The Impacts of their Neighbors The Early Romans The Impacts of their Neighbors

Founding of Rome Nobody really knows who Rome’s first King was The first Romans were Latins – one of several groups to settle Italy before 1000BCE Around 700BCE a Latin tribe may have built Rome on the Palatine – one of 7 hills around Rome

Roman Culture As the city of Rome grew, their culture was influenced by their neighbors: The Etruscans and The Greeks The Etruscans controlled much of northern Italy between 800-600BCE The Greeks established cities in southern Italy and on Sicily

The Influence of Etruscan Engineering The Romans became great builders – owe their knowledge of engineering and building science to the Etruscans The arch and the cuniculus An arch is a semi-circle supported by two columns and a keystone A cuniculus is a long underground trench connected to the earth above by long shafts (modern day sewer system)

The Influence of Etruscan Sport The Romans adopted 2 bloody sports Slave Fighting and Chariot Racing (Also Greek) In Roman stadiums, slaves died fighting as gladiators – trained to fight for entertainment

The Influence of Greek Architecture Greeks built marble temples as homes for their gods. The Romans used columns and marble for their public buildings Began using cement to build Pantheon, the Coliseum, and the Circus Maximus

The Influence of Greek Writing (1) The Greek alphabet was adopted by the Etruscans and (2) the Etruscans changed it. Then (3) the Romans borrowed the Etruscan alphabet and changed it. Like the Greeks, Romans wrote in all capital letters Like the Greeks, Romans carved important documents like laws and treaties into bronze or stones Romans carved into walls and columns Roman authors were inspired by Greek mythology

The Influence of Greek Art Greek pottery was admired by Etruscans and Romans Greek pottery was highly valued, used to store goods, and painted with figures, heroes, gods, etc. Romans took Greek artists into their homes, and Romans imitated Greek styles but created their own lively and realistic style Roman sculptors were skilled at creating life-like statues

The Influence of Greek Mythology The early religion in Rome was a mixture of many influences From the Etruscans, Romans would celebrate religious rituals in founding their cities Romans had their own gods, but as they mixed with Greek mythology, similar god’s from each culture would be blended to make a Roman god Romans simply adopted some of the Greek gods as their own, and gave them Roman Names (Zeus = Jupiter; Aries = Mars) For Romans, mythology was less important than strict ritual for exact occasions.