Trade

Etruscan economy relied heavily on trade. In the eighth century BC, the Phoenicians, a great seafaring people, came. They came looking for raw metals, wood, and leather. Roughly a century later, the Greeks came, trading vases like the one on the left. The Greeks eventually settle permanently in Etruria and made an enormous impact. By the sixth century, even people from Barcelona, Spain and the Princes of Gaul (in modern day France) came to trade with the famed Etruscans.

Etruria had one major commodity- metal. The Etruscan mines were famous throughout the Mediterranean. Mines of copper and tin supported much of the economy. Merchants traded ivory, gold, and silver for these priceless metals.

Greek Influence

The Greek influence on Etruria affected not only Italy, but Western Civilization. The Etruscans were very impressed by the Greeks. Greek styles and artists were imitated. Etruscans quickly absorbed the knowledge and techniques they brought in.

The Greeks, however, thought very little of the Etruscans. They believed the Etruscans lived too high with lowly morals. The many cultural differences between these two groups created many conflicts. The Greeks defeated the Etruscans in two major battles. These took place near the Greek colony of Cumae between 524 and 474 BC.

Greek culture differed immensely from Etruria. Greeks believed a society without democracy was improper. The Greeks also thought it was immoral to dine publicly with your wife. In Greece, men only dined with prostitutes. Etruscans were given a bad name by the Romans and the Greeks. The issue of women was a controversial. In Etruria women were given many rights. They could even own property!