Abstract
The Gypsies are now recognized to have originated from northern India and to have arrived in Europe around the 14th century. This deprives the Gypsies of an historical homeland and a state able to protect their rights, even outside its borders. Moreover, their immigration in several waves created a scattered community, with a weak common consciousness and few solidarity ties between the different groups, "based on linguistic, historical and occupational distinctions". Other dividing lines exist between the Gypsies, such as religion (Hindu, Muslim or Christian) even if "their attachment to established religions appears to have been a matter of convenience rather than conviction" , lifestyle (nomadic or sedentary), belonging to different tribes and countries. It is said, too, that another source of diversity is the fact that non-gypsy and quite often marginalized nomadic groups joined the Gypsies in their centuries-long trip from India or adopted their lifestyle in Europe and were thus de facto integrated into the Roma group by Western observers.
