How did the city of Rome come into existence?

               Rome grew from a small kingdom in Italy. It became a republic, and was one of the mightiest empires of the ancient world, with an empire stretching the length of the Mediterranean Sea.

               Rome was built on seven hills, near a crossing place of the river Tiber. Since the area was very fertile, a tribe of people known as the Latins settled here. They were herders and farmers who lived in a group of small villages on the hills. These settlements flourished, as the River Tiber provided them means of transportation and communication.

               Later, another tribe called the Etruscans arrived from Etruria. They chose a strong position for their city, on the top of seven hills. Even though their cultures were different, the Latins and the Etruscans later became known as simply Romans and remembered in the history of Rome.