Customer Reviews

Etruscan Civilization: A Cultural History

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In Etruscan Civilization: A Cultural History, noted educator and Etruscan scholar Sybille Haynes treats the reader to a comprehensive and superbly presented survey of Etruscan civilization from its origin in the Villanovan Iron Age (9th Century B.C.E.) to its absorption by Rome (1st Century B.C.E.). The thoroughly "reader friendly" text combines well-known aspects of the Etruscan world with new archaeological discoveries and insights into the role of women in Etruscan society. Etruscans are also contrasted to the Greeks (whom they often emulated) and to the Romans (who both admired and disdained them). Etruscan Civilization is a complete and compelling portrait of both a long-ago people and their antiquarian culture. Readers will enjoy Haynes' in-depth examination of how Etruscans access to mineral wealth, trade routes, and agricultural land were effected by distinct regional variations. The informative, insightful text is enhanced with profuse illustrations of ancient Etruscan art and cultural objects. Organized chronologically and thematically, interweaving archaeological evidence, a splendidly presented analysis of social structures, detailed descriptions of trade and burial customs, and an insightful examination of Etruscan pottery and art, Etruscan Civilization is a "must" for personal, professional, and academic library collections and Etruscan studies reading lists.

This is a splendid review of nine centuries of Etruscan cultural, economic, social and artistic history. Designed for the educated nonspecialist, it has beautiful photos in both black/white and color of art works held in museums throughout the world: the most wide-ranging collection I have ever seen in one volume. The author, an expert in her field, writes clearly and well about the latest archaelogical evidence (up to the book's publication in 2000), and its relevance to our understanding of Etruscan life. Well recommended to anyone with an interest in this field.