Written by Petrit Latifi

Here are several academic and historical sources that discuss the various names used for the Serbs throughout history:

1. Sklavenoi: In the early Byzantine period, the term “Sklavenoi” (or “Sclaveni”) was used broadly to describe Slavic tribes, including those that would later be identified as Serbs. This term was employed to describe their activities and migrations into the Balkans during the 6th and 7th centuries, as documented in Byzantine chronicles .
2. Servi: The Byzantine emperor Constantine VII, in his work De Administrando Imperio, referred to the Serbs as “Servi.” This term is frequently found in medieval Latin and Byzantine texts to denote the Serb people and their territories, emphasizing their migration and settlement patterns during this time .
3. Rascians: During the medieval and early modern period, particularly under the influence of the Habsburg Empire, Serbs were commonly referred to as “Rascians” (Rasciani). This name derives from the region “Raška,” a significant area in medieval Serbia. In various documents from the Habsburg administration, Serbs in territories like Banat and Vojvodina were often called “Rascians,” and the term extended to denote Orthodox Serbs within the Habsburg lands .
4. Vlachs: In the Ottoman period, some Serbs were also identified as “Vlachs.” This term was used to describe pastoral communities, including Serbs who engaged in transhumance (seasonal migration of herds). It was a social rather than ethnic label, often applied to Orthodox Christian populations within the Ottoman Empire .
5. Modern Terms: Today, the terms “Srbi” (Serbs) and “Srbija” (Serbia) are used, which have been consistent since the medieval period. Additionally, during the Yugoslav era, Serbs were also known as “Jugoslawen” (Yugoslavs), a broader identity encompassing all South Slavic peoples in the Yugoslav state .

These historical and linguistic sources illustrate the evolution of the names and designations for the Serbs, reflecting the complex history and interactions of this ethnic group across centuries. You can explore further details in articles from Wikipedia and the Encyclopedia Britannica, which provide comprehensive insights into these terms.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sclaveni

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Serbs_and_Serbia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rascians

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_Serbs_and_Serbia

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/serbia/