So far as we know, the early inhabitants of Italy were divided into
three races, the IAPYGIAN, ETRUSCAN, and ITALIAN. The IAPYGIANS were the
first to settle in Italy. They probably came from the north, and were
pushed south by later immigrations, until they were crowded into the
southeastern corner of the peninsula (Calabria). Here they were mostly
absorbed by the Greeks, who settled in the eighth and seventh centuries
all along the southern and southwestern coast, and who were more highly
civilized. Besides the Iapygians, and distinct from the Etruscans and
Italians, were the Venetians and the Ligurians, the former of whom
settled in Venetia, the latter in Liguria.
The ETRUSCANS at the time when Roman history begins were a powerful and
warlike race, superior to the Italians in civilization and the arts of
life. They probably came from the north, and at first settled in the
plain of the Po; but being afterwards dislodged by the invading Gauls,
they moved farther south, into Etruria. Here they formed a confederation
of twelve cities between the Arno and the Tiber. Of these cities the
most noted were Volsinii, the head of the confederacy, Veii, Volaterrae,
Caere, and Clusium. This people also formed scattering settlements in
other parts of Italy, but gained no firm foothold. At one time, in the
sixth century, they were in power at Rome. Corsica, too, was at this
time under their control. Their commerce was considerable. Many well
preserved monuments of their art have been discovered, but no one has
yet been able to decipher any of the inscriptions upon them. The power
of these people was gradually lessened by the Romans, and after the fall
of Veii, in 396, became practically extinct.
The ITALIANS were of the same origin as the Hellenes, and belonged
to the Aryan race, a people that lived in earliest times possibly in
Scandinavia. While the Hellenes were settling in Greece, the Italians
entered Italy.
At this time the Italians had made considerable progress in
civilization. They understood, in a measure, the art of agriculture; the
building of houses; the use of wagons and of boats; of fire in preparing
food, and of salt in seasoning it. They could make various weapons and
ornaments out of copper and silver; husband and wife were recognized,
and the people were divided into clans (tribes).
That portion of the Italians known as the LATINS settled in a plain
which is bounded on the east and south by mountains, on the west by the
Tyrrhenian Sea, and on the north by the high lands of Etruria.
This plain, called LATIUM (flat country), contains about 700 square
miles (one half the size of Rhode Island), with a coast of only fifty
miles, and no good harbors. It is watered by two rivers, the Tiber, and
its tributary, the Anio. Hills rise here and there; as Soracte in the
northeast, the promontory of Circeium in the southwest, Janiculum
near Rome, and the Alban range farther south. The low lands (modern
_Campagna_) were malarious and unhealthy. Hence the first settlements
were made on the hills, which also could be easily fortified.
The first town established was ALBA; around this sprung up other towns,
as Lanuvium, Aricia, Tusculum, Tibur, Praeneste, Laurentum, Roma, and
Lavinium.
These towns, thirty in number, formed a confederacy, called the LATIN
CONFEDERACY, and chose Alba to be its head. An annual festival was
celebrated with great solemnity by the magistrates on the Alban Mount,
called the Latin festival. Here all the people assembled and offered
sacrifice to their common god, Jupiter (_Latiaris_).
(Illustration: Latium)