From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change

The Etruscan civilization was a culture in ancient Italy. The Romans named them Etrusci or Tusci. The Ancient Greeks named them Tyrrhenoi or Tyrrsenoi. The Etruscans named themselves Rasenna.

The Etruscan Civilization is very old. It began in pre-history. When it was very powerful, it was in three confederacies (areas like modern states). These three confederacies were Etruria, Latinum and the Po Valley, and Campania. The Etruscans ruled Rome until 396BC.

[change] Language

The Etruscan language is related to the Tyrrhenian language family and is not related to other languages. Some Etruscan letters were used by the Romans in the Latin alphabet, which English uses. When the Romans conquered the Etruscans, they wrote everything in Latin. So now we do not know much about the language. Some Romans wrote about the Etruscans and their language but it is now lost.

[change] History

The Etruscans mined metals like copper and iron. They became rich and powerful and travelled around the Mediterranean Sea. The Etruscan Civilisation began to lose power in the 5th century BC. The Romans began conquering parts of Etruscan land. By the beginning of the 1st century BC, the Etruscans were entirely defeated.