The Illyrians were an ancient Indo-European people who lived in the western Balkans around 1200 BCE to the Roman conquest in the 1st century CE. They were known for their tribal society, skilled metalwork, and seafaring abilities, particularly as pirates in the Adriatic Sea. The Illyrian tribes included the Taulantii, Dalmatae, and Albanoi, among others. They spoke the Illyrian language, of which little is known, but it is believed to have influenced modern Albanian.

After the Roman conquest, the Illyrians were heavily Romanized, but their language and culture persisted in isolated areas. Over centuries, these elements evolved, merging with others in the region, leading to the modern Albanian people. Albanians trace their heritage to the Illyrians based on linguistic, archaeological, and historical evidence, and the name "Albania" itself is linked to the ancient Illyrian tribe Albanoi.

This connection is debated among historians, but it remains a strong part of Albanian national identity.



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