Which ancient peoples lived in Apulia and the Salentine Peninsula?

The inhabitants of the southeastern extremity of the Italian peninsula, including Apulia and the Salentine Peninsula (ancient Calabria), were a distinct group of populations collectively known to the ancients as the Iapyges.12

Within this region, the specific peoples included:

• The Salentini and the Messapii: These tribes inhabited the Salentine Peninsula. The terms Iapyges and Messapii are sometimes used interchangeably to refer to these groups.12
• The Peucetii and the Dauni: These populations resided in the territory farther north within Apulia.12

These tribes are believed to have originated from across the Adriatic Sea, likely from the Balkans, through a gradual prehistoric penetration of trans-Adriatic elements rather than a single migration. They spoke the Messapic language, an Indo-European language distinct from Latin and the Umbro-Sabellian dialects. Their civilization, which flourished from the 9th to the 3rd centuries BCE, was characterized by large confederated cities and was significantly influenced by nearby Greek colonies.132