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"The Motherland" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1883).

Motherland is a term that may refer to a mother country, i.e. the place of one's birth, the place of origin of an ethnic group or immigrant, or a Metropole in contrast to its colonies. This usage is sometimes^{[weasel words]} seen in English, maybe^{[weasel words]} more often in the social sciences.

Motherland is synonymous with the concept of fatherland, although perhaps carrying different psychological and cultural associations. From the earliest of times the Earth, and thereby the land, usually was depicted as a mother. Among the earliest of human records, the Ancient Egyptians began the tradition of describing their country as a motherland and even today, often the imagery or personification of a country depicts the gender of the concept for each, for example, Africa, Nigeria, Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka and many more. Languages usually display the gender differences of the concept in most countries.

The term "Motherland" is very often applied to Africa due to it being the origin of humanity and civilization. Many Russians around the world refer to Russia as their motherland. The term is also used by Americans and people from other former British colonies to describe the United Kingdom.^{[dubious – discuss]} In Spanish-speaking countries Madre Patria is used to refer to Spain (la Madre Patria).

The term, motherland, especially has the connotation of one's country of birth and growing up, with the country respectfully being viewed as a benign mother, nurturing the citizens as her children.

[edit] See also

• Fatherland
• Homeland