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Raeti

ancient people
Also known as: Rhaeti

Quick Summary

The Raeti were an ancient people who inhabited the Alpine regions of what is now southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy before the Roman conquest in 15 BC. Their origins are believed to be a mix of Illyrian and Celtic stock. The Raetian language, spoken by these people, is known from inscriptions and is debated among scholars, with some viewing it as intermediate between Celtic and Illyrian, while others consider it non-Indo-European. The Roman province of Raetia was strategically important for controlling trade routes between Italy and other parts of the empire, rather than for its economic value.12

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Raetian language
  2. Raetia
  3. Rhaetian

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