The Etruscans: Uncovering the Foundation of Italy’s First Great Civilization What was the first great civilization of the region of Italy ? The Etruscans who knew themselves as the Rasenna were a culture that flourished in central Italy in the region of Etruria between the 8th and the 3rd century BCE and they are first mentioned by the Greek writer Hesiod in the 8th century. Although much of the Etruscan culture and history was obliterated or absorbed by the Romans many Etruscan tombs and their contents wall paintings and the Roman adoption of Etruscan material and religious culture have survived This means that art governmental and architectural developments happened at different times in each city since they were working autonomously #roman #italy #etruscans #culture #history #worldhistory