Final answer:
The Etruscan decline was significantly influenced by the capture of the town Veii by the Romans in 396 BCE and the defeat of the Etruscan fleet at the Battle of Cumae in 474 BCE against Syracuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two towns that played a part in the Etruscan decline were Veii and Cumae. The fall of Veii to the Romans marked a significant milestone in Etruscan history. In 396 BCE, after a long siege, the powerful Etruscan city of Veii was captured by the Romans, signaling the beginning of the end for Etruscan independence. Additionally, the naval battle of Cumae in 474 BCE, where the Etruscans were decisively defeated by the Greek city-state of Syracuse, weakened the Etruscan states and reduced their dominance in the Mediterranean. This allowed Rome to continue its expansion and eventually assert dominance over the Etruscan civilization.
These events contributed to the Etruscans' loss of power and territory as Roman influence grew. The Etruscan cities were gradually absorbed into the Roman Republic, and the rich Etruscan culture, language, and art began to be subsumed by Roman customs, leading to their eventual disappearance as a distinct entity.