Early Roman History to the fall of Tarquin
DOWNLOAD
FREE
|
The period of the Etruscan preponderance: c. 600 BC - c. 510 BC
Equations are omitted for technical reasons - download the original pdf
According to Roman tradition the Etruscans held political ascendancy in Rome from 616 to 510 BC. However, only three kings are named: Tarquinius Priscus , Servius Tullius and Tarquinius Superbus. Roman tradition paints the two Tarquins as "bad kings" and Servius Tullius as a "good king". However, the Emperor Claudius identified Servius Tullius with the Etruscan king Mastarna, whose reputation was not so good. The general view is that there were more than three Etruscan rulers of Rome, and that the date of their ascendancy may have been earlier than 616 BC. Gjerstad claims that the end of the Etruscan monarchy occurred as late as 450 BC, but this has not been generally accepted. The extension of Etruscan influence over Rome was a natural consequence of the increasing power of the Etruscans, who were expanding generally into Latium and further south into Campania, where they founded the city of Capua c. 650 BC. Rome's close neighbour, and historic enemy, was the Etruscan city of Veii, founded 600 BC. It was under Etruscan influence the communities coalesced, especially after the marshes were drained and the Forum was built. From c. 625 BC onwards Etruscan metalwork and pottery from Veii, Caere and elsewhere could be found in Rome, and the Romans ceased living in huts and started building houses. The Etruscans introduced their style of temple architecture to Rome, and probably to Latium as a whole. Temples at Satricum, Velitrae and Lanuvium are similar in style to those found in Etruria. Tradition ascribes to Tarquinius Priscus the draining of the Forum, sometime around 625 BC. This would have been an essential step in the process of synoecism. Agriculture, industry and commerce flourished. It is probable that during this period several of the traditional labour guilds were established - those of bronze-smiths, potters, goldsmiths, carpenters, dyers, leather-workers, tanners and flute-players. The Latins acquired the alphabet, though it is not known whether they acquired directly from the Greeks or indirectly through the Etruscans. (Writing was brought to Italy from Greece via the Greek colony of Cumae.) The effect of Etruscan rule on Rome was to urbanize the population. The marshes of the Forum were drained by sewers and the area was paved to become the Forum Romanum, a religious and political centre. The Lapis Niger is a relic of this construction - it bears an archaic inscription. The Scara Via and the Vicus Tuscus were also laid down during this period. The pomoerium, a sacred furrow, was laid down. The city was walled and gates were built. However, the so-called Wall of Servius has been shown to have been built after the Gallic sack of Rome (c. 390 BC). During the Etruscan period some of the main streets of Rome were built, particularly the Via Sacra and the Vicus Tuscus. The Forum Boarium (Cattle market) was also established c. 575 BC. The early temple of Vesta was situated on one side of the Via Sacra and was probably build c. 575 - 550 BC. The assembly point of the people, the Comitium, was situated at the north-west end of the Forum. The tomb of Romulus was situated nearby where the Lapis Niger may be found. The Forum also contained a shrine to an unknown deity and had a platform inside the sanctuary of Volcanus from where the people were addressed by the king. Under the Etruscans Rome became an important trading centre. Greek pottery was imported, and some may have been re-exported. Later at the Ara Maxima in this area Heracles was worshipped as patron of traders. It is probable that the Carthagians also had a trading post in Rome at this time. Thus, it is agreed that the Etruscans ruled in Rome during the sixth century and at this time the conglomeration of villages there were amalgamated into one town with a large temple built on the Capitoline hill. It is not known for certain that the Etruscans ruled in other cities of Latium, but this is likely. It is probable that Tusculum and Satricum had Etruscan kings. There is considerable archaeological evidence at the Latin town of Praeneste (Palestrina) for Etruscan penetration there. Evidence from the tombs left there suggests that Etruscan nobles were important in the community. Other Latin towns bear Etruscan sounding names, such as Tusculum, Velitrae and Tarracini. Although from 650 BC onwards Latium was dominated politically by the Etruscans, the common Latin language was not lost. Furthermore, Latium was also subject to Greek influences. It is now thought that the cult of Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri) was introduced to Latium by the Greeks to the south rather than via the Etruscans to the North. A series of thirteen huge stone altars dedicated to the Dioscuri has been discovered at Lavinium; they have inscriptions in archaic Latin on them. The region over which Rome had control (the aeger Romanus) is believed to have been about 250 square kilometers; an impressive area, but inferior to the area controlled by Veii and a quarter of that controlled by Tarquinia, thus giving us some idea of the relative importance of these cities at that time.
|
Contents of
Early Roman History to the fall of Tarquin
1 Latium and Rome - the site of Rome
2 The ancient Latins
3 The problem of sources
4 Fabius Pictor and Cincius Alimentus
5 The Roman annalists
6 Greek references to early Roman history
7 The work of the Roman annalists
8 Primary sources for Roman history
9 Further primary sources for early Roman history
10 The traditional account of early Roman History from Livy
11 Ascanius
12 Romulus
13 Numa Pmplius
14 Tulius Hostilius
15 Mettius
16 Ancus Marcius
17 Tarquinius Priscus
18 Servius Tullius
19 Tarquinius Superbus
20 The Rape of Lucretia
21 Lars Porsenna
22 Rome, Latium and the foundation of Rome c. 1200 BC - c. 750 BC
23 The founding of Rome
24 Mont Cavo in the Alban Hills
25 The Palatine Hill
26 The myth of the Sabine women
27 The early Kings of Rome c. 750 BC - c. 600 BC
28 Early constitution of Rome
29 The period of the Etruscan preponderance: c. 600 BC - c. 510 BC
30 The reign of Servius
31 The reign of Tarquinius Superbus
32 The foundation of the Roman Republic
|
