why is western Balkans more Slavic than eastern Balkans?

[Jana]

(excluding Albanian populated areas).

Discuss.

[ixulescu]

(excluding Albanian populated areas).

Discuss.

Because it was easier to cross the Pannonian plain than the Carpathian mountain ranges, especially with herds of cows, like Slavs used to do.

[Jana]

Because it was easier to cross the Pannonian plain than the Carpathian mountain ranges, especially with herds of cows, like Slavs used to do.

From what I gather, first Slavs poured trough Danube limes to Trakia (Bulgaria) ?

[Varda]

Because of more Vlachs probably.

Montenegro is most paleo-Balkan shifted part of western Balkan. I bealive large part of E-V13, J2 and R1b in Montenegro is from Vlach settlers from central/eastern Balkan in the late middle age. Montenegrin tribe Piperi are mostly R1b-BY611, they have the closest matches in eastern Balkan not among Albanians.

[Jana]

Because of more Vlachs probably.

Montenegro is most paleo-Balkan shifted part of western Balkan. I bealive large part of E-V13, J2 and R1b in Montenegro is from Vlach settlers from central/eastern Balkan in the late middle age. Montenegrin tribe Piperi are mostly R1b-BY611, they have the closest matches in eastern Balkan not among Albanians.

Montenegro is still more Slavic than north Macedonia and Bulgaria, and almost completely identical with Romania when in comes to Paleo-Balkan input.
Only Moldova is more Slavic than Montenegro if we include it in eastern Balkans.

[Noble Cuman]

Because Roman Empire-Byzantine Empire had more control in Eastern Balkans. Slavs settled in these areas nevertheless. Also eastern parts of Balkans are closer to Dardanelles and Bosphorus. So people from Anatolia can settle in Eastern Balkans easier.

[Jana]

Because Roman Empire-Byzantine Empire had more control in Eastern Balkans. Slavs settled in these areas nevertheless. Also eastern parts of Balkans are closer to Dardanelles and Bosphorus. So people from Anatolia can settle in Eastern Balkans easier.

I also speculate eastern Balkans received more Byzantine and Anatolian Greek admixture. Justinian plague that ravaged western Balkan could have also reduced native component there compared to east.

[Varda]

Montenegro is still more Slavic than north Macedonia and Bulgaria, and almost completely identical with Romania when in comes to Paleo-Balkan input.
Only Moldova is more Slavic than Montenegro if we include it in eastern Balkans.

Northern dna on average Vahaduo (Baltic + NA).
- Montenegrins 50.19%
- Romanians 49.34%

Romania is more northern geographically. Latitude of Montenegro is between 42 and 43 N, and latitude of Romania is between 44 and 48 N.

[pulstar]

Because Eastern Balkan had important Roman roads and that's where Roman major settlements in Balkans were focused (Via Militaris, Via Appia, and Via Egnatia).

[Peterski]

I think when we look at archaeological evidence, the oldest Slavic settlements discovered so far are from Slovenia: