ETRUSCAN HISTORY

'Etruscan history' is the written record of Etruscan civilization compiled mainly by Greek and Roman authors. Apart from their inscriptions, from which information mainly of a sociological character can be extracted, the Etruscans left no surviving history of their own, nor is there any mention in the Roman authors that any was ever written. Remnants of Etruscan writings are almost exclusively concerned with religion.

Contents

Thalassocracy

Loss of the south

Loss of the north

Assimilation by Rome

Some Etruscan rulers

Notes

Bibliography

See also

External links

Thalassocracy

The mining and commerce of metal, especially copper and iron, led to an enrichment of the Etruscans and to the expansion of their influence in the Italian peninsula and the western Mediterranean sea. Here their interests collided with those of the Greeks, especially in the sixth century BCE, when Phoceans of Italy founded colonies along the coast of France, Catalonia and Corsica. This led the Etruscans to ally themselves with the Carthaginians, whose interests also collided with the Greeks.
Around 540 BC, the Battle of Alalia led to a new distribution of power in the western Mediterranean Sea. Though the battle had no clear winner, Carthage managed to expand its sphere of influence at the expense of both the Etruscans and the Greeks, and Etruria saw itself relegated to the northern Tyrrhenian Sea.

Loss of the south

From the first half of the fifth century, the new international political situation meant the beginning of the Etruscan decline. In 480 BCE, Etruria's ally Carthage was defeated by a coalition of Magna Graecia cities led by Syracuse. A few years later, in 474, Syracuse's tyrant Hiero defeated the Etruscans at the Battle of Cumae. Etruria's influence over the cities of Latium and Campania weakened, and it was taken over by Romans and Samnites.

Loss of the north

In the fourth century, Etruria saw a Gallic invasion end its influence over the Po valley and the Adriatic coast. Meanwhile, Rome had started annexing Etruscan cities.

Assimilation by Rome

At the beginning of the 1st century BCE, Rome annexed all the Etruscan territory.

Some Etruscan rulers

★ Osiniu (at Clusium) probably early 1100s BCE

★ Mezentius fl. c. 1100 ? BCE

★ Lausus (at Caere)

★ Tyrsenos

★ Velsu fl. 8th century

★ Larthia (at Caere)

★ Arimnestos (at Arimnus)

★ Lars Porsena (at Clusium) fl. late 6th century BCE

★ Thefarie Velianas (at Caere) late 500s–early 400s BCE

★ Aruns (at Clusium) fl. c. 500 BCE

★ Volumnius (at Veii) mid 400s–437 BCE

★ Lars Tolumnius (at Veii) late 400s–428 BCE

★ ''Etruscan kings of Rome'': Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (616–579), Servius Tullius (578–535), Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (535–510/509) BCE

Notes

Bibliography

See also

★ Battle of Alalia

★ Battle of Cumae

★ Battle of Lake Vadimo

★ Battle of Populonia

External links