CHAPTER II.

THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF ITALY.


So far as we know, the early inhabitants of Italy were divided into three
races, the IAPYGIAN, ETRUSCAN, and ITALIAN. The IAPYGIANS
were the first to settle in Italy. They probably came from the north, and
were pushed south by later immigrations, until they were crowded into
the southeastern corner of the peninsula (Calabria). Here they were
mostly absorbed by the Greeks, who settled in the eighth and seventh
centuries all along the southern and southwestern coast, and who were
more highly civilized. Besides the Iapygians, and distinct from the
Etruscans and Italians, were the Venetians and the Ligurians, the
former of whom settled in Venetia, the latter in Liguria.

The ETRUSCANS at the time when Roman history begins were a powerful
and warlike race, superior to the Italians in civilization and the
arts of life. They probably came from the north, and at first settled
in the plain of the Po; but being afterwards dislodged by the invading
Gauls, they moved farther south, into Etruria. Here they formed a
confederation of twelve cities between the Arno and the Tiber. Of
these cities the most noted were Volsinii, the head of the
confederacy, Veii, Volaterrae, Caere, and Clusium. This people also
formed scattering settlements in other parts of Italy, but gained no
firm foothold. At one time, in the sixth century, they were in power
at Rome. Corsica, too, was at this time under their control. Their
commerce was considerable. Many well preserved monuments of their art
have been discovered, but no one has yet been able to decipher any of