Modern Italy
When last we left Etruria, we were mystified by the Etruscan's policy of not helping each other when faced with a common threat. This incredible policy would of course, have devastating effects. Moving ahead to about 1300 B.C. It is at about this time, that people from the Eurasian plains called " the Latin's" later known as the Romans - migrate in. The nature of the early contact between the two peoples, is unknown. But, the later relationship is well known.
After the coalition of original inhabitants of Italy, Greece and the Aegean called the "Sea People" had left the area, those that stayed behind, still had to deal with the newcomers.
In time, the Romans had learned how to built cities - nothing fancy yet. But there is great competition for power and territory. Wars rage, but the Etruscan cities fight alone and the Romans can simply attack and annex each individual city. This disunity is further illustrated by the fact that the Romans concluded treaties with individual Etruscan city/states, rather than the whole.


But the Etruscans didn't go easy. In approximately 600 B.C, the Etruscans occupied the area of Latium and settled themselves in the city of Rome, from here the influence of Etruscan civilization and art made itself felt in the entire Latin sphere.
But Caucasians kept coming in, and Rome soon became a large city, similar to the powerful cities of southern Etruria, and it had also become predominately Caucasian. Accordingly, it was a Caucasian uprising that drove the Etruscans from Rome in 509 B.C. Later, it was a coalition of Caucasians - Latin’s and the "new" Greeks, that led to the Etruscans' withdrawal from the whole of Latium in 475 B.C. After this defeat, the Etruscans continued to decline, until finally Etruria was incorporated into Rome. Over time the Etruscans ceased to exist as a separate people, and they along with their culture and technology were totally absorbed into Rome. However, it should be pointed out, that if Etruscan Tomb Paintings are any indication, absorption by the Latin's was not unduly traumatic.


Please visit the "Additional Material Area" for many more photographs of each civilization, and related material <Click> |
| < Back | Home | Next > |