Early Romans lived in villages

It was made up of different peoples with their own rulers

These peoples had their own customs, languages, and traditions

The majority of the early Romans were Latins (they came from an area near the Tiber River from a place called Latium)

The Latins were not a united people (they often fought among themselves or with neighboring villages)

Rome became strong because it welcomed people from many lands

Foreigners with different skills and languages moved to Rome

Rome began to grow in size

It became stronger due to the great growth in population

Romans were greatly influenced by the Greeks to the south and the Etruscans to the north

The Greeks had mastered the Mediterranean Sea and had many colonies throughout 

The Romans learned many new advances in architecture, agriculture, and education 

The Romans adopted the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit them

Romans learned trade, metalworking, and engineering from the Etruscans

Rome was ruled by three Etruscan kings

The Etruscan kings created the grid system of streets and buildings of Rome

These Etruscans built stone buildings and temples and removed the early Roman mud huts

By 509 B.C., Rome began to look like the Roman city we know today (traces of it)