The Mysterious Etruscans

By: Steven L. Tuck, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Steven L. Tuck

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

Loved it

Outstanding. Loved it. Always curious about these folks. History channel does not give them justice.

Giving Them Their Due

With very limited materials, the professor paints an often fascinating picture of the enormous but often overlooked influence on Mediterranean civilization. Not merely conduits for Greek influence or an also ran with Rome for control of Italy, the Etruscans shaped nearly every facet of what we have come to think of as Roman Civilization. From religion, to art, to military equipment and architecture, the Etruscans made unique and indispensable contributions. Give these lectures a chance and watch a solid historian at work changing the way you see the ancient world. Highly recommended.

new info counter to my “classical” education

good voice, good info. Etruscans definitely worth listening to round out understanding of western cultural origins

New Clues In The Etruscan Mystery

What did you love best about The Mysterious Etruscans?

So much is still unknown about the Etruscans, but this lecture series gives a nice overview of recent archaeological finds and academic scholarship (up through 2015).

The course focus is cultural and its organization is thematic, which works well and is appropriate based on our knowledge or lack thereof. I always appreciate how Professor Tuck discusses the generally accepted theories while including his own thoughts and presenting interesting alternative theories. Importantly, he also highlights areas that are still a total mystery.

We haven't yet solved the Etruscan puzzle, but I enjoyed this enthusiastic presentation of newly found pieces.

Fascinating

The Etruscans were always such a mystery in any history or archaeology. This book so clearly brings them and their place in the world to life. I find myself looking for Etruscans in my everyday life in the middle of a very different hemisphere than they physically inhabited. A captivating read.

Outstanding!

I could listen to Steven Tuck all day! Absolutely excellent speaker and the subject matter was riveting!

enjoyed this

Enjoyed it, most informative on Eutruscans, great for drinking beer and watching a fire. Made it through didn't bore us.

Enlightenment on Etruscan history

I enjoyed this lecture series. The subject is covered thoroughly and the information is accessible to non-historians. I found the professor engaging and cheerful but some of his humor came off as lame, and his pronunciations of the Etruscan and Latin woods was halting. Nevertheless I would listen to others lectures from him, because he does provide excellent content.

The Mysterious Etruscans Demystified

An excellent source of information about Etruscan culture and its influence on Roman culture. According to this lecture early Roman culture, especially its religion and government, was shaped by Rome's close contact with the Etruscans.

Having read several books about ancient Rome I never saw mentioned that the early Roman kings were likely Etruscan. Also heard for the first time that Rome's religion was heavily influenced by Etruscan rites.

There was much more information about the The Mysterious Etruscans than I thought was available.

The plot thickens

A people, we are tied to by invisible strings. Now made clearer with this book!