The name is derived from the Illyrian tribe of the Histri, which Strabo refers to as living in the region. The Histri are classified in some sources as a "Venetic" Illyrian tribe, with certain linguistic differences from other Illyrians. Under Roman rule, the region was called together with the Venetian part the X. Roman Region of "Venetia et Histria". Per ancient definition it was the north-eastern border of Italy. Dante Alighieri refers to it as well, the eastern border of Italy per ancient definition is the river Arsia (modern Raša).
In 1910, the ethnic and linguistic composition was completely mixed. Generally speaking, Italians lived on coast, all the inland cities and northern Istria, while Croats and Slovenes lived in the eastern and southeastern inland parts on the countryside.
Sample :
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to blue eyes, rather dark hair, ...), leptomorphic, long face, narrow and close-set eyes, long and narrow convex nose, lop ears, pointy chin
~ Dinaro-Mediterranean
Contrary to neighbouring Croatian Istria's dinaroid individuals (who were somehow more ambiguous, particularly around the eye area), those dinaromorphic Slovenian people undoubtedly show broad Italian affinities. Lighter individuals could be North Italian.
- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to medium blonde hair), brachymorphic, large head, little and distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, rather broad and puffy nose, well drawn oral cavity, full lips, weak browridges, large jaw, receding chin
~ Alpinid/Gorid
Those individuals do match an original type already identified in Trieste : a little and rather puffy nose, a well-defined oral cavity, puffy general features, ... In this area, this is the main male subtype and it can be associated with the local Slovenes. Very Balkanic-looking "Gorid" individuals (rather "slanted" eyes, strong dinaromorphism, ...) are much less representated than in neighbouring Croatian Istria.
In 1910, the ethnic and linguistic composition was completely mixed. Generally speaking, Italians lived on coast, all the inland cities and northern Istria, while Croats and Slovenes lived in the eastern and southeastern inland parts on the countryside.
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to blue eyes, rather dark hair, ...), leptomorphic, long face, narrow and close-set eyes, long and narrow convex nose, lop ears, pointy chin
~ Dinaro-Mediterranean
Contrary to neighbouring Croatian Istria's dinaroid individuals (who were somehow more ambiguous, particularly around the eye area), those dinaromorphic Slovenian people undoubtedly show broad Italian affinities. Lighter individuals could be North Italian.
- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (from dark to medium blonde hair), brachymorphic, large head, little and distanced oblique eyes, low orbits, rather broad and puffy nose, well drawn oral cavity, full lips, weak browridges, large jaw, receding chin
~ Alpinid/Gorid
Those individuals do match an original type already identified in Trieste : a little and rather puffy nose, a well-defined oral cavity, puffy general features, ... In this area, this is the main male subtype and it can be associated with the local Slovenes. Very Balkanic-looking "Gorid" individuals (rather "slanted" eyes, strong dinaromorphism, ...) are much less representated than in neighbouring Croatian Istria.
- Final morphotypes :
