A short history of the Etruscans:
Between the 8th and the 5th
c. B.C. the Etruscans achieved a predominant position in central and northern
Italy; according to Cato: "almost the whole of Italy was under Etruscan
rule". There is still no agreement on the origin of the Etruscans, though
it seems highly probable that a migration from Greek-influenced territory in
Asia Minor was involved.
The Etruscan art that has come down to us shows clear Greek influence. The
alphabet itself, also based on Greek models, can be read but the surviving
documents, consisting almost exclusively of short formula-like inscriptions,
offer little help towards an understanding of their meaning. A further
difficulty is that Etruscans is not an Indo-European language, and indeed shows
no similitaries with any other tongues which might be used for comparative
purposes.
They form a league of 12 cities on the lonian model; livelyy trade with central
and northern europe; highly developed cult of the dead (cemeteries). They bring
to Italy the art, culture, technology and social structures of Greek Asia Minor.
Later they become teachers of the Romans.
In the 750-550 B.C. the Greeks plant colonies in Lower Italy and Sicily. Wars
with Carthaginians and Etruscans, caused by commercial rivalries.
The 753 B.C. is the legendary date of the foundation of Rome by Romulus, a
descendant of the Trojan Aeneas. In the 8th c. the Etruscans became the
predominate force in Italy.
Rome is ruled by Etruscan kings, the Tarquins, until the establishment of the
Republic in 510 B.C.
Our Team lives in Lazio, in the middle of Italy, not far from Rome.