The Mysterious Etruscans

By: Steven L. Tuck, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Steven L. Tuck

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 US 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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLC

Loved it

Outstanding. Loved it. Always curious about these folks. History channel does not give them justice.

Giving Them Their Due

With very limited materials, the professor paints an often fascinating picture of the enormous but often overlooked influence on Mediterranean civilization. Not merely conduits for Greek influence or an also ran with Rome for control of Italy, the Etruscans shaped nearly every facet of what we have come to think of as Roman Civilization. From religion, to art, to military equipment and architecture, the Etruscans made unique and indispensable contributions. Give these lectures a chance and watch a solid historian at work changing the way you see the ancient world. Highly recommended.

new info counter to my “classical” education

good voice, good info. Etruscans definitely worth listening to round out understanding of western cultural origins

Amazing

Until now I had thought that the Etruscans were merely some mythical civilization invented to explain the origins of the Roman empire. This course beautifully explains their history, culture and influence over the ancient world. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Excellent Course

Professor Tuck has a wonderful delivery -- he's at ease, personable, engaged with his subject matter, and uses accessible concepts and language. The course is well organised, one aspect of Etruscan life explored in each chapter. I am now enjoying it for the second time, having just returned from visiting several of the Etruscan sites. Wonderful way to learn!