TThe colonies established by Greek poleis (city-states) in the Hellenic era included a number along the coast of southern Italy and Sicily. So many Greek settlers came to this area that it later became known as Magna Graecia — Greater Greece. These Greek colonies transmitted much of their culture to people who lived farther north in the Italian peninsula. These included the Etruscans (ih-TRUHS-kuhns), who built the first cities north of Magna Graecia, and then the Romans, who eventually came to dominate the peninsula. In addition to allying with conquered peoples and granting them citizenship, the Romans established a republic ruled by a Senate. However, social conflicts over the rights to power eventually erupted and had to be resolved.
Sarcophagus of Seianti Hanunia TlesnasaThe woman portrayed on this lavish sarcophagus is the wealthy Etruscan Seianti Hanunia Tlesnasa. Although she is portrayed as a lovely young woman, analysis of the teeth on the body indicate that she was about fifty when she died. The influence of Hellenistic Greek art on Etruscan art is apparent in almost every feature of the sarcophagus. (© The Trustees of the British Museum/Art Resource, NY)