Human Heritage: A World History

Chapter 13: Beginnings

Beginnings

On the west coast of the Italian peninsula is the mouth of the Tiber River. Fifteen miles upstream where the river is shallow stands a group of seven hills. On the hill known as Palatine, a settlement was founded that came to be known as Rome. Chapter 13 introduces the Romans and explains how the Etruscans contributed to Roman civilization.

Section 1 deals with the founding of Rome according to the ancient legend of Romulus and Remus and according to historical and archaeological experts.

Section 2 describes what daily life was like for the Etruscans, the people who lived just north of Rome on the Palatine. The Etruscans were pirates, traders, farmers, miners, and soldiers, and they had a strong sense of social order.

Section 3 highlights the many Etruscan contributions to Roman civilization. The Etruscans taught the Romans many things, including the use of the arch in building, the alphabet, and a ritual for establishing cities.