Apulia

Apulia (mod. Puglia), a name which is now somewhat vaguely applied to the country that extends along the east coast of Italy from above the promontory of Gargano to the river Bradano in the Gulf of Taranto, thus including the ancient Calabria. In classical times Apulia or Appulia (sometimes called Japygia) was a province bounded south by Calabria and east by Sammium and Lucania. It was divided by the river Anfidus into Daunia north and Peucetia south, the latter corresponding to the Puglia of modern times. The primitive inhabitants were regarded as Oscans, but the country was colonised by Greeks from Arcadia. The Apulians struggled against Rome till 317 B.C., and were of doubtful faith in the Punic and Social wars. They were so severely treated by the Romans that to this day the country has never recovered its ancient prosperity.