History of Sardinia strongholds on strategic points in the south and west of Sardinia, often peninsulas or islands near estuaries, easy to defend and natural harbours, such as Tharros, Bithia, Sulci, Nora and Caralis (Cagliari). The majority of the inhabitants in these cities were of indigenous nuragic stock while the Phoenician element was, although culturally predominant, in minority. The Phoenicians came originally from what is now Lebanon and founded a vast trading network in the Mediterranean. Sardinia had a special position because it was central in the Western Mediterranean between Carthage, Spain, the river Rhône and the Etruscan civilization area. The mining area
Independence Republic of Sardinia Sale. Independence Republic of Sardinia Independence Republic of Sardinia (, iRS) is a Sardist, left-wing nationalist and social-democratic and non-violent separatist political party in Sardinia. The party, whose long-time leader is Gavino Sale, supports the establishment of a "Republic of Sardinia" and its independence from Italy. The party emerged in 2001–2002 by the merger of "Su Cuncordu", a separatist platform animated by three Sardinian intellectuals living in Rome (Franciscu Sedda, Frantziscu Sanna and Franciscu Pala), and a splinter group from Sardinia Nation (SN) led by Gavino Sale. The latter and his followers left SN because of its alliance with the