Overview

Gain new insight into the foundations of Western civilization and discover how the Etruscans were a critical cultural conduit to our modern era.

Course No. 3421

How much do you know about the Etruscans? Many people, even those who are fascinated by ancient history, are less familiar with this intriguing culture than with the history of Greece and Rome — but the story of the Etruscans is equally captivating and far more important than you may have known. This ancient civilization prospered in the region of modern-day Tuscany, maintaining extensive trade networks, building impressive fortified cities, making exquisite art, and creating a culture that, while deeply connected to the Greeks and Romans, had striking contrasts.

The Etruscans were the original inhabitants of central Italy. Centuries before Rome’s rise, they built cities such as Pompeii, Capua, and Orvieto along fortified hilltops. They developed a system of roads and invented what we call the Roman arch. While they had their own system of government, their own myths and legends, and their own cultural attributes, the Etruscans imported and repurposed much from the Greeks — and, in turn, gave much to the Romans. You might be surprised to find out how much of Roman civilization — from togas to bronze military armor to Rome itself — actually has Etruscan origins. The Etruscans are largely responsible for:

• Transmitting the alphabet to the Romans and other ancient societies as far away as the Nordic regions.

• Granting Rome much of its celebrated architecture and infrastructure, from the Cloaca Maxima water-control system to the storied arch.

• Developing exquisite works of bronze and terra-cotta, as well as mesmerizing tomb paintings.

• Creating well-known symbols of republican government, imagery that still lives on in U.S. government buildings like the Lincoln Memorial.

Without the Etruscans, much of what we associate with the Roman world, and thus the foundations of Western civilization, would largely disappear. These 24 eye-opening lectures are your opportunity to discover this astounding culture and get an inside look into a seldom-studied but vitally important history.

Video Lectures

• Between the Greeks and Romans

Meet the Etruscans. Although you may not know much about them, this opening lecture quickly shows how they served as a conduit between the Greeks and the Romans, influencing much of what we think of as Western civilization. Begin by surveying their world to gain context for this mysterious people.

Duration: 32 min

• Lost Cities of Tuscany

Although Etruscan cities no longer survive, we can learn much by studying the geography and the foundations of cities that were built over the Etruscan developments. Explore three Etruscan cities to find out how they were designed, and see what urban development tells us about the people and their impact on future civilizations.

Duration: 31 min

• Who Founded Rome?

Much of Rome’s geography, architecture, and artistic inscriptions suggest strong Etruscan influence. After discussing three Etruscan kings who ruled Rome, Professor Tuck reviews the evidence—particularly in some of the city’s prominent temples—that Rome was, in fact, largely founded as an Etruscan city.

Duration: 34 min

• Etruscan Cities of the Dead

Step into the Etruscan necropolis—a literal city of the dead—which tells us much about how the culture viewed the afterlife, social class, and more. In this first of three lectures on the dead, you’ll visit several ancient tombs to find out about how this mysterious people lived—and how their culture changed over time.

Duration: 32 min

• Etruscan Burial and Mourning

Funeral rites are some of the most conservative components of a culture. Because they change so slowly, we can learn much from looking at a society’s funerals. Here, examine Etruscan tomb paintings to learn about their religious rituals, from which we can deduce much of their beliefs, cultural priorities, and more.

Duration: 34 min

• Etruscan Afterlife

Round out your study of the Etruscan view of the dead and the afterlife by examining wall paintings. Reflect on some of the key symbols around the transition from the living to the dead—including divers, underworld guides, and kings. Then consider how the Etruscan afterlife compared to Greek beliefs and mythology.

Duration: 29 min

7. Etruscan Gods and Goddesses

Shift your attention from the afterlife to survey Etruscan gods and goddesses. Learn about their pantheon and see how their deities compare to Greek and Roman gods, and consider what these deities indicate about the Etruscan worldview. See how collective action among the deities mirrored the culture’s government, family life, and more.

Duration: 32 min

• Divination: The Will of the Gods

One of the longest-lasting Etruscan legacies is divination, which had a profound influence on Rome. Venture into the Etruscan cosmos and find out how the interpretation of entrails, the flight of birds, and portents such as lightning strikes influenced their world. Then turn to blood sacrifices and other rituals designed to interpret the world and appease the gods.

Duration: 32 min

• Sanctuaries and Sacred Places

Sanctuaries reflect Etruscan religious beliefs and offer critical insight into their culture and politics. Examine the placement and design of several key sanctuaries, and contrast them with Greek temples. After reflecting on the geography of religious spaces, Professor Tuck turns to religious art and sculpture.

Duration: 32 min

• Etruscan Myths, Legends, and Heroes

While much of their art incorporates Greek elements—confusing archaeologists for decades—the Etruscans have their own distinct myths and legends. Here, delve into some of those stories and meet heroes such as the Vipinas brothers, who were a pair of folk heroes rooted in history. Explore the relationship between myth and history.  

