Some Interesting views (Re: Last posting)

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Board: Etruria
Topic: Origins of the Etruscans 
Topic Editor: Nesnut Hatshepsut
Topic Description: The origin of the Etruscans...

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Message: Some Interesting views (Re: Last posting)
Author: Lauchum - Camitlnas Tullius, Patron 
Date: Jun 28, 2000 19:25
      Just a few comments on Velthur's post: 

      I'm not sure if I lost something in the translation, but as I understand 
      it the current theory of origin of the Etruscans is as though the 
      "Autochthonous" and "Lydian origin"  schools of thought have "agreed to 
      disagree" and instead concentrate on common ground which is the fact that 
      a great deal of the development took place on the Italian peninsula. 
      Despite this being the official viewpoint, I think it is still interesting 
      to examine the evidence for both cases. 

      The question of whether the Etruscans migrated from Lydia, and the time 
      period of this migration will probably never be answered unless more 
      evidence is  uncovered at some stage. My impression is that the old 
      Transalpine migration theory seems to have lost favour nowadays (correct 
      me if I am wrong).   

      The first Indo European settlement of Italy (The Latins, Sabines etc) is 
      thought to have taken place around 1200-1300BCE. This was a time of great 
      turbulence, marking the period of the fall of the Hittite Empire, the 
      destruction of Troy etc. 

      There were probably a great number of inter-related events which caused 
      mass displacement of peoples all around the Eastern Mediterranean. 

      Getting back to Velthur's question about the technology freeze, I think 
      the lack of cohesion between the Etruscan city states may have had a lot 
      to do with it. Incidentally , some sources say that the Etruscans invented 
      the "Rostrum" (the ramming device which became so prevalent in later 
      times). Certainly the 6th century was a period of crisis, and right up to 
      the time of the failed  Athenian/Etruscan attack on Syracuse, there was 
      one failure after another by the Etruscans. The Etruscan area of Influence 
      declined markedly during this period, due to attacks from the Celts, 
      Greeks etc. 

      I would suggest that the Etruscans overextended themselves, and that it 
      was inevitable that a loose confederation with no clear leadership was 
      doomed to failure. 

      Also, the destruction of Veii would have had a considerable impact on the 
      Etruscans. This effectively gave control of their North/ South land 
      trading routes to the Romans. After the Romans dealt their blow on Veii, 
      along came the Celts, who, disappointed with what little spoils they could 
      get from Rome, proceeded to despoil and further weaken Etruria. It was the 
      beginning of the end. With the defeat at Cumae, the Etruscans lost their 
      domination of the Tyrrhenian sea and thus lost the trade which has 
      sustained them up to then. 

      So I would agree with Velthur's earlier comments about the Romans 
      suppressing Etruria etc, but would add that the Romans were by no means 
      the whole reason for the downfall of Etruria. 











         



















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