Situated in the North of Italy, the Etruscan's were once a powerful civilisation, dominating the Italian peninsular. Predecessors to Ancient Rome, the Etruscans excelled in trade, art, and sculpture, surviving for centuries from the early 1st Millenia BC until their fated clash with the Romans. The might of the Etruscans is undisputed - but what does the archaeology tell us about this mysterious civilisation, and why does is counteract ancient sources?

In this episode Tristan is joined by Dr Lucy Shipley to give an introduction to the Etruscan civilisation and their meteoric rise on the Italian peninsular. Looking at their international relations, language and culture, just who were the Etruscans, and why were they so important in antiquity?

Edited by Thomas Ntinas

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