EMERGENCE OF AN URBAN COMMUNITY
Like many other places on or near the west coast of central Italy, Rome began to develop into a city-state in the eighth and seventh centuries. Rome would become an especially powerful city in the Orientalizing and Archaic periods, when it overshadowed many of its neighbors. Because of its wealth and power, and the later success of the elites that made it their center, Rome’s early history is better known than that of any other community in Italy. From the evidence that survives, it is clear that many of the conditions and institutions that would contribute to the city’s subsequent power had their roots in the seventh, sixth, and fifth centuries.
Ancient Rome occupied a group of hills overlooking the Tiber River. Rome’s loca-tion was a favorable one. Water was plentiful, while hills and river made defense easy. Two of the most important routes in central Italy passed by the site, one from the salt pans at the mouth of the Tiber along the banks of the river into the interi¬or, and the other the coastal road from Etruria to Campania, which crossed the Tiber by a ford here, the closest place to the sea where this was possible. A small stream running through a marshy valley separated three of the hills that proved especially important in early Rome: the Capitol, the Palatine, and the Velia. When drained in the seventh and sixth centuries, this valley would become the Forum Romanum (Roman Forum), the city’s political and religious center. Along the banks of the Tiber, where the stream that drained the Forum valley joined the river, a small plain gave access to the Tiber ford; this plain would become the Forum Boarium, the chief market and harbor of urban Rome.
The hills and valleys here were inhabited long before Rome became a city. Archeologists have found scattered fragments of pottery datable back to the Middle Bronze Age, but the site may not have been permanently settled until much later. The earliest known burials hence undoubted traces of settlement date to around 1000; with similar interments at other Latin sites, they mark the beginning of the first phase of the “Latial culture.” During the three millennia since, Rome has for long been densely settled, so that little in the way of surface surveys or systematic large-scale excavations is possible today. However, finds do show that several small clusters of huts occupied the hills, and perhaps also the valleys between them and the plain by the river. Some of these hamlets shared cemeteries, but it would seem that no sense of common identity linked all the hamlets on the hills. In this respect, early Rome was little different from other Latin centers, although it may have been more populous than most.
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Last-minute: SpaFinder Deal Days - $50 massages, facials and more
9 Mar 2010 at 3:08pm
by Jen Leo
Do you have any free time this weekend? We dare you to say “Yes.” It’s not too late to see if there’s a spa near you participating in SpaFinder’s “Deal Days,” offered through Sunday. Or if you’ve already planned a weekend getaway, look for spas across the country offering $50 treatments, such as massages, facials, [...]
Travel gear: Clean up your hands, your fruit and the planet
9 Mar 2010 at 12:01pm
by admin
Want to wash your hands on a plane, train or boat in a greener way? Eat Cleaner Grab ?N Go Fruit + Vegetable wipes make eating or washing on the fly easier and ?greener.? These stink-free, alcohol-free, biodegradable towelettes are made by Grow Green Industries. They remove dirt, film and chemicals from fruits, vegetables and utensils [...]
Mexico deal: Five-night family bargain in Cabo San Lucas
9 Mar 2010 at 8:58am
by admin
Whether you enjoy beach activities or just want to hang around the pool or get a massage, this package deal offers good value for a family looking to say ?Adios, L.A., Hello, Cabo” for a few nights near the tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. Deal: Playa Grande Resort in Cabo San Lucas has a “Five Night [...]
California Highway 1 rock slide: Closures, delays continue north of San Simeon
8 Mar 2010 at 5:59pm
by Jane Engle
If you’re driving from Southern California this week to the Big Sur area, south of Monterey, pack some patience and check out alternate routes because California Highway 1 has been hit with a hefty rock slide. Officials expect delays and closures to continue through the week. Here’s the 411: Where: The March 4 slide, which happened after [...]
Arizona: Stay at Boulders Resort for $119 per night
8 Mar 2010 at 11:45am
by admin
You can tee off, play some tennis or bask poolside with this sweet summer deal at a well-regarded resort n the outskirts of Scottsdale, Ariz., about 390 miles from Los Angeles. Why so cheap? Well, daytime highs in Scottsdale routinely hit triple digits in summer, although the Arizona resort says its temperatures can run about [...]
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve: Visitor center to open March 13
7 Mar 2010 at 9:57am
by Rosemary McClure
Stalk the wild bunch this spring at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, where several types of wildflowers are beginning to appear. The Lancaster reserve?s roads are now open, and its visitor center will open for the season March 13. Forecast: It?s still too early to predict how good the poppy season will be, said Milt [...]
Chile earthquake relief: Best Western guests can donate points to help
6 Mar 2010 at 1:01pm
by admin
If you want to help earthquake victims in Chile but aren?t certain where to start, check out Best Western International, which has created a donation opportunity for members of its frequent-stay program. The company has five hotels in Chile, none of which suffered major damage from the massive Feb. 27 earthquake, and all of which [...]
When making online car reservation, check websites for pickup info
6 Mar 2010 at 9:57am
by Catharine Hamm
Question: I recently used Hotwire to rent a car in Seattle. When I took the shuttle to the rental facility at the airport, I was told that my rental was at the downtown Seattle location. Why would Hotwire reserve a car for me downtown when I requested a car at the airport? ?Lolly Bennett, Beverly Hills Answer: [...]
Night light fight: Knott?s Berry Farm vs. Disney?s California Adventure
5 Mar 2010 at 6:50pm
by Brady MacDonald
This summer, Southern California’s theme-park titans will wage a nightly megawatt battle of the lights ? all in hopes of winning your hearts and wallets. On May 29, Knott’s Berry Farm will unveil “Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular” in an effort to fend off this summer’s most-anticipated theme park attraction: the “World of Color” water show coming to [...]
Priceline adds Big Deal Days - shows you winning bids on ?Name Your Own Price?
5 Mar 2010 at 5:22pm
by Jen Leo
Last week, I scored a room at Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas on a Friday night for only $128 by using Priceline’s “Name Your Own Price” feature.” That’s probably the most I’ve ever paid for a hotel using that feature, but I was confident it was a good buy because of the quick [...]
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