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Etruscan Origins and Influence
The first instance in which pottery attached itself to a recognized school of art occurred in Italy where the creation of objects for everyday use became a vehicle of artistic expression.
Italian art history begins with the Etruscans. Etruscan civilization was created in the now known Tuscany region of Italy. It isn't known where these peoples came from, but characteristics of their art suggest that the original Etruscans were from a region in Asia Minor. Historians place their origins in Asia Minor because they brought a high level of a Greek-like culture with them to northern Italy.
The Etruscans were an agrarian people, but they also used military tactics to establish governance over the northern regions of the Italian peninsula. At the height of their power in 500 B.C., the Etruscans were a dominant force. Their civilization rose to prosperity and power, and then disappeared, leaving behind unanswered questions about their origin and their culture. For their Greek contemporaries and Roman successors, the Etruscans were clearly a distinct group that influenced ancient European development.
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