Definition of diaspora

The word "diaspora" originates from the Greek term "ディアσπορά" (diaspóra), which means "dispersion" or "scattering". In the context of ancient Greek literature, it referred to the scattering of Jews throughout the Mediterranean world after the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE. In the modern era, the term "diaspora" has been applied to describe the dispersion of people from their ancestral homelands, often due to migration, persecution, or forced exile. This can include Jewish diaspora, but also other groups, such as the African diaspora, the Asian diaspora, and the Caribbean diaspora, among others. The term "diaspora" has evolved to encompass not only the physical dispersion of people but also the cultural, linguistic, and social ties that they maintain with their ancestral homeland, as well as their experiences of displacement, assimilation, and identity formation.