Etruscan+Rise+Research+Summary

Etruscan| Rise | Research| Summary By Myrna Scully-Ashton __Climat e and Geographic Factors __ - Were spread out over many different kinds of country (Spivey and Stoddart 23) - Region's reddish-brown soil is formed from volcanic ash rock called tuff (Potter 19) - Large mineral ore deposits of tin and copper, which Etruscans began to use very early on (Potter 19) - Settlements developed near these deposits of mineral ore (Massa 35) - Seasons followed a typical Mediterranean pattern with wet falls, cold winters, wet springs and very dry summers (Potter 22) - The limestone Apennine Mountains cut off region to the east (Potter 19) - Tyrrhenian sea borders the region to the west (Potter 19) - Area has numerous volcanic craters these craters often form the watersheds for regions and allow for larger streams (Potter 21) - Rainfall in the non-mountainous areas of the region peaks around November and March and rarely exceeds 1000 millimeters (Potter 22) __ Events and Leaders __ - Specific dates and events are vague with the early Etruscans (Bonfante 49) - Many records were destroyed during the period of Roman dominance (Nardo 43) - 11th and 12th centuries: - Small mainly self-sufficient farming villages began forming through out the Etruscan region (Bonfante 50) - 11th and 10th centuries B.C.: - Villanovan period begins (Bonfante 50) - More complex pottery and sculptures found (Bonfante 50) - Bronze work and other metal work begins at this time (Bonfante 50) - 9th century B.C.: - Evidence of increased trade between different Etruscan settlements (Bonfante 50) - 8th Century: - Labor becomes more divided into separate professions (Bonfante 51) - Craftsman and artisans appear (Bonfante 51) - More riches and trade allow for an upper class (Bonfante 51) - 7th century B.C.: - Increased influence from Greece changes art and way of life (Bonfante 52) - Increased commerce with other Mediterranean countries (Bonfante 52) - Considered the golden age of the Civilization (Bonfante 52) __ Socio-Political Structure __ - At first culture was mainly focused on agricultural practices (Bonfante 50) - Before the beginning of 8th century B.C.E. most Etruscans were equal in status (Bonfante 51) - Became organized into system of 12 cities (Massa 33) - Became an aristocratic society once rise of wealth allowed for upper class (Massa 35) - Leaders called Lucumo were both politically and spiritually leaders (Massa 37) - Lucumo title was passed down hereditarily (Massa 37) - Women had equal status to men in aristocracy (Massa 38) - Women could also have titles passed to them (Massa 38) - Mother’s name was often put on tombs as a title of honor; this was uncommon in other civilizations of the era (Massa 38) - Each city in federation had it’s own federation of 12 Lucumo families (Massa 42) - Had kings but they were more like supreme magistrates for the city (Massa 42) - Lucumo of the city elected kings at regular intervals (Massa 41) - Cities of the federation were: Taraquinii, Veii, Cerveteri, Volterra, Cortone, Perugia, Arezzo, Voisinii, Clusium. Vulci, Vetulonia and Rusellea (Massa 44) - Cities of the federation changed over rise and fall of different regions (Spivey and Stoddart 57) - Council of all 12 cities held in the spring in the temple of Voltumna in Northern Tuscany to make decisions (Massa 43) __ Art, Literature and Music __ - Very little Etruscan writing has survived and what been found is mainly religious texts (Nardo 51) - The best examples of Etruscan art has mainly been discovered tombs in wealthy citizens (Nardo 51) - Early art was often heavily decorated and had complex forms (Bonfante 97) - Early art was focused on household objects like vases or belts (Bonfante 98) - Etruscan art of all types was heavily influenced by Greek styles of art in the era around 850-700 B.C. (Bonfante 97) - Etruscan art did differ in what it depicted, more images of daily life and average people apposed to the idealistic Greek style (Janson 148) - Sculptures in tombs were very joyful and often portrayed in an everyday manner, unlike Greek style (Janson 149) - Fresco’s often portrayed dancing and partying (Nardo 58) - The type of art that archeologists have found the most examples of is decorated pottery (Nardo 59) - The pottery was usually decorated with scenes of daily life or special occasions (Nardo 60) - Rough frescos were very commonly found in tombs and it is believed they were common as decorations in home as well (Nardo 60) - Sculptures were mainly made of bronze and terra-cotta (Nardo 61) - Were know for their metal work in bronze and gold through out Mediterranean region (Nardo 61) - It was common to have life-sized terra-cotta sculptures of deceased people built (Janson 148) - Sculptures would depict deceased much as they had appeared in life (Janson 148) - Art did not focus on glorifying historical events or personal achievements unlike other cultures at the time (Bonfante 101) - Few monuments to great achievements or battles (Bonfante 101) __ Transportation and Weaponry __ - Soldiers would have full body armour consisting of a helmet, corselet and greaves (Spivey and Stoddart 129) - Shields would be circular and constructed of bronze (Spivey and Stoddart 129) - Javelins and double-edged swords would have been standard weapons (Spivey and Stoddart 129) - Most weapons would have been made of bronze (Macnamara 131) - Armour found in tombs was often made of bronze but an average warrior’s would not be but of leather (Spivey and Stoddart 131) - Helmets of the Etruscan Villanovan style was used until the 7th century B.C. when the Greek style took over (Spivey and Stoddart 130) - The heavy fortification of Etruscan cities was uncommon until the around the 7th century B.C. (Spivey and Stoddart 136) - Port towns would have towers though to survey the sea (Spivey and Stoddart 137) - Chariots have been found in several tombs (Spivey and Stoddart 129) - Chariots would not have been used in actual battles but for ceremonial uses (Macnamara 136) - Where know through out region as skilled seafarers (Spivey and Stoddart 139) - Ships depicted as two-masted with high bows and sterns (Macnamara 139) - Are credited with inventing rams on war ships (Macnamara 139) - Many Greek accounts claim that the Etruscans were involved in piracy (Haynes 52) - Greeks would avoid the Etruscan costal region for fear of meeting pirates (Haynes 52) - Word Etruscan was synonymous with pirate in some Greek texts (Bonfante 56) __ Agriculture and the Economy __ - Grew cereals, hemp and flax (Massa 49) - Olive trees and grape vines did well (Massa 50) - Grapes were cultivated for the first time in the 8th or 9th centuries B.C. (Spivey and Stoddart 66) - Many horse harnesses found in tombs (Massa 50) - Oxen were used to work fields (Massa 51) - Special type of white bull was breed for sacrifices (Massa 51) - Kept sheep for wool and cheese (Haynes 65) - Would almost always have pigs and bees (Haynes 64) - Excavations of early trash heaps have found the breakdown of livestock to be 30-60% sheep/goats, 15-40% pigs and 10-20% cattle (Spivey and Stoddart 63) - There was also usually a presence of hare, deer and/or tortoises depending on where the settlement was located (Spivey and Stoddart 65) - Cattle became more common as civilization rose (Spivey and Stoddart 67) - Hunted wild Tuscan boar (Haynes 65) - Fishing was common especially in the city of Pyrgos, tuna (Massa 52) - Required to harvest crops that require water (like wheat) early because of dry summers (Potter 22) - Cereals would usually be grown in rotation with Pulses (type of legume) (Haynes 60) - Had effective land drainage tunnels that they used to drain marshy land making it suitable for agriculture (Potter 23) - Water that had been drained was often directed to other areas that need to be irrigated (Potter 23) - Were also know to cultivate fruit like cherries, plums and hazelnuts (Spivey and Stoddart 66)