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 un...