Etruscans and Umbrians

The Etruscans living in the western part of middle Italy between Arno and Tiber were immediate neighbours of those Umbrians located between the Tiber valley and the Appennines. Unlike the Etruscans they are part of the rather large group of Indoeuropean speaking peoples in ancient Italy (the so called "Italiker"). During a history of nearly thousand years from the final Bronze Age in the 11th century BC to the completed Romanization in the 1st century BC these two peoples were connected by a long period of reciprocal influences. Of special interest it can be considered, that with regard to linguistical (referring e.g. to the loanwords between the two languages) and ritual- religious aspects the Umbrian influence on Etruria prevails - and not vice versa like one would expect from the Etruscans being cultural more advanced. These facts can be explained by the assumption, that the northeastern part of Etruria on the right side of the Tiber valley must have been inhabited by Umbrian elements, whose roots go back to the final Bronze Age. During the Iron Age they mingled with expanding Etruscans and left their mark in Etruscan culture. Speaking of economic influence it is inner Etruria with its economic potential cities like Orvieto, Chiusi, Perugia, Cortona, and Arezzo that attracted Umbrian communities from the 6th century BC on, especially those situated in the south near the Tiber (e.g. Todi, whose name derives from the Umbrian Tuder = "border", Amelia) and the upper Valle Umbra (Bevagna, Assisi). Real territorial expansion in the Umbrian region was pursued by Perugia from the 4th century BC onward. In the 3rd century BC some few Umbrian communities like Todi and Gubbio issued coins in obvious dependence of the Etruscan model. The cultural influence is also considerable: The Umbrian alphabet first originates in Etruria and was taken over at certain places (e.g. Todi) from the final 5th century on. The widespread Umbrian votive figurines are based on Etruscan Bronze plastic art. Fortification technique and related urban organisation show evident Etruscan influence in some regions. The political-military cooperation of both peoples against the Roman territorial expansion stands in line with these points of contact, a resistance that finally failed and finished in an extensive Romanization of Etruscans as well as Umbrians.