IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Due to the influence of the Roman Empire, all the peoples and cultures of Europe were transformed and even some languages disappeared.

During the approximately seven centuries that passed since the arrival of the Romans until the fall of the Empire, the impact of Latin in the Basque language (primarily in the lexicon) was very important. There were also great cultural transformations (lifestyle, forms of communication…) but after all the community retained their language and culture.

In the Roman period, on the other hand, the first testimonies of Basque appeared in Latin epigraphy. Most of them are names found on tombstones and altars in Aquitaine.

Interviews:
Joaquin Gorrotxategi: professor of Indo-European Linguistics at the University of the Basque Country
Mertxe Urteaga: curator of the Roman Museum of Oiasso (Irun, Gipuzkoa)
Elena Torregarai: lecturer of Ancient History at the University of the Basque Country
Nodge Nolan: member of the Colchester Roman Society

Music:
Ludi Scænici