Roman Culture – Universal History

The Roman culture, successor of the Greek Culture in Universal History, 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 antiquity were: on 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 settled periodically, among which the most important were the Mediterranean, the Ligurians, the Italians, 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 Indo-European race, who invaded the plains of the Po, Peninsular Italy and Sicily, contributing the techniques of bronze and iron. From north to south, the Umbrians, the Sabines and the Samnites, who inhabited 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 Graecia. In this region the cities of Taranto, Naples and Syracuse stood out.

the etruscansThey came from Asia Minor. They occupied the Tuscany region. They built walled cities and introduced the arch, which was applied to vaults, domes of monuments, bridges, sewers and sewers in 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 roosters they occupied Galia Cisalpina (valley bathed by the river Po). In the sixth 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 in the history of Roman Culture

The history of Rome lasted from the year 753 BC to the year 475 AD, which have been divided into three periods: