who were the etruscans
Etruscan, member of an ancient people of Etruria, Italy, between the Tiber and Arno rivers west and south of the Apennines, whose urban civilization reached its height in the 6th century bce. Many features of Etruscan culture were adopted by the Romans, their successors to power in the peninsula. 1  A brief treatment of the Etruscans follows. 2  The origin of the Etruscans has been a subject of debate since antiquity. 3  In any event, by the middle of the 7th century bce the chief Etruscan towns had been founded.