Rome, Italy.. and Romania?

Question

This is a question I've always been to embaressed to ask, so I figure'd I'd so it here. My background on Roman history isnt sharper than anything I havent played out of Rome:Total War, so I wanted to ask...

If modern day Rome is the country we call Italy, then what is Romania? Isnt it the former Dacia that existed during the Roman ages and (atleast in the videogame) wasconquered? If so, why is it's name Romania, specifically?

Answer 1

It is called România, (the fourth letter is an "a" with diacritic) not simply Romania. At least as early as the Middle Ages many of the Romanian language speakers (descendants of Dacian natives, Roman colonists and Slavic tribesmen)  inhabiting  the area who would later become Romania were calling themselves "rumâni" (and rarely "români") - obviously a transformed form of the term "romanus".

And although the name "Rumania" would have made more sense, "Romania" was preferred to point out the linkage between the Romanian people and the Romans.

Answer 2

The name Romania, comes from The Roman Empire. It shows that Romania is from The Roman Empire, like many other countryes, it's just that the other countries got the influence from migrators in their language, and changed their name.

Answer 3

Romania was a former penal colony for the Romans.  At different times during the Roman Empire, Romans conquered much of what is now Europe and Northern Africa, so at some time they created a penal colony, much like Australia was for England.  Colleen McCullogh wrote a series of 6 books, they are fictionalized history, but fascinating and informative.  I read the series when I lived in Rome and found it immensely interesting. You might enjoy it as an addition to your game.

Answer 4

romania was ancient dacia, yet since romanians were the only ones in their area that kept the latin language (slavic and germanic tribes settled all around) they kept considering themselves romans, thats were "romanian" comes from