Rome's founding is steeped in myth and legend. The story of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by a wolf, sets the stage for the city's birth in 753 BCE. This legendary tale highlights Rome's connection to divine origins and warrior culture.

The seven hills of Rome provided a strategic location for the city's growth. Early Roman society was shaped by Latin tribes and Etruscan influences, laying the groundwork for the powerful civilization that would emerge. The Roman Kingdom period set the stage for future political developments.

The Founding of Rome

The Legend of Romulus and Remus

• According to Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were twin brothers raised by a she-wolf
• They were the sons of Mars, the god of war, and Rhea Silvia, a Vestal Virgin
• Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome on April 21, 753 BCE
• Romulus killed Remus in a dispute over the city's boundaries and became the first king of Rome

The Seven Hills of Rome

• Rome was founded on seven hills along the Tiber River (Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, Aventine)
• The seven hills provided a defensible position for the early city
• The Palatine Hill was the center of the early city and the location of the earliest settlements
• The Capitoline Hill became the religious and political center of ancient Rome, housing the Temple of Jupiter and the Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva)

The Significance of Rome's Founding Date

• The traditional founding date of Rome is April 21, 753 BCE
• This date was calculated by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the 1st century BCE
• The founding date marked the beginning of the Roman calendar and was celebrated annually as the Parilia festival
• The founding date served as a reference point for the chronology of Roman history and the reigns of Roman kings and emperors

Early Roman Mythology and Religion

• Early Roman religion was polytheistic, with a pantheon of gods and goddesses adapted from Greek mythology
• The Romans believed in divine intervention in human affairs and the importance of proper religious rituals and sacrifices
• The Capitoline Triad (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva) were the most important deities in early Roman religion
• The Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth, and were responsible for maintaining the sacred fire of Rome

Early Roman Society

The Latin Tribes

• The early Roman population consisted of Latin tribes, including the Latins, Sabines, and Etruscans
• The Latins were the dominant tribe and spoke the Latin language, which became the basis for the Roman language
• The Sabines were a neighboring tribe that merged with the Romans after the legendary "Rape of the Sabine Women"
• The Latins and Sabines formed the foundation of the Roman patrician class, the aristocratic families that dominated early Roman politics

Etruscan Influence on Roman Culture

• The Etruscans were a powerful civilization that flourished in central Italy before the rise of Rome
• The Etruscans had a significant influence on early Roman culture, art, architecture, and religious practices
• The Romans adopted Etruscan symbols of power, such as the fasces (a bundle of rods with an axe) and the purple toga
• Etruscan kings ruled Rome during the early Roman Kingdom period, and Etruscan artisans and engineers helped build the city's infrastructure

Early Roman Government

The Roman Kingdom

• The Roman Kingdom was the earliest period of Roman history, lasting from the founding of Rome in 753 BCE to the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE
• During the Roman Kingdom, Rome was ruled by a series of seven kings, beginning with Romulus
• The kings held absolute power and were elected by the Roman Senate, a council of wealthy patrician families
• The Roman Kingdom laid the foundation for the political and social institutions that would shape the Roman Republic and Empire

The Tarquin Dynasty

• The Tarquin dynasty was the last ruling dynasty of the Roman Kingdom, consisting of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, and Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
• Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome, initiated major construction projects, such as the Cloaca Maxima (the main sewer system) and the Circus Maximus
• Servius Tullius, the sixth king of Rome, implemented important social and political reforms, including the census and the division of citizens into classes based on wealth
• Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and final king of Rome, was overthrown in a rebellion led by Lucius Junius Brutus in 509 BCE, leading to the establishment of the Roman Republic