History of Sardinia

Sardinia is a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has been inhabited for thousands of years and has belonged to many different countries over time. The island was first settled by Neolithic farmers around 7000 BCE. The Phoenicians, a seafaring people from the Middle East, colonized Sardinia in the 8th century BCE and established trade links. The Greeks and Carthaginians (a North African civilization) also settled on the island in the 6th century BCE. The Romans invaded Sardinia in the 2nd century BCE, ruling the island until the 5th century CE.

During the Middle Ages, the island was divided up among several different ruling families, including the Spanish, Genoese, and Pisans. These families also built many castles, churches, and other fortified buildings to protect their territory. In the 18th century, the island was annexed by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which became part of the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Today, Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy.