The Basque History of The World

'They are a mythical people, almost an imagined people,' writes Mark Kurlansky.

Settled in seven provinces in a corner of France and Spain in a land that is marked on no maps except their own, separated by the daunting Pyrenees Mountains, the Basques are a nation without a country with an ancient and dramatic story that illuminates Europe's own saga.

Signs of their civilisation exist well before the arrival of the Romans in 218 BC; many believe they are the original Europeans; their origins a mystery, their language related to no other on Earth, and even though few in population and from a remote and rugged corner of Spain and France, they have had a profound impact on the world.

Whilst inward-looking, preserving their ancient language and customs, the Basques also struck out for new horizons, pioneers of whaling and cod fishing, leading the way in exploration of the Americas and Asia, were among the first capitalists and later led Southern Europe's industrial revolution.