How Is An Ethnicity Formed?

[Learning_Genetics]

How are ethnic groups formed? At what point in history did most develop? Was it thousands of years before or was it more recent? Does it come through the mixing of tribes and the adoption of a common language?

[Stefan]

Common ancestry and history, which lead to self-identification.

The study of this process is called ethnogenesis. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnogenesis)

[Learning_Genetics]

I see. Thank you for answering. How would a group like the Bashkirs have been formed?

[morski]

With assistance from comrade Stalin.

[Learning_Genetics]

I see. Is it possible for one ethnic group or tribe to mix with another? Is this what is called admixture? For example you often hear people speak about "Uralic influence".