The Roman Culture , successor of the Greek Culture in Universal History, was developed in the Italian peninsula. This peninsula is located in the south of Europe, penetrating the Mediterranean Sea in the shape of a boot.
Its limits in ancient times were:to the north with the Alps; to the south with the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea; to the east with the Adriatic Sea and to the west with the Tyrrhenian Sea. They used the Latin language in their domains.
1. Pre-Roman peoples and cultures
In the territory of ancient Rome, different peoples periodically settled, among which the most important were the Mediterranean, the Ligurians, the Italiots, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Gauls.
The Mediterranean , natives of the place but of unknown origin. They were assimilated by the new invaders of the peninsula.
The Italians , were of the Indo-European race, who invaded the Po plains, Peninsular Italy and Sicily, bringing the techniques of bronze and iron. From north to south, the Umbrians, the Sabines and the Samnites, who populated the Apennine mountains, and the Latins, in the plain of Lazio, belonged to this group.
The Greeks , settled in the south of the peninsula, forming the so-called Magna Grecia. In this region, the cities of Taranto, Naples and Syracuse stood out.
The Etruscans They came from Asia Minor. They occupied the region of Tuscany. They built walled cities and introduced the arch, which they applied in the vaults, domes of monuments, on bridges, in the sewers and sewers of the cities. They were great artists in sculpture, painting and metallurgy.
The Etruscans were the ones who truly assimilated and introduced the Greek Culture to the Roman, with the Latins being their heirs.
The Gauls occupied Cisalpina Gaul (valley bathed by the river Po). In the 6th century they advanced south and sacked Rome, forcing the Romans to build perimeter walls around the city.
2. Influence of the geographical environment on its inhabitants
The influence of the environment on the inhabitants of a country is unquestionable, as in the case of Phoenicia, the abundance of wood provided by its forests and the narrow coastal strip of its territory made its population the greatest sailors of antiquity.
In the same way in the Italian peninsula, the temperate climate as in Greece, allowed them to strengthen the body with physical exercises. Its rugged territory and its great mountains forged in them a brave spirit.
3. Periods of the history of Roman Culture
The history of Rome lasted from the year 753 B.C. until the year 475 AD, which have been divided into three periods:
- The Monarchy , covers from the year 753 to 509 B.C. For more information on the Roman Culture go to the stage of the Monarchy
- The Republic , between the year 509 to 29 B.C. For more information on Roman Culture go to the stage of the Republic
- The Empire , from the year 29 B.C. until 476 AD For more information on the Roman Culture go to the stage of the Empire