The Western Mediterranean World lie) When these Latin peasants needed weapons or tools they were obliged to carry their grain or oxen to a trading post on the Tiber, ten or twelve miles from its mouth. On the low marshy ground, encircled by the hills, was an open- air market, which they caljed the Forum, where Latin peasants could meet Etruscan traders and exchange grain or oxen for the metal tools or weapons they wished. Such must have been the condition of the humble market village called Rome about 1000 B.C. 181. Occupation of Rome by the Etrus- cans (about 750 B.C.). Perhaps as early as 750 B.C. one of the Etrus- can princes crossed the Tiber, drove out the r , i ( . i This magnificent chariot is the finest example Latin cnieitain, and ., . , ,. , . , . that has been discovered of Etruscan skill took possession of Rome i n bronze. It was found in an Etruscan and its Stronghold on tomb and is now in the possession of the the Palatine. Etruscan Metropolitan Museum of New York. It prob- ably dates from the sixth century B.C. kings soon extended their power over the plain of Latium. Thus Rome became a city-kingdom under an Etruscan king, like the other Etruscan cities which stretched from Capua far north to the harbor of Genoa. Although Rome was ruled by a line of Etruscan kings for probably two centuries and a half, it must be borne in mind that the population of Latium which the Etruscan kings governed continued to be Latin and to speak the Latin tongue. ETRUSCAN CHARIOT OF BRONZE
