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Although the early history of the Etruscans is uncertain, their more recent history is well known.
By about 700 B.C. the major Etruscan cities had been founded and Etruscan civilization and culture flourished during the the 6th Century B.C. As the Etruscan civilization expanded, it pushed up against other peoples and geographic barriers bordering its home region. This led to its expansion into the Po River Valley to the northeast.
As the Etruscans expanded and moved, there was a an aggressive, simultaneous expansion of the Greeks onto the Italian Peninsula, the islands of Corsica and Sicily, and what is now the southern coast of France. Growing commercial competition between the Etruscans and Greeks led to military confrontation which, all things considered, the Etruscans lost. By about 500 B.C., however, the Etruscans were losing not only to the Greeks but also to their former subjects, the Romans.
By 400 B.C. the Etruscans were being politically controlled by the Romans who were busy adopting numerous elements of Etruscan culture, including the Etruscan alphabet which the Etruscans had adopted from the Greeks. The Latin letters of European civilization, including the letters which you are reading now, had their origins in the Etruscan alphabet, which of course, like that of the Greeks, had its origins in the ancient Phoenician alphabet.
For more on the Etruscan civilization be sure to check out our Etruscan Highlights Tour by clicking 'View Tour' below!
Comments
2 comments
Hi all,
I will come to Rome next June as a gift for the achievement of my graduate program focused on the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art.
I am very interested in your one-day trip to the Etruscan Highlights of Tarquinia and I was wondering if you could suggest me other archeological sites to add to the visit with. Am also interested in your Vatican Early Bird Tour but there are so many parts of the Museums that I would love to visit and are are not included in your itinerary.
I forgot to mention we are three adults!
Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Best,
Eleanor
Hi Eleanor,
first of all, congratulations on your success! We would be too happy to celebrate it with you!
We are sure that our private tours will satisfy your curiosity and enrich your studies.
Hi Eleanor!
first of all, congratulation for your success! We would be too happy to celebrate it with you!
We are sure that our private tours will satisfy your curiosity and enrich your studies.
The Etruscan Highlights of Tarquinia Tour is certainly the most-recommended one! We would be happy to customize your itinerary including for example the Etruscan Necropolis of Cerveteri (Banditaccia) where your private driver and your guide will accompany you before returning to Rome.
Moreover, regarding the private tour of the Vatican Museums, we are happy to inform you that our expert and passionate guides will be more than happy to show you the section dedicated to the Etruscan artifacts hosted inside the Vatican Museums and any other site you wish to visit (with the exception of those Rooms that need special permits).
Please do not hesitate to contact our tour design team (info@eyesofrome.com) that will personalize your itinerary and will assign to your tour the guide that most shares your passions with you!
A presto!
Eyes of Rome Team
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