The Etruscans lived in independent city-states and in earlier times, these city-states were ruled by a monarchy, but were later ruled by oligarchies that governed through a council and elected officials. They were largely agricultural people, however they also had a strong military, which they used to dominate the surrounding societies. They were sophisticated people, with and alphabet based on the Greek alphabet, an original style in sculpture and painting, a religion based on human like gods, and a complicated set of rituals which they performed annually. By the fifth century, their power began to fall. .
The Greeks were the other group of people that settled in Italy. Throughout the south, they began to build colonies which expanded in a very short time. By the sixth century, wars started taking place between the Etruscans, Greeks, and the Phoenicians. The result was to ensure that no foreign power dominated Italy. The Greeks being the more powerful civilization, made it clear that the foreign influence in Italy would be that of the Greeks.
The Tiber River is vital for the trade of central Italy. Along the banks of the Tiber River lies seven hills. The Palatine, the most important of all these hills, is where Roman culture was founded in 753 BC. Around 500 BC, the Etruscans gained control of Rome. At this time Rome developed into a monarchy. The kings began to lose control and were forced to accept an alliance between the Romans and the Latins. At the same time, the Greeks began to purge their influences in the city. Not so long after, the age of the Pericles in Greece began.
The early Romans had many traditions and beliefs. Their traditions were passed on in their families for many generations. The Romans believed that through these traditions, it will reveal an obedient and patriotic people which lived by the codes of legal authority, the family, the state and the gods. The father having the most authority in the family, would often sell their sons into slavery or even seek death upon them due to misbehavior.
