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The Mysterious Etruscans

By: Steven L. Tuck, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Steven L. Tuck
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Publisher's Summary

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

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Etruscans revealed

If you could sum up The Mysterious Etruscans in three words, what would they be?

No longer so mysterious. A really interesting account of a fascinating people, where women were treated as autonomous human beings.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Mysterious Etruscans?

Learning about all the cultural borrowings from the Etruscans by the ancient Romans.

What about Professor Steven L. Tuck’s performance did you like?

A really thorough account of Etruscan life.

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could have been brilliant

incredibly interesting subject but unfortunately the lecturers voice is likely annoying mosquito.
I'd love to listen to this lecture series with someone else reading it

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Excellent

The most thorough and well thought out collective review of Etruscan culture and society I have seen to date.

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Tuck lectures are like a bottomless coffee, to too good :-)

Steven L Tuck makes listening to ancient history while learning far too much fun.
Implications of sneaky Romans purloining credit for their lifestyle choices and supplying evidence is my favourite kind of discovery.
As always this was a superbly interesting lecture Steven L Tuck, thank you very much appreciated. :-)

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