01-22-2009, 07:27 PM
Quote:Werent the Latins just the early Romans. The Etruscans had the Latins enslaved for some time, then the Latins rebelled and destroyed the Etruscans. Then they set up the Roman Republic out of Rome. Isnt that about right? (its what I learned in my college history class last semester)
Many of the early Romans were Latins, as well as Sabines, Etruscans and others. When Rome was young her rulers welcomed anyone and everyone. Whilst the Romans were mostly Latins the Latins were not mostly Romans. It would be like saying that Greeks were Syracusan.
The thing to keep in mind regarding the Romans and the Etruscans is that some of the foreign kings were invited by the romans to come and rule them. The overthrowing of the Tarquins, the last kings of rome, was led by relatives of the Royal family. There was no racial motivation behind the revolt and the creation of a republic.
Colin