Origins+of+Roman+State

Origins of Roman Empire

The mythological part- Anchored in Greek tradition of Trojan war. Trojans arrive in Italy. Trojans and Latins wage war against Etruscans, Trojans and Latins win. Etruscan king, Turnus, was supposed to receive daughter of Latinus. She ended up being given to Aenus(Trojan). Made Etruscans really angry repeated hostilities. Etruscans defeated. Then there was a quarrel between Numitor and Amulius. Numitor was older and should have become king, however, many acts of violence led to more and Amulius killed Numitors family. Vestal Virgin, Numitor's daughter, was raped, Romulus and Remus to be drowned. We know that story. Romulus and Remus come back, kill Amulius and leave Numitor with the throne. They now leave because they want to find a settlment. Remus ends up being killed by Romulus. (Livy) Romulus ends up being a very good leader and founder of Rome.

The bones part - Small Iron Age settlements on hills close to Tiber River, earliest grave 1000 BCE >>gradual process of socio- economic differentiation; formation of aristocracy (richer graves); signs of literacy. By late 7th BCE - traces of urban planning (first permanent stone houses, then large temples) imply some form of political leadership (esp. Temple of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus - largest temple in Italy by 500 BCE Nature of constitution/ government etc unclear; cannot be reconstructed from this evidence. Oldest textual sources: few inscriptions; Law fo the 12 Tables (5th cent BCE) shed some light on early social relations.