modern italians same DNA as ancient romans?

Answer 1

Hi,

I have had a quick look at some DNA sites to see if someone had done such a project, however, from some history, you might get a better idea of what you are asking.

First, in the beginning, (say about 500BC) Rome and the Latin Language did not control all the Italian Peninsula or islands. Rome, was sitauated in an area called Latium, which they believed they had affinity with. Rome was in the northern part of the area. In the south they were bounded by Greek colonies and other Italian tribes. The Greeks also had colonies in Sicily, where the natives were called Sicels. In the Western part of Sicily, the Carthaginians held sway with colonial outposts. Carthaginians were descended from northern Africa and the original colonists themselves were from Lebanon.

Confused yet?

OK to the east were other Italian tribes.

Just to make matters more confusing, to the immediate north, in what we call Tuscany, were the Etruscans, who were linguistically different from any other people and were said to come from somewhere in Turkey. Just to add a twist, there is a Roman tradition that the Tarquins were kings from Etruscan ancestry. Linguistically, culturally etc, early Rome does have links with the Etruscans.

Just to add further confusion (sorry about this, but I think you might be seeing how complex your question really is) to the north of the Etruscans, the Gauls had invaded and taken over most of northern Italy. They at some stage actually raided into Roman territory and sacked Rome. (This was before the Roman Empire and at the start of the Republic)

OK, that is before the Roman Empire. I will not mention the immigrations (mostly forced of peoples to the Italian penisula- slaves, hostages and soldiers) as well as the unforced migrations that happened when Rome became the richest and most powerful city in the world.

Just to make it more interesting, Roman citizenship was open to anybody, not just to people that were brought up in Rome and later, Caracalla made everybody that was not a slave a Roman citizen by decree in the whole Roman Empire, which extended over the whole Mediterranean Sea.

After that I will just briefly mention that there was numerous invasions of the Italian peninsula. Just a few before the Renaissance will do. Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals raided, Lombards, the Greeks (who were really the Eastern Roman Empire) Normans, Berbers, (North Africans, Sicily was actually conquered.) French and Germans from the Holy Roman Empire.

The point I am making is this. Who was an Ancient Roman? From what period?

The other point is this, yes, you probably would find that there would be Ancient Roman DNA in modern Italians.

However, to say they have been "diluted" is ridiculous, for Roman CULTURE was all pervasive and still is. In lots of ways we are descendants of Ancient Rome, some of us by DNA but most of us from Roman CULTURE.

Let me put it this way, I do not know if you have Julius Caesar's DNA, but because of what Julius Caesar did, you have been influenced by, however subtly.

Just the language you have written in has been heavily influenced by Latin.

Are you seeing what I mean?

It does not answer your question, but you might see your question in a different light,

Demociticus

Answer 2

Since modern Italians are descended from ancient Romans, I'd assume so.

Answer 3

Not really, because the local romans have interbred with many other populations throughout history. You'd have to somehow find a population which had never had contact with anyone of un-roman descent. And then they'd be terribly inbred.

Answer 4

they're toddlers of historic greeks and romans. Greeks after Alexander's dying settled in different aspects of Asia and eastern Europe. throughout Cleopatra's reign too, Greeko-Egyptians settled in Rome and different aspects of Asia like Persia. to that end all of them would desire to be descendants of Greeko-Roman ancestors.

Answer 5

Pretty much although of course there are new communities moving into the gene pool.

Answer 6

No more so than any other European population.

Answer 7

many of them, probably yes...