The Etruscans A Very Short Introduction

From around 900 to 400 BC, the Etruscans were the most innovative, powerful, wealthy, and creative people in Italy. Their archaeological record is both substantial and fascinating, including tomb paintings, sculpture, jewellery, and art. In this Very Short Introduction, Christopher Smith explores Etruscan history, culture, language, and customs. Examining the controversial debates about their origins, he explores how they once lived, placing this within the geographical, economic, and political context of the time. Smith concludes by demonstrating how the Etruscans have been studied and perceived throughout the ages, and the impact this has had on our understanding of their place in history. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

1 - Introduction
2 - The Origins of the Etruscans
3 - The Etruscan language
4 - Towards the Etruscan city-state
5 - The Villanovan revolution
6 - The Transformation of Etruria
7 - Etruscan tomb painting and Etruscan art
8 - Empire, Crisis and Renewal, 600-300 BC
9 - Etruscan religion
10 - The Roman Conquest
11 - Clothing, and the Etruscan body
12 - Imperial epilogue
13 - Etruscology: its origins and development

Christopher Smith is Director of the British School at Rome, Professor of Ancient History at the University of St. Andrews, and was Visiting Professor at La Sapienza University. His research focuses on political, social, and constitutional writing. He has authored two books: The Roman Clan: The Gens from Ancient Ideology to Modern Anthropology (Cambridge 2006) and Early Rome and Latium: Economy and Society c. 1000 to 500 B C (Oxford 1996).