Etruscan Civilization

Jack Erickson will give a lecture on the Etruscans,  the dominant people living in central Italy during the 4th and 5th centuries BCE. There were twelve major Etruscan cities, all located on hills and surrounded by stone fortresses to provide defense.  Etruria was eventually taken over by the  Roman Empire in the 4th century BCE.  On recent travels to Italia, Erickson visited several  Etruscan cities including Lucca, Volterra, and Tarquinia.  In Volterra, he visited the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum which has more than 300 alabaster urns used for storing the  ashes of wealthy Etruscans.

Jack Erickson has a fascinating background. He has been a USAF intelligence officer, a  speechwriter for three Senators, senior editor at a national trade association, a free-lance writer for the Washington Post, Washington Star, and other newspapers and magazines.  He received an MA in Russian Studies from Georgetown and was an exchange student to Leningrad in 1972 to study intensive Russian. Along with other exchange students, he traveled around the Soviet Union including Kizhi, Tallinn, Moscow, and Kiev.  He has had two publishing careers, starting his publishing company RedBrick Press, and writing five books on the emerging microbrewing industry.  His first book, Star Spangled Beer: A Guide to America’s Microbreweries and Brewpubs was awarded best self-published book in 1987.  He has written about 20 other books including the Milan Thriller Series.  He travels to Italia every year and has American and Italian friends and researchers.  He has access to the high level anti-terrorism DIGOS police at the Milano Questura.  In June, he and his researcher were invited to meet the new Questore (Police Chief) at the Questura, who provided Erickson with valuable information for his four Milan Thrillers.