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
History of the Jews in Sardinia the Jews became increasingly harsh. During those times, mob violence against the Jews was recorded. Sardinia is one of the few places in Italy where there are catacombs containing Jewish inscriptions. The catacombs of Sant'Antioco date from the 4th and 5th centuries. The inscriptions are in a form of Hebrew-Latin, a language closely related to Italki. In 1325, Sardinia fell under the rule of the Spanish Kingdom of Aragon. For the first century during Spanish rule, life was more or less pleasant for Sardinian Jews. During this time Spanish Jews began to arrive and settle the island. The Jewish inhabitants