Peuceti
Encyclopedia
The Peuceti were an ancient people living in Peucetia, the area southwards the modern Bari
(Terra di Bari
), Apulia
, in southern Italy
. This is mentioned by the ancient Greeks and old historians, and the area is described as being divided into Daunia
(the modern province of Foggia
), Peucetia and Messapia (the modern province of Lecce
). The three cultures are generally listed under the collective names of Iapyges
.
These people settled there about 700 BC and soon became influenced by the Greek culture, due to the Greeks' establishing colonies in the area. The most important centers created by the Peuceti were Sannace, about five kilometers from Gioia del Colle
, and Rubi (Ruvo di Puglia
). The Peuceti probably settled together with the Dauni and Messapi in the 11th century BC, coming from Illyria
over the Otranto channel and expelling those Illyrians who had already settled in the area four or five centuries before. Starting in the 4th century BC, the Peuceti were subdued by the Roman Republic
.
The economy was based on cattle breeding and handicraft, which lead to the development of the spinning mill and wool weaving. The contacts with the colonies of Magna Graecia were important, first with Metaponto
and also with Taranto
. This is confirmed by the finds of coins and vases. The contacts and wars with the Messapi were also numerous.
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
(Terra di Bari
Terra di Bari
The Terra di Bari , in antiquity Peucetia and in the Middle Ages Ager Barianus , is the region around Bari in Apulia. Historically it was one of the justiciarships of the Kingdom of Sicily and later Naples. It became a province in the Two Sicilies. Today it is a part of the Province of Bari in Italy...
), Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, in southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. This is mentioned by the ancient Greeks and old historians, and the area is described as being divided into Daunia
Daunia
250px|thumb|Example of Daunian ceramics.The Daunia is a historical and geographical region in Apulia, southern Italy, mostly coincident with modern Province of Foggia...
(the modern province of Foggia
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia region of Italy.This province is also known as Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catapan, as part of the Catapanate of Italy...
), Peucetia and Messapia (the modern province of Lecce
Province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce. Totally included in the Salento peninsula, it is the second most populous province in Apulia and the twenty-first most populous in Italy....
). The three cultures are generally listed under the collective names of Iapyges
Iapyges
The Iapyges or Iapygians were an Indo-European people who inhabited the heel of Italy before being absorbed by the Romans.-Identity:The Iapyges have unknown origins but could have been from Illyria....
.
These people settled there about 700 BC and soon became influenced by the Greek culture, due to the Greeks' establishing colonies in the area. The most important centers created by the Peuceti were Sannace, about five kilometers from Gioia del Colle
Gioia del Colle
Gioia del Colle is a town and comune in the province of Bari, Apulia, Italy. The town is located on the Murge plateau at 360 metres above sea level.- History :...
, and Rubi (Ruvo di Puglia
Ruvo di Puglia
Ruvo di Puglia is a town and comune in the province of Bari, Puglia, Italy that is essentially devoted to agriculture, wine and olive growing. It is part of the Murge karst landscape.-Geography and territory:...
). The Peuceti probably settled together with the Dauni and Messapi in the 11th century BC, coming from Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
over the Otranto channel and expelling those Illyrians who had already settled in the area four or five centuries before. Starting in the 4th century BC, the Peuceti were subdued by the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
.
The economy was based on cattle breeding and handicraft, which lead to the development of the spinning mill and wool weaving. The contacts with the colonies of Magna Graecia were important, first with Metaponto
Metaponto
Metaponto is a small town of about 1,000 people in the province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy. Administratively it is a frazione of Bernalda.-History:The town is best known for the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Metapontum...
and also with Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
. This is confirmed by the finds of coins and vases. The contacts and wars with the Messapi were also numerous.