The Etruscan Cities and Rome - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801403731 ISBN 13: 9780801403736

Publisher: Cornell University Press, 1967

Synopsis

Rome is known to us today as a mighty empire, but it emerged slowly, and in the face of a greater regional namely, the combined city-states of Etruria, in what are now the Italian provinces of Tuscany and Umbria. H.H. Scullard, the late University of London classicist, offers a comprehensive view of Etruscan culture and history in this survey, originally published in 1967 and regarded as a standard work. Scullard examines the controversial question of Etruscan origins, weighing the evidence for whether the Etruscans entered Italy as a distinct ethnic group or, instead--and more likely--they evolved from elements of local and foreign cultures. He describes the rise of commercial and political centers such as Perusia, Caere, Vulci, and Veii, pointing to impressive examples of Etruscan engineering and architecture that the Romans would later emulate. Along the way he considers aspects of Etruscan ritual and material culture, including the weapons and elaborate tombs for which the Etruscans were justly famous in ancient times. Scullard closes with a discussion of Etruria's relations with Rome, marked by a period of Etruscan rule over the city during the reign of the Tarquins in the 6th century, a reign that ended with the collapse of Etruscan power in Latium and the rise of republican government within Rome itself. --Gregory McNamee

About this title

Review

Rome is known to us today as a mighty empire, but it emerged slowly, and in the face of a greater regional power: namely, the combined city-states of Etruria, in what are now the Italian provinces of Tuscany and Umbria. H.H. Scullard, the late University of London classicist, offers a comprehensive view of Etruscan culture and history in this survey, originally published in 1967 and regarded as a standard work. Scullard examines the controversial question of Etruscan origins, weighing the evidence for whether the Etruscans entered Italy as a distinct ethnic group or, instead--and more likely--they evolved from elements of local and foreign cultures. He describes the rise of commercial and political centers such as Perusia, Caere, Vulci, and Veii, pointing to impressive examples of Etruscan engineering and architecture that the Romans would later emulate. Along the way he considers aspects of Etruscan ritual and material culture, including the weapons and elaborate tombs for which the Etruscans were justly famous in ancient times. Scullard closes with a discussion of Etruria's relations with Rome, marked by a period of Etruscan rule over the city during the reign of the Tarquins in the 6th century, a reign that ended with the collapse of Etruscan power in Latium and the rise of republican government within Rome itself. --Gregory McNamee

About the Author

Howard H. Scullard (1903-83) was a professor of ancient history at the University of London. He was the author of The History of the Roman World from 753 to 146 B.C. and From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication date: 1967
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801403731
• ISBN 13: 9780801403736
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320