The two Circassian languages—western Adyghe and eastern Kabardian—are natively spoken by the Circassian people.[29]Khabzeism is their ethnic religion, which was historically practiced in Circassia since ancient times, but Sunni Islam became the dominant religion among them around the 17th century, following a long period of Islamization.[30] Circassia has been repeatedly invaded since ancient times; its isolated terrain coupled with the strategic value external societies have placed on the region have greatly shaped the Circassian national identity as a whole.[31]
Circassians have played major roles in areas where they settled: in Turkey, those of Circassian origin have had massive influence, being instrumental in the Turkish War of Independence[33] and among the elites of Turkey's intelligence agency;[34]in Jordan, they founded the capital city Amman,[35][36] and continue to play a major role in the country; in Syria, they served as the volunteer guards of the Allies upon their entry into the country and still have high positions;[37]in Libya, they serve in high military positions; in Egypt, they were part of the ruling class.[38] They also contributed to cultural literary, intellectual, and political life starting with the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha in Egypt and continuing to the modern day, especially through the country's largest Circassian clan: the Abaza family.[39][40][41] in Israel, they are considered an interesting and unique minority community. They served in the Haganah during the Israeli War of Independence.[42][better source needed]Bibras Natcho is the captain of the Israeli national soccer team.
In Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union, historical Circassia was divided into the republics of Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Krasnodar Krai, and southwestern parts of Stavropol Krai. Accordingly, Circassians have been designated as Adygeans in Adygea, Kabardians in Kabardino-Balkaria, Cherkess in Karachay-Cherkessia, and Shapsug in Krasnodar Krai; all four are essentially the same people. Today, approximately 800,000 Circassians remain in historical Circassia, while 4,500,000 live elsewhere.[43]
^"Syrian Circassians returning to Russia's Caucasus region". TRTWorld. TRTWorld and agencies. 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016. Currently, approximately 80,000 ethnic Circassians live in Syria after their ancestors were forced out of the northern Caucasus by Russians between 1863 and 1867.
^Lopes, Tiago André Ferreira. "The Offspring of the Arab Spring"(PDF). Strategic Outlook. Observatory for Human Security (OSH). Archived from the original(PDF) on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
^Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Gammer, Moshe (2004). The Caspian Region: a Re-emerging Region. London: Routledge. p. 67.
^Ünal, Muhittin (1996). Kurtuluş Savaşında Çerkeslerin Rolü [The Role of Circassians in the War of Independence] (in Turkish). Cem Yayınevi. ISBN9789754065824.