Download The Early Romans

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 Colosseum, and the Circus Maximus
The Influence of Greek Writing
• The Greek alphabet was adopted by the
Etruscans and changed.
• Then the Romans borrowed the Etruscan
alphabet and altered 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.