Rome sprang from a settlement of Latin shepherds, farmers,
and traders on the Palatine Mount. [7] This was the central eminence in a group
of low hills south of the Tiber, about fifteen miles by water from the river's
mouth. Opposite the Palatine community there arose on the Quirinal Hill another
settlement, which seems to have been an outpost of the Sabines. After much hard
fighting the rival hill towns united on equal terms into one state. The low
marshy land between the Palatine and Quirinal became the Forum, or common
market place, and the steep rock, known as the Capitoline, formed the common
citadel.
[7] The Romans believed that their city was founded in 753
B.C., from which year all Roman dates were reckoned.
UNION OF THE SEVEN HILLS
The union of the Palatine and Quirinal settlements greatly
increased the area and population of the Roman city. In course of time
settlements were made on the neighboring hills and these, too, cast in their
lot with Rome. Then a fortification, the so-called "Wall of Servius,"
was built to bring them all within the boundaries of the enlarged community.
Rome came into existence as the City of the Seven Hills.
