deposited in a larger burial urn. This civilization is that of the
historic Latins, to whom belong also the hill villages of Latium and the
walled towns, constructed between the eighth and the sixth centuries B. C.

Elsewhere in the northern part of Italy in the Iron Age we have to do with
a culture developing out of that of the _terramare_ period. Likewise in
the east and south of the peninsula the Iron Age is a local development
under outside stimulus.

The preceding sketch of the rise of civilization in Italy has brought us
down to the point where we have to do with the peoples who occupied
Italian soil at the beginning of the historic period, for from the sixth
century it is possible to attempt a connected historical record of the
movements of these Italian races.

CHAPTER III

THE PEOPLES OF HISTORIC ITALY: THE ETRUSCANS; THE GREEKS

I. THE PEOPLES OF ITALY

At the close of the sixth century B. C., the soil of Italy was occupied by
many peoples of diverse language and origin.

*The Ligurians.* The northwest corner of Italy, including the Po valley as
far east as the river Ticinus and the coast as far south as the Arno, was
occupied by the Ligurians.

*The Veneti.* On the opposite side of the continental part of Italy, in
the lowlands to the north of the Po between the Alps and the Adriatic,
dwelt the Veneti, whose name is perpetuated in modern Venice. They are
generally believed to have been a people of Illyrian origin.

*The Euganei.* In the mountain valleys, to the east and west of Lake
Garda, lived the Euganei, a people of little historical importance, whose
racial connections are as yet unknown.

*The Etruscans.* The central plain of the Po, between the Ligurians to the
west and the Veneti to the east, was controlled by the Etruscans. Their
territory stretched northwards to the Alps and eastwards to the Adriatic
coast. They likewise occupied the district called after them, Etruria, to
the south of the Apennines, between the Arno and the Tiber. Throughout all
this area the Etruscans were the dominant element, although it was partly
peopled by subject Ligurians and Italians. Etruscan colonies were also
established in Campania.

[Illustration: The Peoples of Italy about 500 B. C.]

*The Italians.* Over the central and southwestern portion of the peninsula
were spread a number of peoples speaking more or less closely relate