The Etruscans: In the first millennium B.C., the Etruscans’ unique language, culture and religious practices fascinated the Romans and the Greeks. This major Mediterranean thalassocracy of Antiquity left many traces in Corsica as the island’s east coast faces the ancient Etruscans’ territory (Tuscany and north Lazio).

The Romans: As the island was part of the Roman Empire, two settlements were established on the east coast, in Aleria and Mariana, where there are still remains of ancient buildings and streets. At the time, many materials and goods such as wood, ores, cork, olive oil, wine, honey were exported from Corsica.

The Greeks: With the Phocaeans settling in Alalia (actual Aleria) in the 6th century B.C. to widen their maritime influence and later with hundreds of Greek families settling in southern Corsica to flee from the 17th century Ottoman military expansion, the island has also been related to the Greek history.

The Pisans: From the 11th century, the Pope entrusted the dominant maritime power at the time, that was the Republic of Pisa, with the complete religious and political restructuration of the island where paganism was still very strong: from then on, it obviously marked the Corsican society…

The Genoese: From the victory of the Genoese upon the Pisans in the 13th century to the independence of the island followed by the French victory in the 18th century, nearly five hundred years of Corsica’s history are closely related to that of the Republic of Genoa.