Basques

The Basques are an ethnic group in southwestern Europe, mainly in the Iberian Peninsula. Most Basque speaks a language isolate called Basque. Basque are indigenous to the Basque Country, an area in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

Origins
Basques predate Indo-Europeans, and are theorized to be the direct descendants of the Cro-Magnons.

Culture
Basque culture is influence a lot by its neighbors.

Language
The Basque language, or Euskara, is one of the few pre-Indo-Europeans left in Europe.

Cuisine
Basque cuisine is at the heart of Basque culture, influenced by the neighboring communities and the excellent produce from the sea and the land.

Music
Traditional Basque music as many types of instruments. Some of the instruments include: the trikiti (a type of accordion), txalaparta (a xylophone-like instrument), tambourine, xirula (a three holed flute), ttun-ttun (a vertical stringed drum), and the atabal (a double sided, portable flat drum).

Society
Basque society has traditionally been different from the societies of the Indo-Europeans. Woman could inherit and control property as well as officiate in churches, unlike in other European societies. Up until the eve of the French Revolution, the Basque woman was truly ‘the mistress of the house', hereditary guardian, and head of the lineage.

Sports
Pelota is a variety of ball games in the Basque region. It has gain some traction in Spain and France.