Even though on the Romanian terrtory, we can find one of the oldest traces of civilization and culture in Europe (see Cucuteni culture) we can not speak about a Dacian or Romanian country/culture until the beginning of the VI-th century B.C. The first mention about Dacia can be found in Herodotus' manuscripts. He wrote that the Getae were “the most valiant and just of the Thracians”.

Since the vey beginning, Dacia was targeted for invasion by different empires or nationalities. A major reason for this was the multitude of natural resources. Iron, copper, gold, some precious stone, fertile land always constituted an open invitation for invaders. The Persian Empire was the first major one that tried to conquer the country. The campaign of Persian king Darius I against the Scythians in the northern Pontic steppes (513 BC) is also mentioned in Herodotus' manuscripts, and according to him Getae had been the only ones to resist the Persian king on the way from the Bosporus to the Danube.

In the year 50 B.C. Burebista unified all the Geto-Dacian tribes, spreaded across the Danubian-Carpathian-Pontic area, into what was known at that time - Great Dacia. Many fortifications were build across the country, and the capital was settled at Sarmisegetuza Sarmisegetuza.

When the Roman Empire started its expension toward Est and Nord Est they encountered a strong opposition from the Dacians. For almost two decades Danube was the border between the Roman Empire and Dacia. The first major confruntation took place between 87-89 A.D. and the Romans were defeated. The Dacian King Decebal King Decebal (87-106 AD) imposed a heavy treaty to the Roman Empire, including paying an annual tribute. After thirteen years (101 A.D.) The Roman Empire - under Emperor Traian - attacked Dacia again. This time Decebal had to ask for peace in order to save his kingdom. But as soon as the Romans left the country he started to prepare for a new war. Three years after the peace agreement, Romans inveded Dacia again, and using betrayal they conquered the entire country. It was the year of 106, when the war ended with Decebal's death. Heavy casualties were encountered on both sides.

The first measure took by the romans was the forced latinization of the country. Tens of thousands of Roman colonists were deployed all over Dacia to merge with the natives and prevent a new war. The Roman soldiers and officers seemed to enjoy their stay here, because when Emperor Aurelianus decided to have his army and administration retreated south of Daube, thousands of them remained north of the river, fighting besides the natives against the migratory tribes.The Romanian people formation process finalized by the end of the VI th - beginning of VII th century. Because of the heavy colonisation, Romanians are today the only Latin island in a Slavic sea.

Middle Age

Modern History

Contemporary History