The Etruscans were a widespread people who resided in ancient Italy, primarily in both the central and northern regions of the Italian Peninsula. These peoples “formed the most powerful nation in pre-Roman Italy” and “created the first great civilization on the peninsula, whose influence on the Romans as well as on present-day culture is increasingly recognized” (Grummond, 2015). The heart of their civilization was in Etruria, an area that covered part of modern Tuscany, Western Umbria, and Northern Lazio. “The Etruscans were the first "superpower" of the Western Mediterranean who, alongside the Greeks, developed the earliest true cities in Europe.” (Taylor n.d.), meaning that this was a well-established culture in many cities and towns. Some
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The Etruscans shared borders with the Umbrians and the Sabines. Both were Italic tribes in central Italy who had various skirmishes with the Etruscan people. Another important aspect of cultural exchange was “a trade network that connected the Etruscan cities, to tribes in the north of Italy and across the Alps, and to other maritime trading nations such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and the Near East in general.” (Cartwright, M. 2017). Maritime trade also occurred during this time, due to the Carthaginians being disconnected from the Etruscans by sea and the Greeks were much further down the coast of Italy residing only on islands. Other peoples connected to the Etruscans consisted of the Gauls, a Celtic warrior group from the north, as well as the Latins and the Romans. A king of the Etruscans ruled over them at one point in time, but these people would later become the Roman Empire and conquer the Etruscans. What made this culture a unified archaeological culture was the continuities of funeral practices, deities, pottery, and art. Many of the archaeological sites we find today have very similar burial practices and decorated
The Etruscans shared borders with the Umbrians and the Sabines. Both were Italic tribes in central Italy who had various skirmishes with the Etruscan people. Another important aspect of cultural exchange was “a trade network that connected the Etruscan cities, to tribes in the north of Italy and across the Alps, and to other maritime trading nations such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and the Near East in general.” (Cartwright, M. 2017). Maritime trade also occurred during this time, due to the Carthaginians being disconnected from the Etruscans by sea and the Greeks were much further down the coast of Italy residing only on islands. Other peoples connected to the Etruscans consisted of the Gauls, a Celtic warrior group from the north, as well as the Latins and the Romans. A king of the Etruscans ruled over them at one point in time, but these people would later become the Roman Empire and conquer the Etruscans. What made this culture a unified archaeological culture was the continuities of funeral practices, deities, pottery, and art. Many of the archaeological sites we find today have very similar burial practices and decorated