Ilirs

The Ilirs were a group of Indo-European peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula during ancient times. Their territory, known as Illyria, stretched from the Adriatic coast eastward into modern-day Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and parts of Serbia and North Macedonia. They were not a unified nation but rather a collection of tribes speaking related dialects of the Illyrian language, which is now extinct.

The Ilirs are known from ancient Greek and Roman sources, which often describe them as fierce warriors and skilled sailors. They engaged in trade and piracy along the Adriatic Sea, interacting with both Greek colonies and the Roman Republic. Major Illyrian tribes included the Ardiaei, Taulantii, and Dalmatae. Their social structure was generally tribal, with chieftains leading warrior bands.

Archaeological evidence reveals a rich material culture, including distinctive pottery, metalwork, and burial practices. They were organized into fortified settlements, often on hilltops. Over centuries, the Illyrians were gradually incorporated into the Roman Empire, with the last independent Illyrian kingdom falling to Rome in the 2nd century BCE. Romanization led to the eventual assimilation of the Illyrian populations, though some linguistic and cultural traces may have persisted. The precise origins and ultimate fate of the Illyrians remain subjects of ongoing scholarly research.