldean Genocide]].

Chaldeans also practice unique marriage ceremonies. The rituals performed during weddings are derived from many different elements from the past 7,300 years. An Chaldean wedding traditionally lasted a week. Today, weddings in the Chaldean homeland usually last 2–3 days; in the [[Chaldean diaspora]] they last 1–2 days.

=== Traditional clothing ===
[[File:Chaldean Fashion.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Fashion from Chaldean Town of Telkeppe]]

{{Main|Chaldean clothing}}
 
Chaldean clothing varies from village to village. Clothing is usually blue, red, green, yellow, and purple; these colors are also used as embroidery on a white piece of clothing. Decoration is lavish in Chaldean costumes, and sometimes involves jewellery. The conical hats of traditional Chaldean dress have changed little over millennia from those worn in ancient Mesopotamia, and until the 19th and early 20th centuries the ancient Mesopotamian tradition of braiding or platting of hair, beards and moustaches was still common place.

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Chaldean cuisine}}

[[File:Chaldean Food.jpg|thumb|Beautiful Chaldean Food for Everyone]]

[[Chaldean cuisine | Chaldean cuisine]] is similar to other Middle Eastern cuisines. It is rich in [[grain]], [[meat]], [[potato]], [[cheese]], [[bread]] and [[tomato]]. Typically [[rice]] is served with every meal, with a stew poured over it. [[Tea]] is a popular drink, and there are several dishes of desserts, snacks, and beverages. [[Alcohol]]ic drinks such as [[wine]] and [[wheat beer]] are organically produced and drunk.

== See also ==
{{columns
|width=300px
|col1 =
* [[Chaldea]]
* [[Chaldean genocide|Chaldean Genocide]]
* [[Chaldean language|Chaldean Language]]
* [[Neo-Aramaic languages]]
* [[Chaldean Christianity]]
|col2 =
* [[Chaldean diaspora|Chaldean Diaspora]]
* [[Popular Chaldeans]]
* [[List of Chaldeans]]
}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=35em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Aphram I Barsoum
 | first = Patriarch
 | title = The Scattered Pearls
 | url = http://sor.cua.edu/Pub/PAphrem1/ScatteredPearlsIntro.html
 | year = 1943
}}

* {{cite book
 | last = Brock
 | first = Sebastian
 | title = The Hidden Pearl: The Aramaic Heritage
 | url = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
 | date = 9 September 2002
 | publisher = Trans World Film
 | isbn = 1-931956-99-5
}}
* {{cite book
 | last = De Courtis
 | first = Sėbastien
 | title = The Forgotten Genocide: Eastern Christians, the Last Arameans
 | edition = 1st Gorgias Press
 | year = 2004
 | publisher = Piscataway, New Jersey: Gorgias Press
 | isbn = 978-1-59333-077-4
 | ref = http://worldcat.org/wcpa/isbn/1593330774
}}
* {{cite book
 | author =  
 | author2 =  
 | title = Chaldeans in Detroit
 | year = 2014
 | publisher = [[Arcadia Publishing]]
 | isbn =  
 | oclc =  
}}
* {{cite book
 | last =  
 | first =  
 | title = 
 | year =  
 | publisher = 
 | location =  
 | language =  
 | isbn =  
 | ref =  
}}
* {{cite book
|title = Massacres, resistance, protectors: Muslim-Christian relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I
|last = Gaunt
|first = David
|coauthors = Jan Bet̲-Şawoce, Racho Donef
|year = 2006
|publisher = Gorgias Press LLC
|isbn = 1-59333-301-3
|oclc = 85766950
}}
* {{cite book
 | isbn = 0-19-531423-9
 | last = Henrich
 | first = Joseph
 | author2 = Henrich, Natalie
 | title = Why Humans Cooperate: A Cultural and Evolutionary Explanation
 | url = http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Anthropology/BiologicalPhysicalAnthropology/?view=usa&ci=9780195314236
 | date = May 2007
 | publisher = Oxford University Press
}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Hollerweger
 | first = Hans
 | title = Tur Abdin: A Homeland of Ancient Syro-Aramaean Culture
 | year = 1999
 | location = Österreich
 | language = English, German, Turkish
 | isbn = 3-9501039-0-2
}}

* {{cite book
 | last = Taylor
 | first = David
 | authorlink =
 | author2 = Brock, Sebastian
 | title = Vol. I: The Ancient Aramaic Heritage
 | date = 9 September 2002
 | publisher = Trans World Film
 | ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Taylor
 | first = David
 | author2 = Brock, Sebastian
 | title = Vol. II: The Heirs of the Ancient Aramaic Heritage
 | date = 9 September 2002
 | publisher = Trans World Film
 | ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
* {{cite book
 | last = Taylor
 | first = David
 | author2 = Brock, Sebastian
 | title = Vol. III: At the Turn of the Third Millennium; The Syrian Orthodox Witness
 | date = 9 September 2002
 | publisher = Trans World Film
 | ref = http://www.gorgiaspress.com/BOOKSHOP/pc-151-25-brock-et-al-sebastian-the-hidden-pearl-the-aramaic-heritage.aspx
}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{cite book
 | last = Chaldeans of Mesopotamia
 | first =  
 | title = Native Chaldean People of Mesopotamia Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran
 | url = https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.960707990624644.1073741924.200571219971662&type=3
 | year = 2015
}}

[[Category:Chaldean people ]]
[[Category:Ancient peoples]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Iran]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Iraq]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Syria]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Turkey]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Fertile Crescent]]
[[Category:Semitic peoples]]
[[Category:History of Chaldeans]]
[[Category:Indigenous peoples of Western Asia]]