The Gypsies History Gypsies played a major role in the development of flamenco.
Historians agree that they originated in the area of Northern India and Pakistan.
There are those who maintain that Gypsies reached Andalucia from Egypt after sailing along the coast of Africa. This is despite the lack of any real evidence. Yet the Spanish Gypsies had no Arabic words in their vocabulary. In their wanderings they traveled far and wide and made a home for themselves in many countries including the Middle East. Since there were no real records to prove or disprove their true origins, Egyptian Gypsies themselves came to believe they were descended from the Pharaohs.