First published in 1928, this book by archaeologist and author David Randall-MacIver provides a detailed description of Italy and its chief peoples before it was conquered by the Romans in 509 B.C. Randall-MacIver constructs his study through reference to the "great mass of Archaeological discoveries made in Italy during the last seventy years" (i.e. 1860's-1920's).A wonderful addition to your ancient history collection. Richly illustrated throughout. "Historians have deliberately kept silence as to all Italian peoples except the Roman. But it is obvious that the view which they give is incomplete. The Romans were not a highly civilized people in the early days of the Republic. Italy was completely civilized before its conquest by Rome. Archaeology can give a picture of the life of Italian peoples scarcely known to history."-Introduction