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The Etruscans

Etruscan tombs

It is believed that around 1000 BC peoples from the North, speaking an Indo-European language, migrated and settled in an area roughly equivalent to Tuscany today. These people had skills in the use of iron and were known to cremate their dead. Their civilization was known as the Villanovan culture and was named after the corresponding town near Bologna where they were first identified.

The Etruscans appeared in central Italy in the 8th Century BC in an area roughly equivalent to Tuscany today but a little further south; overlapping into the north of modern Lazio and the west of modern Umbria. These people went on to found the first cities, introduce agricultural plants, improve the farming and lands, build aquaducts, and excavate materials such as iron and mercury. Fiesole is a good example of an Etruscan colony that was formed in 500 BC. However, the peak of the Etruscan power and civilization was during the 6th Century BC when it formed a federation of city states.

Previously it was believed that the Etruscans came to Italy by sea from the Far East; a view expressed by Herodotus due to the oriental nature of their 8th and 7th century BC art, and who described them as Lydians fleeing from famine in their own country. However, this hypotheses has now been replaced by the view above.

The 'Tusci' as the Romans used to call them, brought grape vines and olive groves from the eastern Mediterranean and they introduced Greek culture and its gods to the Romans.

The first civilisation for this area was formed by the settling of the Etruscans around the rivers Arno and Tiber. Eventually they extended as far as Liguria to the north, and down through Umbria and into Lazio in the south, forming the ancient area of Etruria.

These people had many skills including excellent road building by clearing swamps and marshlands, being great sea-farers, producing intricate and exquisite art works and jewellery. In fact the spread of the Etruscan civilization was based around the success of their traders who distributed the products both near and far. Etruria was rich in metal deposits and allowed the mining of iron-ore, copper, lead and tin resulting in the variety of craftwork that can still be seen today.

The southern part of Etruria was extensively drained which allowed the much valued products of olive oil and wine to be grown and made. This agrarian economy allowed the growth of wealth in the region.

The towns of the Etruscans were self-governing but there is also evidence of a strong national identity and a clear sense of religious identity. These ingredients are perhaps a reason for this civilisation having such longevity only surpassed by ancient Greece.

Etruscan settlements such as Cortona, Arezzo, Fiesole (close to Florence), Chiusi and Volterra are thousands of years old. So it seems strange that the Etruscan demise was relatively swift due to incursions from the Greeks, Gauls and Carthigians. The final destruction being dealt by the might of Rome.

In the late 6th Century BC Tarquinus Superbus, the last Etruscan king of Rome, was driven from power. Later, during the 3^rd Century BC the Etruscan cities fell, one by one, due to the rising power of Rome.