Question 227 of 350 · Beginnings and the Old Swiss Confederacy
Which people lived in the area of present-day Switzerland at the time of ancient Rome?
Welches Volk lebte zur Zeit des alten Roms im Gebiet der heutigen Schweiz?
Correct answer: A
Why
The Helvetii were a Celtic people in the Plateau. The Romans conquered them after 58 BC, and Switzerland still bears their name today: Helvetia.
Common mistakes
- B: Confederates (Eidgenossen)
- People only speak of Confederates (Eidgenossen) from the Middle Ages, more than 1000 years later.
- C: Etruscans
- The Etruscans lived in central Italy, not north of the Alps.
Topic
More than 2000 years ago, Celtic peoples lived in the area of present-day Switzerland. The most important people were the Helvetii. They lived mainly in the Plateau between the Jura, the Alps and the Rhine. Switzerland is still named after them today: in Latin it is called «Helvetia». The CH on car number plates also comes from this. It stands for «Confoederatio Helvetica», in other words the Helvetic Confederation.
History of Switzerland · Beginnings and the Old Swiss Confederacy
Sources
Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.