Part 2/10:
To fully appreciate the complexity of Italian heritage, we must begin with its archaic tribes that existed well before the Indo-European migrations. Much of the early European history lacks written records, leaving a veil of mystery around these ancient societies. The tribes that settled in Italy included the Basques, Etruscans, and various Italic groups. While the exact ethno-linguistic affiliations of many tribes remain obscure, they were known to be distinctly Pre-Indo-European, developing unique cultures that often conflicted with incoming Indo-European settlers.