Dear Steve,
Hi who are the italians in ancient history?
Michelle
MYREPLY
Michelle,
I presume that by asking about the ancient Italians, you mean the groups that joined to form the Roman Empire. The population of Italy in the Roman Empire was composed of the descendants of many tribes which were united under Rome’s rule. These tribes included the Latins, Etruscans, Ligurians, Sabines, Samnites, etc. Even Celts in the far north of Italy and some colonists from Greek city-states were absorbed.
The Encyclopedia Americana (1988 Ed., Vol. 10, p. 639) notes that the Etruscans had “close relations with the Phoenicians.” As readers of my books know, the “Phoenician” Empire was dominated by the ancient ten tribes of Israel, allied to their junior partners from Tyre, Sidon, etc. This argues that the Etruscans (who date to at least the 8th century BC or earlier) may have begun as an Israelite colony during the glory days of the Israelite-Phoenician Empire when its navy ruled the Mediterranean Sea. Etruscan artwork clearly shows them to be what we would call Semitic Caucasians. After the kingdom of Israel fell and most of its people migrated into Asia to become Scythians, Parthians, etc., the Etruscans were afterward dominated by and absorbed into the Roman population.
I have not done independent research on the origins of the Latin tribes who formed the backbone of the developing Roman Empire.
Steve
