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Linda S Granados
Mr. Gango-2
April 14, 2016

Etruscan Civilization
The Greeks were not the only ones that Romans got their influence from; there was
another Civilization long forgotten to history that also influenced the Romans. That unknown
civilization was known as the Etruscans. (Why the Etruscans* the Mysterious Etruscans) The
Etruscans lived in the northern region of Rome between Arno and Tiber rivers and up to the west
of the Apennine Mountains close to Mar Tirreno, the sea of or at the coast( Zante). They were
known as the Sea people by the other civilizations because they were traders and merchants
(Game of Throne); also they were known as the first Superpower even if they did not conquer
other cities like Romans did. (Taylor)
The Etruscan civilization origins are not known to scholars; they were believed to be of
Babylonian origin or that they likely came from Phrygia. (Zante) Although, some argue that they
live in the 1st millennium B.C.E., between the 9th and 1st century they lived at the central part of
Italy on the western coast in the northern region of Rome between the Tiber and Arno rivers that
is the modern areas of Lazio and Tuscany.(Classics Confidential) Many hypothesis had been
built about the civilization, where they came from and who they were from the few pieces of art
and few thousands of inscriptions that has survived.( Zante)On the art they depicted themselves
that they had features of the Anatolian people. Etruscans were also known as seafarers they
traveled all the way along the coast of Italy up to the coast of France trading the finest gold and
wine of the region showing proof by Archeologists finding artifacts of Etruscan origins all the
way to Sweden.

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They were the first to have a fleet that threatened both the Greek and Phoenicia
settlements in Corsica, Sardinia, and Cote d Azur as they had control of the commoners in their
area. (Zante) They were avid metal workers who worked with Copper, Tin, Amber and Iron; they
had great mastery of architecture, driven by art that they liked to express their daily lives through
mural painting (Hernandez). They were exceptional winemakers that their influences spread up
to Pompeii.
They had a very well-established society; women and men had the same status: women
were treated with respect than the Greek women. They showed affection to both of the genders
and their society was divided by classes (Electrostatic) which was the usual society standard at
that time. That they even added the last names of both of their parents into their own name. The
sports that are believed to be roman origins were in reality Etruscan origins that the Romans
themselves took some of the sports to make them their own. They honored the dead by building
mounds of volcanic stone (Zante). They were the true founders of European culture. Like all
civilizations at that time they also did human sacrifices and they created production devices that
even Mussolini used the same designs to produce weapons for World War II; the cities that they
founded are still inhabited (Electrostatic). They also had very good dental hygiene knowledge;
they were the ones who introduce currency which the Romans copied(Zante) Even when they
were feared everyone wanted to trade with the Etruscans because of their taste of exotic objects,
pottery, jewels, weapons; and because they were rich (Game of Throne).

The Etruscan remains found do not connect or compare to those of the Greeks and
Egyptians; some of the evidences found that are exhibited on the Murlo Museum where found
around the city of the museums namesake in Italy. A temple found around the area known as the

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Poggio civitate excavations cannot be decided if the house was of an important family or was a
meeting place. The Poggio Civitate excavations that were started by Kyle Meredith Phillips JR
are still studying by The Poggio Civitate Archaeological Field School.

Their lifestyle was learned by the Romans as they roamed in the shadows of the
Etruscans. They learned about their lavished parties, sexual behaviors, offerings and games of
blood. Romans also learned about their military tactics and combat strategies. (Hernandez) As
the Etruscans taught the Romans everything they know from planting to engineering which made
one of the greatest achievements, which was once known that was from Roman origins, was the
Cloaca Maxima but in reality was built by the Etruscans themselves while they were still ruling
the Romans (Walsh). As the Romans were learning the Etruscans lifestyle they grew jealous of
their teachers and eventually the romans conquer the ones who taught them; the Romans
destroyed the Etruscans beautiful cities and society. By the time of the first roman emperor
Augusts came to power and unified Rome; the Etruscan civilization had disappeared into the
unknown (Walsh). But it is known that several roman kings that came to power were from
Etruscan origins (Walsh). For example: King Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius and Tarquinius
Superbus... (William)

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Work Cited:
Electrostatic The Etruscan Origins of Rome and Italy. YouTube.15, December, 2010.Web.
April 14, 2016
Classics Confidential Etruscan DNA Part 1.Youtube .6, March, 2015.Web. April 14,
2016
Zante The History of Rome - Part 2 Poor Etruscans .YouTube.4, May, 2015.Web. April
14, 2016
Game of Throne The Etruscans: Lost Ancient Civilization - New Ancient Documentary
2015.YouTube .12, June, 2015. Web. April 14, 2016

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Taylor, Laurel the Etruscans, an Introduction Khan Academy 2015 Web December 14,
2015
The Origins of the Etruscans San Jose University NY Web December 14, 2015
Why the Etruscans the Mysterious Etruscans NY Web December 14, 2015
Walsh, Justin A History of Rome-The Etruscans and Rome-Part 2 of 32 YouTube.15, May
2011 Web April 14, 2016
Hernandez, Alfredo-Personal Interview
William, Morey C. PhD, D.C.L. Outlines of Roman History New York, Cincinnati, Chicago:
American Book Company (1901). CHAPTER IV THE ETRUSCAN KINGS OF ROME.