Here's a breakdown of who spoke Aramaic:
* Semitic peoples: Aramaic originated with the Aramaeans, a Semitic people who lived in the Near East. The language spread widely, becoming the lingua franca of the region, and was adopted by many other Semitic groups like the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Jews.
* Other ethnic groups: As Aramaic became a common language, it was adopted by non-Semitic groups as well. These included the Persians, Greeks, and even some of the early Christians.
So, it's not accurate to say that a specific "race" spoke Aramaic. It was spoken by a diverse population of people from different backgrounds and origins.
Here are some important points to consider:
* Language and ethnicity are not the same thing: People of different ethnicities can speak the same language.
* Ancient populations were diverse: Categorizing people into modern racial categories is not accurate for historical populations.
* Focus on culture and history: When discussing Aramaic, it's more helpful to focus on the cultural and historical contexts in which it was used.
Instead of looking for a "race," think about the diverse groups of people who spoke Aramaic, their shared cultural influences, and the role the language played in their lives.