The Basques: A Timeless People
The Basques were an ancient people. They endure to this day as a unique ethnic group, with mysterious origins and a culture that grew in almost complete isolation, leading to enormous distinctions from their surrounding peoples. Everything from their language to their DNA is unrelated to the surrounding tribes. The history of the Basques is long and unique, and their cultural identity has been shaped by their distinctive language, Euskara, as well as their geographic location in the western Pyrenees. The Basques are considered one of the oldest ethnic groups in Europe, and their history is characterized by a rich cultural heritage, autonomy struggles, and a resilient identity. The Basques are believed to be one of Europe's oldest ethnic groups, with roots that may trace back to pre-Indo-European populations in the region. Their language, Euskara, is unrelated to any other known language, making it a linguistic isolate.
According to one scholar, even the Basques themselves are an unsolved enigma. Tall and strong, they have all of the characteristics of the Cro-Magnon people who emerged suddenly about 65,000 years ago, while the lesser Neanderthal man continued to exist for a while longer. Could the Cro-Magnons have been colonists from Atlantis, who established their new homes in Europe and survived there the destruction of their land of origin, continuing the culture that they had brought along?
Another scholar said that, at some point in this extensive time frame, early humans—proto-Basques, one might be justified in calling them—surfaced and thrived, eventually becoming the Basque people as we know them today. In addition, archaeological remains demonstrate the presence of a culture in the Basque country during the time of the Aurignacian culture, which ran from approximately 45,000 to 35,000 years ago. Indeed, Cro- Magnon man moved into that very area during the final stages of this period, firmly elbowing out of the picture the ultimately doomed Neanderthals.
However, the origin of the Basques is a matter of huge debate. Some thoughts are said they are an ancient people who were known to both the Greeks and the Romans. Other thoughts are mention they were Iberians represented in this time as Basques who occupy the western slopes and valleys of the Pyrenees in Spain and France. Nonetheless, the story of the Basque people is extraordinary as it is almost distinctive. Most likely, Basques in Spain remnants of a primitive population that once, we may suppose, overspread the whole of Europe. It is found in around 12 percent of Basques, an isolated population in northern Spain, and around 5 percent in many other western European populations. It is also found in Algeria and Morocco, indicating that these humans migrating out of the Iberian Peninsula also headed south across the Strait of Gibraltar and into North Africa. Its genetic diversity reduces gradually moving west to east, indicating the migratory direction these groups followed during the decolonization.
But, the Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula did not significantly alter the distinctiveness of the Basque people. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the subsequent Visigothic rule also had limited impact on the Basque region. In fact, the Basque territories were not part of the Muslim expansion into the Iberian Peninsula. During the early medieval period, the Basques managed to maintain a degree of autonomy and self-governance in their mountainous regions.
Yet, the Kingdom of Navarre, which included parts of present-day Spain and France, played a prominent role in medieval Basque history. At its height, the Kingdom of Navarre was a diverse realm with both Basque and Romance-speaking populations. The 12th-century Navarrese-Aragonese War resulted in the annexation of some Basque territories by the Kingdom of Aragon. The union of Navarre and Aragon later contributed to the formation of the Kingdom of Spain in the 15th century.
Nevertheless, the Basque Country in Spain consists of three autonomous communities: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, and Araba (Álava). These regions have a significant degree of self-governance with their own government institutions and legislative powers. Still, Basque culture is characterized by unique traditions, dances, music, sports, and culinary practices. Traditional Basque sports, including pelota, are popular, and the Basque language has been a key component of cultural identity.
Though, the Basque Country has experienced political movements seeking greater autonomy or independence. The armed separatist group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) was active for several decades, but it declared a ceasefire in 2011 and later dissolved in 2018. While the Basque Country enjoys a high degree of autonomy, debates about self-determination, language preservation, and economic development persist. Contemporary challenges include navigating regional and national politics within the Spanish state.
Adding much weight to the notable nature of the Basques is the fact that their native tongue, which is known as Euskara, is wholly unique across Europe. In fact, it’s unique to the entire planet. Thomas Arnold said of the language of the Basque people:
...its unlikeness to the other languages of Europe is very striking, even when compared with Welsh, or with Sclavonic. The affinities of the Welsh numerals with those of the Teutonic languages, and the Greek and Latin, are obvious at the first glance; and the same may be said of most of the Sclavonic numerals; but the Basque are so peculiar, that it is difficult to identify any one of them, except “sei” “six,” with those of other languages (Arnold, 2006).
Besides, the Basques have a blood type and Rh factor combination that is extremely rare and can be found only along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in people speaking the strange dialects. The same blood types are found in Egyptian and Inca mummies. That could explain why the Incas and the pharaohs married between brothers and sisters - in order to preserve the rare blood that was not of this world, so it seems, because no other humans have it in such pure form.
Definitely fact about Basques is obscure, one population, which contains an unusually high frequency of the gene for the Rh-Negative blood type, are the Basques from northeastern Spain. The Basques have the highest incidence of the gene out of any population in the world. The Basque people of Spain and France have the highest percentage of Rh-negative blood. About 30% have (rr) Rh negative and about 60% carry one (r) negative gene. The average among most people is only 15%-Rh negative.
Anyway, the history of the Basques reflects their resilience, cultural distinctiveness, and efforts to preserve their identity in the face of historical changes. The Basque people's commitment to their language, traditions, and regional autonomy continues to shape their place within the broader context of European history. But clearly, there is a fog-shrouded history to the Basques that remains tantalizingly incomplete.
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