The Etruscans had a tremendous impact on ancient Roman civilization, and the Romans acquired many of their own cultural and artistic traditions, including gladiatorial fighting, hydraulic engineering, temple construction, and religious ritual, among other things. This influence can be seen in everything from the language we use today to the food we eat. The Etruscans introduced Rome to advanced metalworking technologies which were later adopted by the Romans themselves. The Etruscans were one of the most powerful nations of antiquity, but they also had their problems. They were conquered by the Romans in about 500 B.C., but this did not stop them from maintaining their own government and army for another 200 years. Also, during this time they invaded Italy several times, forcing the Romans to fight back each time. In fact, according to some historians, the Etruscans were finally defeated by Caesar in 59 B.C. and were forced to become slaves or leave their country. However, the Etruscans are still considered to be one of the founders of modern Europe because they played an important role in spreading their culture across the continent. For example, they are responsible for designing and building many of the temples found in Greece and Rome. And even today, people all over Europe can trace their ancestry back to Etruscan settlers.