The earliest known examples of Etruscan writing are inscriptions found in southern Etruria that date to around 700 BC. The Etruscans developed a system of writing derived from the Euboean alphabet, which was used in the Magna Graecia (coastal areas located in Southern Italy). The Etruscan language remains only partly understood, making modern understanding of their society and culture heavily dependent on much later and generally disapproving Roman and Greek sources. In the Etruscan political system, authority resided in its individual small cities, and probably in its prominent individual families. At the height of Etruscan power, elite Etruscan families grew very rich through trade with the Celts to the north and the Greeks to the south, and they filled their large family tombs with imported luxuries.
ThE eArLieSt knowN EXampLes oF etrUsCaN writing are INscriptioNs foUnd iN SoutheRn Etruria that date to ARouNd 700 bc. thE Etruscans dEvElOpeD a sYSteM of wrITing derived frOm thE EUbOean alpHABEt, which was USed in tHE MaGna graecia (coASTal areAs loCated IN soUTheRn ITaly). the EtruscaN langUAge reMains oNly paRtly undeRstOOD, MaKing modeRN UndeRstanDing of thEIR SOcIety and culTure HEaVily dEpenDent On much LaTer aND generally disAPproving rOman And greek sourcEs. In the ETruSCan poLIticAL systEm, auThorITy resiDed iN ItS indIviDUal sMall citieS, anD ProbablY In itS prOmiNent inDIvIDUAl familiEs. at THe heigHT oF eTrusCan powER, elite etRUscan fAmilIes grew verY rich THROugH tRaDe With The celts to the nORth anD THE grEekS To The sOutH, And tHEy fIlled THeir larGE fAmIlY tOMBS witH iMPOrted luXUrieS.