Illyrian refers to the people, culture, and language of an ancient Indo-European group dwelling in the western Balkan Peninsula during classical antiquity. The term "Illyrian" primarily encompasses the territory stretching from the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea to the Danube River in the north, covering regions that are presently part of modern-day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, and Slovenia.
In terms of culture, Illyrians had a complex tribal structure and were skilled in agriculture, metallurgy, and maritime activities. They also engaged in warfare and were known for their fierce resistance against Roman expansion in the first centuries BCE.
The Illyrian language, belonging to the Indo-European language family, is poorly documented, and only a few fragments of inscriptions and personal names survive. As a result, the historical knowledge of the Illyrian language and its connection to other ancient languages remains limited.
Furthermore, the term "Illyrian" can also be used to describe anything relating to or derived from the Illyrian people or their culture, as well as the artifacts, archaeological sites, and historical remains associated with their civilization.
In contemporary usage, the term "Illyrian" may also refer to the Illyrian movement, a 19th-century intellectual and political movement that sought to revive and promote a shared Illyrian identity among South Slavic populations, particularly Croats.
