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The people who settled in the Italian peninsula prior to 700 BC.  Their language is unique; it is unconnected with [[Proto Indo European]] languages.  This has puzzled linguists for some time, since it does, alternately, bear some connection to a [[Greek]] dialect on the far side of the [[Mediterranean Sea]].  [[Herodotus]], who called the Etruscans the Tyrhennians, wrote that the Etruscans were offshoots of a tribe which lived in what would now be called Turkey, who left their tribe as a result of dwindling food supplies, to seek greener pastures in a new colony far across the sea.  This theory, until recently, had little proof, and was thought by historians to be another one of Herodotus' outrageous, unverifiable, and likely false legends.  Such a theory of Etruscan origins also conflicted with cranial analysis that suggested that the Etruscans were native to [[Italy]].  Only recently has [[DNA]] testing shed some light on Etruscan origins - suggesting that Herodotus may have been, in fact, correct.<ref>NY Times, "DNA Boosts Herodotus' Account of Etruscans as Migrants to Italy," http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/science/03etruscan.html?ex=1176782400&en=c9c70938ec3e5f9a&ei=5070</ref>

The '''Etruscans''' were the people who settled in the Italian peninsula prior to 700 BC.  Their language is unique; it is unconnected with [[Proto Indo European]] languages.  This has puzzled linguists for some time, since it does, alternately, bear some connection to a [[Greek]] dialect on the far side of the [[Mediterranean Sea]].  [[Herodotus]], who called the Etruscans the Tyrhennians, wrote that the Etruscans were offshoots of a tribe which lived in what would now be called [[Turkey]], who left their tribe as a result of dwindling food supplies, to seek greener pastures in a new colony far across the sea.  This theory, until recently, had little proof, and was thought by historians to be another one of Herodotus' outrageous, unverifiable, and likely false legends.  Such a theory of Etruscan origins also conflicted with cranial analysis that suggested that the Etruscans were native to [[Italy]].  Only recently has [[DNA]] testing shed some light on Etruscan origins - suggesting that Herodotus may have been, in fact, correct.<ref>NY Times, "DNA Boosts Herodotus' Account of Etruscans as Migrants to Italy," http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/science/03etruscan.html?ex=1176782400&en=c9c70938ec3e5f9a&ei=5070</ref>

Etruscan culture was composed of 12 [[city-states]], which functioned in loose alliance, on the [[Greek]] model.  The most powerful city-state was [[Veii]].  Most Etruscan cities functioned on a democratic-style system, and the cities would assemble with delegates once per year at the site (undiscovered, yet) of [[Fanum Voltumnae]] to set joint policy.  Dissent within the ranks of the twelve cities is put forward as one of the reasons for Etrsucan decline, and weakness upon the rise of the [[Roman Republic]].

Etruscan culture was composed of 12 [[city-states]], which functioned in loose alliance, on the [[Greek]] model.  The most powerful city-state was [[Veii]].  Most Etruscan cities functioned on a democratic-style system, and the cities would assemble with delegates once per year at the site (undiscovered, yet) of [[Fanum Voltumnae]] to set joint policy.  Dissent within the ranks of the twelve cities is put forward as one of the reasons for Etrsucan decline, and weakness upon the rise of the [[Roman Republic]].