Thumbnail Sketch of Tuscan History

Historians tell us that the ancient Etruscans entered Tuscany from the east during the 9th century BC, possibly attracted by the plentiful food sources such as the still popular wild boar. Lingering evidence of the Etruscan occupation can still be seen in many places, such as the underground water system of Chiusi, the necropolis at Cerveteri and the tumuculus tombs at Populonia. They called their region Etruria. Etruscan society was progressive for the time, as women appear to have had great freedom and were treated as the equal of men in many ways, even when it came to politics.
The Romans arrived in Etruria in the 3rd century BC, but they received an unexpected defeat at the hands of the Eutruscans at Lake Trasimeno and decided to give them Roman citizenship. The Romans then established or expanded such vital Tuscan cities as Lucca, Pisa, Sienna and Florence.
Although political and religious changes of many sorts transpired over the centuries the next earth-shattering change didn't occur until 570 AD when the Lombards conquered Italy as far south as Florence. including Tuscany.
Tuscany eventually became divided up politically by such competing families as the Guelphs, Ghibellines and Medicis and those who followed until Italy became united as a country under Victor Emmanuel II in 1871.