3. The Romans in Italy (ca. 750–290 B.C.E.) 1.Contemporaneous to the rising Greeks to the east, the Etruscans were settling in Etruria around 750 B.C.E. and the Romans were settling near the seven hills overlooking the Tiber River 2.The Etruscans developed the first Italian cities, similar to the Greek poleis in political organization. 3. The Etruscans traded iron and other natural goods to the Greeks for luxury goods. 4. Through their expansion, the Etruscans came to dominate a collection of villages best known as Rome. 6. The Etruscan kings introduced many customs and technology to the Romans during their era of domination, which lasted until 509 B.C.E. 7. These contributions to Roman life included the alphabet, the toga, metalworking, architectural designs (barrel, arch, vault, and temple designs), and social values.

4. The Roman Conquest Of Italy (509-290 BC) 8. According to tradition, in 509 B.C the Romans overthrew the Etruscan king and established the republic. 9. Over the following two centuries the Romans carried out the conquest of Italy. 10.Between 390, when the Gauls and Celts sacked Rome, and 290 B. C., the Romans consolidated their gains and reorganized their army. 11. In addition to military conquest, Rome used other techniques to bond the conquered to the Romans, such as participation in common Roman religious cults, giving their Latin allies considerable local autonomy and, for some, the possibility of full Roman citizenship, and spreading the Roman road system to facilitate trade.