Lazio , old Midwest area of Italy , originally limited to the area around the Alban Hills, but extends by about 500 bc south of the Tiber to the cape of Monte Circeo . It was found in north-west Etruria, south-east of Campania , bounded by Samnium to the east and by Sabini, Aequi, and Marsi territory to the northeast. The modern region Lazio extends further along the entire coastal plain between the river Fiora to the north and the river Garigliano to the south, and is bordered to the east by the Apennines limited. The history of Lazio is inseparable from the fate of antiquity Rome .
The Latin American (or Latini) came from those Indo-European tribes who settled in the 2nd millennium v . Chr. On settled on the Italian peninsula. In the first centuries of the 1st millennium v . Chr . Had the Latin Americans developed into a distinct people, originally based on the mass of Alban Hills , which was isolated and easily defendable. The Latin tribes that settled there were influenced by both the Iron Age in southern Italy as well as from Villanovan Civilization in southern Etruria. The Latin Americans cremated their dead and deposited their ashes in Villanovan-type urns and hut-shaped urns faithfully modeled on the huts of the living. The decoration of these burial vessels is of a simple geometric type, similar to that engraved on bronze objects found in these tombs, such as razors, spindles, weapons, and brooches. The material used for the tombs in the Alban Hills is similar to the material used in today's tombs in Rome, but occasionally looks rougher and coarser.
In about 600 v . Ch. , if the The Etruscans occupied Latium and settled in Rome. The influence of Etruscan civilization and art was felt in the other Latin cities as well as in Rome. But Rome soon became a great city, akin to the mighty cities of southern Etruria, and it had priority in front of its neighbors. According to the annalistic tradition, it was a specifically Roman rebellion that drove the Etruscans from Rome in 509. In fact, it was a coalition of Latins and Greeks who 475 v . Chr . Leaded the Etruscan retreat from Latium .
After the departure of the Etruscans, the fortunes of Latium changed; it has been depleted. Rome lost its supremacy over neighboring cities and took a long time to recover. During the 5th century BC die The Latin League has imposes its policy on Rome. Each year, delegates from the Latin cities elected a dictator who commanded a federal army that included Roman troops. In this league, Tusculum seemed to exercise the leadership that Rome held in Etruscan times. The territory of Rome did not extend beyond the sixth mile from the city.
The Latin people were threatened by the proximity of turbulent peoples:the Volsci who dwelt in Antium, and ruled the Aequi, the Praeneste, and Tibur. The legendary story of Coriolanus shows how Rome early 5th century v . Chr . Began to expand its territory south by fighting the Volsci on the side of Ardea and Aricia. Roman colonies were founded in the Monti Lepini at the end of the 5th century. In the 4th century v . Chr . Began Rome to take precedence among Lazio's sister cities, weakened by their disagreements. In 358 v However, Rome and the Latin Confederation made a treaty of alliance based on equality. They in turn nominated the league's dictator. But the strength of Rome grew and two tribes established themselves on popular territory. 340 a war broke out between Rome and the Latins. It ended in 338 with the defeat of the Latin Americans and the dissolution of their league. Latin cities were given political statutes reflecting their Autonomy restricted or overridden . After that was the Roman Hegemony a fait accompli in Lazio, and life in the Latin country soon took its cue from that of the city.