Etruscan civilization
Rasna
Rasenna
1200 BC–550 BC
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Extent of Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan
League cities.
Capital
Velzna- (Orvieto)
Language(s)
Etruscan language
Religion
Etruscan paganism
Political structure
Confederation
Luchume
- Unknown
Tyrrhenus
- Unknown
Tarchon
Legislature
Etruscan League
Historical era
Ancient
- Villanovan
1200 BC
- Roman assimilation
550 BC
Etruscan civilization is the modern English
name given to the culture and way of life of a
people of ancient Italy and Corsica whom the
ancient Romans called Etrusci or Tusci.[1]
The Attic Greek word for them was Τυρρήνιοι
(Tyrrhēnioi) from which Latin also drew the
names
Tyrrhēni
(Etruscans),
Tyrrhēnia
(Etruria) and Tyrrhēnum mare (Tyrrhenian
Sea).[2] The Etruscans themselves used the
term Rasenna, which was syncopated to
Rasna or Raśna.[3]
As distinguished by its own language, the
civilization endured from an unknown prehis-
toric time prior to the founding of Rome until
its complete assimilation to Italic Rome in the
Roman Republic. At its maximum extent dur-
ing the foundation period of Rome and the
Roman kingdom, it flourished in three con-
federacies of cities: of Etruria, of the Po val-
ley with the eastern Alps, and of Latium and
Campania.[4] Rome was sited in Etruscan ter-
ritory. There is considerable evidence that
early Rome was dominated by Etruscans until
the Romans sacked Veii in 396 BC.
Culture that is identifiably and certainly
Etruscan developed in Italy after about 800
BC approximately over the range of the pre-
ceding Iron Age Villanovan culture. The lat-
ter gave way in the seventh century to a cul-
ture that was influenced by Greek traders
and Greek neighbours in Magna Graecia, the
Hellenic civilization of southern Italy. After
500 BC the political destiny of Italy passed
out of Etruscan hands.[5]
Legend and history
Origin
The origins of the Etruscans are lost in pre-
history. Several hypotheses exist, some of
which are listed below. They are not neces-
sarily mutually exclusive. Debate over origins
was revived i