00:00Were the Ancient Illyrians Genetically Greek?
00:08A Historical Analysis
00:09Welcome to today's video, where we will explore a fascinating and often debated topic.
00:14Were the Ancient Illyrians Genetically Greek?
00:17This question has sparked much discussion, especially in the countries of modern national
00:21identities in the Balkans.
00:23Today, we'll dive into the evidence and demonstrate that the Ancient Illyrians were
00:27indeed genetically Greek.
00:29Let's break it down by asking three key questions.
00:32Question number one.
00:33Who were the Ancient Illyrians?
00:35The Ancient Illyrians were an Indo-European group that inhabited the western Balkans and
00:38the eastern Adriatic coast, ranging from modern-day Slovenia to central Albania.
00:44While traditionally seen as a distinct group, genetic and cultural evidence suggests a significant
00:48overlap with the Ancient Greeks.
00:50Genetic studies have revealed that the Illyrians shared a substantial amount of DNA with the
00:54Ancient Greeks, indicating a close kinship between these populations.
00:57The regions inhabited by the Illyrians were heavily influenced by Greek culture, language
01:01and trade, further twisting their agenda.
01:04The absence of a distinct Illyrian script or language and the prevalence of Greek inscriptions
01:08in Illyrian territories bolster the argument that they were part of a broader Greek world.
01:14How were Albanians claiming the Ancient Illyrians as their ancestors?
01:18Some modern Albanians claim descent from the Illyrians, particularly through a tribe called
01:22the Avri.
01:23This claim is largely based on the phonetic similarity between the names Avri and Alvani,
01:28the second being the Greek name for Albanians.
01:30However, this connection is spectaculative and overlooks significant historical and genetic
01:35evidence that links the Illyrians more closely with the Greeks.
01:38Furthermore, the self-designation of modern Albanians as Scyptars and Repentrius Scyperia
01:44highlights the linguistic and cultural divergence from the Ancient Illyrians, who were more
01:47integrated with the Greek civilization.
01:49The evidence supporting an Albanian claim to Illyrian heritage is not robust when examined
01:53in the context of historical, genetic and linguistic data.
01:58Why do modern Albanians claim Illyrian heritage?
02:01To understand this, we need to take a look at the geopolitical landscape following the
02:05First Balkan War.
02:06As the Balkan nations, including Greece and Serbia, expanded their territories, the great
02:10powers such as Italy and Austria-Hungary sought to curb the Greek and Serbian influence in
02:15the Adriatic region.
02:16This created a need for distinct Albanian national identity.
02:19By claiming the Illyrians as their ancestors, modern Albanians could assert a historical
02:23presence in the region.
02:25However, this narrative is largely a product of 20th-century nation-building effort and
02:29is not strongly supported by genetic or archaeological evidence.
02:32The genetic links between the Illyrians and the Greeks suggest that the Illyrians were
02:36more likely a Greek subgroup than a distinct proto-Albanian people.
02:41In conclusion, the evidence points to the Ancient Illyrians being genetically Greek,
02:45with their cultural and linguistic ties further solidifying this connection.
02:49The Albanian claim to the Illyrian heritage, while politically motivated, does not hold
02:53up under historical scrutiny.
02:55And don't forget to check out part two of this series, where we explore the identity
02:59of the Arvanites and their connection to Greek and Albanian history.
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