Etruscans

The Etruscans were one of several tribes that inhabited the Italic peninsula in ancient times. They were originally from Asia Minor, migrating into Italy around 1600 BC, settling between the Arno and the Tiber rivers north of Rome. The region inhabited by the Etruscans was known as Etruria, which is present day Tuscany. Their civilization preceded the Roman one. The main sources of information about this people are the written works by Herodotus, Livy, and Pliny the Elder, who were Greek and Roman historians respectively.

The Etruscans produced a remarkably colorful and prolific civilization, which revolved around city-States. They spoke a non-indoeuropean language. Therefore, it was not related to Latin at all. Some historians think that they were perhaps related to the Phenicians, who were Semitic people. In the 6th and early 5th century BC, the Etruscans had reached the zenith of their progress and power. Their political system consisted of a monarchy, focusing on the city-State, similarly to the Greek polis. The oldest settlements were situated on the Tyrrhenian coast; they were walled towns that sat on hilltops for easy defense; Vulci and Tarquinii are example of these cities. They were basically traders and carried out most of their commerce by sea.

The biggest Etruscan city-States constituted a league for religious and military purpose. Each one of these cities were ruled by a king, who held political, military, and religious power. In public places, the king wore purple robe and traveled through the streets of the city in a chariot. They exerted a great geopolitical influence which went beyond Etruria’s boundaries. According to traditional history, the last three kings of Rome were Etruscan; Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, and Tarquinius Superbus. Although he undertook many construction works, such as the temple to Jupiter and Cloaca Maxima, Tarquinius Superbus established a despotic and tyrannical government. This is the reason that, in 510 BC, the Romans, led by Lucius Junius Brutus, rose up in rebellion and overthrew the king and the monarchy, founding the Republic.

Map of the Italic peninsula, showing the location of the Etruscans territory