CHAP, xiir.] THE DOWNFALL OF THE ETRUSKAN TRADE. 471 



a thin edge of iron let into it. It may therefore be 

 inferred that they imported articles of bronze long before 

 articles of iron in their traffic with the peoples to their 

 north. What then was their position in relation to the 

 Bronze and Iron ages north of the Alps ? It may be 

 concluded from the distribution of their weapons and 

 designs, and copies of their designs, through France and 

 Germany, that they carried on a commerce with those 

 countries during the late Bronze age, while their in- 

 fluence in Britain is only clearly marked in the Iron or 

 the late Celtic age. In Scandinavia their influence was 

 felt during the greater portion of the Bronze age. 



The Downfall of the Etruskan Trade. 



From the facts recorded in the previous pages it 

 is clear that the Etruskans in remote times were a 

 highly civilised and powerful confederation, sweeping the 

 Mediterranean with their fleets, having free intercourse 

 with all the civilised peoples of the south, and exercising 

 a great influence on the barbarians on their northern 

 frontiers. From their commanding position, it was inevit- 

 able that they should be the principal means of spread- 

 ing the Mediterranean civilisation in Germany, France, 

 and the regions of the north. This position was lost by 

 the attack of the Eomans on the one hand, and of the 

 Gauls on the other. The rise of the Roman power 

 corresponds with the decay of Etruria, and is to be 

 looked upon as the natural growth of the one people out 

 of the other. It is clear from the history of the. struggles 

 carried on between Rome and the Etruskan cities, that 

 the Etruskan peoples lived on as Romans, and contri- 

 buted, in no small degree, the qualities which made 



