1. The Impacts of their Neighbors
The Early Romans
The Impacts of their Neighbors

2. 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

4. 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 BCE
The Greeks established cities in southern Italy and on Sicily

6. 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)

9. 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

11. 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

14. 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

17. 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

20. 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.