Drift off to the complete history of the Etruscans — the mysterious civilization that ruled Italy before Rome. The Etruscans built cities, created sophisticated art, traded across the Mediterranean, and deeply influenced early Roman culture — yet their language remains largely undeciphered and their origins are still debated.

Covered: Origins and the debate over Etruscan identity, the city-states of Etruria (Veii, Tarquinia, Cerveteri), Etruscan art and tomb painting, the Etruscan alphabet and script, Etruscan religion and divination, their influence on Rome (gladiators, the toga, architecture), the Roman conquest of Etruria, and why Etruscan civilization remains a historical mystery.

✦ 2-hour deep dive ✦ Calm narration for sleep ✦ Ancient Italian history for sleep

Sleepless History is an educational sleep podcast covering lost civilizations, ancient history, and world mysteries — made to help you fall asleep.