jan 1, 599 BC - Rome became a real city

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The history of the Roman Empire begins and ends with the city of Rome. In ancient times, the inhabitants claimed that the city had been founded by a king named Romulus in 753 BC. The Romans could also tell that the first king and his twin brother Remus were sons of the god of war Mars and that both brothers were raised on the milk of a she-wolf. Perhaps many of the Romans already knew that these stories were myths . But in 753 BC still became the starting year in the Roman calendar. Since war became an important part of Rome's history, many Romans could also think it fitting that the city was started to be built by a son of Mars, the god of war in Roman religion.

Modern archaeologists have found remains of house foundations in Rome which they date to the 7th century BC. In that way, then, the Roman chronology is correct. But it wasn't a real city from the beginning, but rather a collection of villages that were scattered on seven different hills right next to the Tiber River. The archaeologists have also found traces that can explain why the villages grew together and became a city:

Fairly large boats could be sailed on the Tiber from the Mediterranean up to this place, but no longer, as the river later became too shallow. Therefore, the boats' goods had to be unloaded here.
There had appeared a ford across the river where it was shallowest. People and animals had to pass through there if they were to go on to a number of other villages further up in the mountains.
If raiders or other enemies attacked, the traders and residents could take refuge on the hills where it was easier to defend themselves.

The place became a meeting place for people from different quarters and the indigenous population mixed with more and more people who came there to conduct trade. Common goods were salt, wine and olive oil, but there was also trade in handicraft products such as clay pots and metal objects. Around 600 BC a small town had arisen. In the center was a square where trade took place and on the highest of the hills the inhabitants had built a temple to their main god, Jupiter

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