Why were the Estruscans considered to be the greatest influence on early Rome?

Answer 1

The Romans took their art, pottery, frescoes, music, fashion, higher role for women, they had the estruscan gods and goddesses. the Romans did not like the estruscan monarchy so made the republic

Answer 2

The Etruscans were next door neighbours. Rome was on the river Tiber, which was the boundary between Etruria and Latium (land of the Latins). One of the major Etruscan cities (Veii) was only ten miles from Rome. The Etruscans were one of the peoples who influenced early Rome. Other important influences were from the neighbouring Sabines and the Greek cities in southern Italy and Sicily.

It is difficult to ascertain the actual extent of Etruscan influence on Rome. The fashionable theory that the Etruscans conquered or dominated Rome, or that the urban development of Rome in the 5th century BC was due to the Etruscans has been challenged. The evidence base of this theory is flimsy and it is based on unproven assumptions. Recent archaeological evidence suggests a different picture. Moreover, the Etruscan civilisation disappeared quite early and very little Etruscan writing, which has not been fully deciphered, has survived. There are very little archaeological finds in the city of Rome because the Etruscans had an influence in the archaic (early) days of Rome and ancient Rome was continually redeveloped over the many centuries of its history.

The Etruscans were one of the various peoples who had some influence on Roman religion. Early Roman architecture might have been influenced by the Etruscans as well as the Greeks. However, if this was the case, the Etruscan order (style) was soon abandoned. The Roman preferred the Greek orders because the Etruscan one was unadorned and rustic. The Romans said that the Etruscans had some influence on the early development of their religion.

According to the Roman tradition, the 5th king of Rome who was half Greek and half Etruscan, introduced:

• The celebration of triumphs in Etruscan style

• The golden chariot of the king

• The fasces, a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe sticking out in the middle. This was used by the lictors, the guards of the consuls and the praetor. They were also a symbol of the power and authority of the consuls and the praetor.

• The clothes worn by people in positions of authority. The trabea, the robe worn by the king and then the consuls and priests during public ceremonies. The toga praetexta, the robe worn by higher officers of state and the curule chair they sat on as a symbol of their authority. The paludamnetum, a cloak worn by generals and their higher officers when commanding an army (but not during peace).

• The falera, round ornamental metal disks for helmets, armour and harness of horses.

Answer 3

The Etruscans were Rome's next door neighbours. Rome was on the river Tiber, which was the border between Latium (land of the Latins) and Etruria (land of the Etruscans).

There is a genearlised view that In her early days Rome was conquered by the Etruscans (in the 6th and 7th centuries BC) and that the last three kings of Rome were Etruscans. However, despite having become a well-established view, this is just a theory. It has been challenged. Its evidence base is flimsy and it is based on unproven assumptions. More recent archaeological evidence suggests a different picture. Latium in that period was influenced both by the Etruscans and the Greeks.. The latter had a city which was only 125 miles from Rome (Cumae).

Answer 4

The Etruscans had an influence of archaic (early Rome) primarily because they civilisation started earlier that that of the Romans and because they were neighbours. Rome was on the river Tiber, which was the border between Latium (land of the Latins) and Etruria (land of the Etruscans. Veii, one of the main Etruscan cities, was only 10 miles form Rome.

The Fashionable theory that Rome came under Etruscan rule and that the last three king of Rome of the 244-year period of the monarchy (753-509 BC) is questionable. It evidence base is flimsy to say the least and it rests on unproven assumptions. The extent of Etruscan influence is uncertain because of a lack of both literary and archaeological evidence.