These lectures aim to historically focusing the main structural components of ancient Etruscan society (family, laws, classes, magistracy, religion and its observances, language), in comparison with the other poeples of Italy before the Romans.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Greek and Roman World
Teaching Methods
Lectures, with commentaries to PowerPoint presentations. This series of lectures should be possibly complemented by guided tours of Etruscan places and collections. Moreover, the teacher will recommend lectures and seminars by guest scholars dealing with relevant topics; these classes can give up to 2 credits, on condition that they are subject of discussion during the final examination.
Assessment Methods
Oral test, based on the ability to analyze relevant pictures, selected from the above-quoted handbooks.
Students coming from other European countries are also allowed to answer in French, English or German language.
Texts
The handbook may be chosen among the followings:
M. Pallottino, The Etruscans (D. Ridgway ed.), Indiana University Press, 1975 S. Haynes, Etruscan Civilization: A Cultural History, London, British Museum, 2005 J. MacIntosh Turfa (ed.), The Etruscan World, London-New York, Routledge, 2013 (parts I-V) C. Smith, The Etruscans. A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2014 C. Riva, A Short History of the Etruscans, London, Bloomsbury, 2020 A. Naso (ed.), Etruscology, Berlin, De Gruyter, 2017 (chapters 2, 9, 10, 12, 17, 18, 21, 32, 35, 69)
Contents
The problem of Etruscan origins; some crucial times and events of Etruscan history from Early Iron Age to Romanization; an outline of Etruscan epigraphy; society and laws; religion.
