Lesson Summary

In this lesson, you learned about the beginnings of ancient Rome and the Roman civilization. Rome was founded by people called the Latins who settled near the Tiber River on the Italian peninsula.

The Early Romans and Their Neighbors - Eventually, the Romans borrowed many ideas and skills from their neighbors. Two groups who significantly influenced Roman culture were the Etruscans and the Greeks.

The Influence of Etruscan Engineering - Romans learned a great deal about engineering from the Etruscans. Etruscan ideas included the arch and the cuniculus.

The Influence of Etruscan Sporting Events - The Romans also adapted some Etruscan sporting events. Most popular were chariot racing and fighting between those enslaved by Romans, which later became gladiator contests in Rome.

The Influence of Greek Architecture and Writing - Greek civilization had a huge influence on Roman culture. The Romans used Greek temple designs in their own buildings. They used Greek-style capital letters in their writing, and many Roman poets were inspired by Greek poetry and stories.

The Influence of Greek Art and Religion - The Romans greatly admired Greek art. The blend of Greek and Roman styles became known as Greco-Roman art. The Romans also made many Greek gods and goddesses their own, although they were more interested in rituals than in stories.