On the contrary, in one respect it is in-extricably linked to the neighbouring regions, while in another it has within it so many diversities and nuances that any theory prejudi-cially in favour of unity would not hold water.
Ought one then to speak of "le Toscane," as we speak of "le Marche," "gli Abruzzi," and as until a short while ago we used to speak of "le Puglie" and "le Calabrie?" Well, no. And this denial is by no means emotional, but based on at least three valici reasons, one geographical, one historical, and the third linguistic and cultur­al. Geographically speaking the lines drawn by the Tyrrhenian, the Apennines and the Tiber mark out a pretty clear border, even if it is anything but "closed." Historically, after the organization provided by the Romans for the regio of Tuscia-Etruria, and the Late Mediae-val rise of a Longobard duchy (later a Frankish "march") of Tuscia, the leadership assumed by Florence in the process of transforma-tion from a Commune to a regional State in the 14th and 15th cent, (in spite of considerable resistance from Siena and Lucca), and the establishment of the Grand Duchy under the houses of Medici and Lorraine, impressed an indelible stamp upon the region. Finally, Tuscan speech, in ali its many varieties, has from the 13th cent, onwards, and in particular during the 19th cent., asserted it­self as the literary language of United Italy, while even for this very reason confirming its originai character as a regional tongue.