Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the Frenchmainland, and north of the Italian island of Sardinia. Mountains comprise two-thirds of the island, forming a single chain.
The origin of the name Corsica is subject to much debate and remains a mystery. To theAncient Greeks was known as Kalliste,Cyrnos, Cernealis, Corsis or Cirné.
Corsica has been occupied continuously since the Mesolithic era. It acquired an indigenous population that was influential in the Mediterranean during its long prehistory.
After a brief occupation by theCarthaginians, colonization by the ancient Greeks, and an only slightly longer occupation by the Etruscans, it was incorporated by the Roman Republic and became with Sardinia a province of the Roman Empire.