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Title H story, Religion, and Tradition T he history of Italy is as complicated as it is fascinating. Various political, imperial , and religious forces have shaped the culture of this nation. The process has spanned the history of Western civilization, making Italy a unique bridge between ancient and modern worlds. Among the first recorded groups who lived in Italy were the Etruscans. The Etruscans settled on the west-central coast of Italy, primarily in the area of pres- ent-day Tuscany. The Etruscans had their own language, and inscriptions date the origins of their culture to 800 bce . Their civilization flourished for several hundred years. They produced artwork such as intricately decorated pots and vases, pioneered mining techniques, and organized a network of city-states that spread far south of Rome by the sixth century bce .

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CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY, RELIGION, AND TRADITION