Duration: 32 min

• Greek Myth: Etruscan Tombs and Temples

Between the 7th and 3rd centuries BC, the Etruscans imported thousands of pieces of Greek pottery, and this ubiquity influenced much of their own art. Study the urns, tomb paintings, and other artworks to uncover how the Etruscans incorporated and reinterpreted Greek myths for their own purposes.  

Duration: 32 min

• Greek Myth: Etruscan Homes

Continue your study of how Greek mythology influenced the Etruscans. Look at carvings, sculptural reliefs, bronze works, and other media that depict scenes from Greek myths. Examples include scenes from the Odyssey and the Iliad—adapted to Etruscan life in interesting ways.  

Duration: 32 min

13. Etruscan Language and Literature

The Etruscan language survives in more than 13,000 texts, from religious transcriptions on mummy linens to fascinating legal contracts written in stone. Because the Etruscans had a primarily oral culture, their writing tended to be analytical and straightforward, yet from it we can deduce much.  

Duration: 32 min

• Etruscan Government

Reflect on the Etruscan form of government, which shifted from tyranny to a kind of city-state democracy. Examine some of the limitations of their democracy—especially in the realm of defense against Roman invaders. Then consider how much the Etruscan government and its symbols informed Rome, and therefore much of Western civilization.  

Duration: 31 min

• Etruscan Warriors and Warfare

The Etruscan militaries were formidable, and their navies sailed around the Mediterranean, threatening many foreign settlements. Yet the military structure—or lack thereof—combined with a lack of any grand strategy, meant that the Etruscan military was more of a loose confederation than a unified force. Learn about their armor, battle tactics, and major confrontations.  

Duration: 32 min

• Mediterranean Artisans and Merchants

Turn to the Etruscans' extensive trade network across the Mediterranean, and consider some of their imports from the Greeks and Phoenicians—including pottery, ivory, glass, and more. Reflect on arts and crafts such as Greek vases, terra-cotta vessels, and pottery, and find out what Etruscan imports and exports might tell us about their politics and society.  

Duration: 31 min

• Bronze, Terra-Cotta, and Portraiture

Dig deeper into Etruscan artwork and go inside the world of bronze metalworking and the terra-cotta industry. Professor Tuck shows you the patterns to their art, traces the Greek influence, and surveys the Etruscan gift for portraiture. You'll study examples of their art and the techniques that went into making it.  

Duration: 31 min

• Etruscan Sports and Spectacles

Sport and spectacle have long been part of human affairs. We associate gladiatorial combat with the Romans, but it actually originated with the Etruscans, who held such combats and chariot races as part of religious observances. Study the exciting world of Etruscan sports and find out the context surrounding different types of games.  

Duration: 30 min

• The Etruscan Banquet

Banquets were the most significant social experience in the Etruscan world. Using tomb art as your guide, delve into the banquet world and see the customs for celebrating victories and observing religious events. You'll also learn about the inclusion of women in these public events—unique in the ancient world.  

Duration: 31 min

• Etruscan Women

One stark contrast between Etruscan society and the Greek and Roman worlds is the relative equality of Etruscan women to men. They appeared in public and even danced and banqueted in mixed company, inspiring strident condemnation from foreign authors. Here, review the role of women as priestesses, wives, mothers, and members of society at large.  

Duration: 31 min

• Etruscan Families

Relative equality between men and women extended to family life, as well. In this lecture, take a look at the Etruscan family structure and compare it to the Greeks, Romans, and Hebrews. Professor Tuck uses tombs, funerary markers, myths, and more to present a picture of the Etruscan family, gender roles, and the status of children.  

Duration: 32 min

• The Etruscan World Falls Apart

Many people assume that Etruscan culture simply died after the rise of Rome, but in truth, the culture lived on several centuries into Roman rule. Trace the history of the Etruscans' final years, from the invasion of Rome to various resistance and revival movements to their eventual integration into the Roman world.  

Duration: 30 min

• Etruscan Legacy in the Roman World

Tour Rome in the era of Augustus at the turn of the Common Era to reveal the Etruscans' influence on all things Roman. While Etruscan culture officially faded away, you'll see that without the Etruscans, Rome would lack many of its strongest attributes, from roads and bridges to military armor and togas to religion and sport.  

Duration: 31 min

• Where Have the Etruscans Gone?

In this final lecture, you'll trace the influence of Etruscan art and architecture in the Renaissance, when many exports of “Roman” culture were actually Etruscan. Then review what modern DNA research tells us about the origins and endings of the Etruscans—and the limits of our knowledge about this mysterious people even today.  

Duration: 34 min