Etruscans were an ancient people, lived in an area of Italy called Etruria, stretching from modern Tuscany and Umbria (Perugia and Orvieto, precisely) as far to the river Tiber. They expanded their hold to Campania and Emilia Romagna (Bologna is a city of Etruscan origin).

The name “Etruscans” is of Latin origin, while the Greeks called this people “Tyrrhenians”. They called themselves by the name “Rasna“.

Some ancient authors claim that, after a long journey from the East, they settled along the cost of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Other believe that had always lived in Italy.
There were twelve major Etruscan cities, all surrounded by strong stonewalls and administered by a king-judge, called “Zilath“.

But when did the Etruscans live? Their civilization spread across a vast territory, over a long period of time: from the 9th century to the Ist century BC: that is more than eight hundred years! Eventually, all Etruscan cities fell under Roman control.
The Romanization of the Etruscan culture started in 396 BC, after the taking of Veio. Etruscan culture, as we know it ended in 90 BC, when all people two lived in Italy, were granted Roman citizenship by an act of the Senate.

However, the Etruscans had a strong influence on Roman civilization right from the beginning: for instance, the last kings of Rome belonged to the Etruscan dynasty of the Tarquini.