Why were the etruscans considered to be the greatest influence on early rome?

Answer 1

Rome began as a city-state with a territory of about 50sq miles and a ragtag citizenry of displaced people from other cities. As it expanded it took on culture from many sources, but the area it was located meant that this was initially from the Etruscans, who ruled early Rome. This culture established a planned city layout with roads and bridges, sewerage, marsh reclamation, introducing the arch and vault. They brought pottery design and art, Metallurgy, better agricultural practices, and introduced cursive writing which had been inherited from the Phoenician/Greeks alphabet, and provided schools for the aristocracy. Their legacy in religious practices including the hidden spirits and gladiatorial fights at funerals was also an Etruscan inheritance.

When Rome had dominated the Carthaginians in its west and turned east in its expansion it came into serious contact with Greek culture. Many ultra-conservative Romans rejected the Greek approach to culture, but many embraced it wholeheartedly, pillaging conquered Greek cities for artwork, importing performing and trade artists and artisans, and taking on Greek slaves as tutors for their children. These Romans were known as Philhellenes (lovers of things Greek). While the Romans excelled others at governance and war, they became culturally heavily influenced by the Hellenes (Greeks).

Ultimately, when the barbarians from the east overwhelmed the western part of the Roman Empire, Rome survived on in the east for another thousand years, calling themselves Romans but speaking Greek and culturally Greek, as the Byzantine Empire.

Answer 2

because they are neighboring tribes