ETRUSCANS

1. ETRUSCANS

2. WHERE

3. WHEN HISTORY From the dawn of history to the 9th century BC We don't know the origins of the Etruscans. • The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BC) says that they come from Lydia, a region in Asia Minor • The historians of the classical age say that they are a population of Italic origins.

4. From the 8th century to the 5th century BC • From the 8th century the Etruscans have the necessary energy to undertake a policy of expansion • Between the 7th and the 6th century BC, the Etruscans live in a vast area of the Italian peninsula, from the plain of the Po river, in the north, to Campania region, in the south

6. Etruscan merchants reach all the Mediterranean ports and they are rivals with the Greeks and the Phoenicians.

7. Etruscans become the masters of the Tyrrenian Sea • They come into conflict with the Carthaginians, the Greeks of the colonies of southern Italy, the Celts

8. From the 5th to the 3rd century BC • The decline of the Etruscans begin in 474 BC when the Greeks of Italy defeat them at Cuma. After this, the Etruscans lose their control over the Tyrrhenian Sea • From the mid 4th century BC Etruscans live in their original territories in central Italy • In 376 BC the Romans conquer Veio, an Etruscan city. The Etruscans lose their power.

9. ACTIVITIES • Agriculture They cultivate: • wheat • barley • millet • beans • lentils

10. They also cultivate : • olive trees • vine Etruscans import these two plants from Greece

11. Rearing • To provide food they rear: -cows -pigs -sheeps

12. For transportation or battle they have: - horses

13. Trade • They build a lot of roads. • They can go to the north, in the Po Valley, and they can go to the south, in Campania region, to sell their products • They also sail the sea with their boats

14. Trading: wine terracotta vases and “bucchero” vases

15. bronze weapons

16. They are able to create beautiful golden jewels

17. They are good artisans and artists. This is a “fresco” painted inside a tomb

18. And this is “Chimera”, a bronze Etruscan statue

19. RELIGION • Etruscans are polytheist. They pray: • Tinia, the heaven's God • Uni, Tinia's wife

20. They have special priests called “aruspici” . “Aruspici” look at the birds' flight and they tell the future.

21. Etruscans pray in temples

22. They believe in life after death, so they take care of their dead people. They put some objects inside the graves, so the dead person can use them in the afterlife

23. This is a rock grave

24. This is a tumulus grave

25. Etruscans burn their dead people and they put the ashes of the dead inside a cinerary urn or a sarcophagus

26. CULTURE • Etruscans write from the right to the left with letters that come from the Greek writing • The Etruscan writing is a mystery, we don't know it.

27. Etruscan houses are very simple but they have beds, tables, chairs and some containers for their clothes. Houses have terracotta floors inside.

28. Etruscan women wear long tunics with a belt • Etruscan men also wear a long tunic; their shoes have a particular long point

29. Sitography: http://www.agmen.com/etruscans • Biliography: Il mondo nello zaino Giunti Scuola • Videos: Documentary films- The Etruscans (History and culture)