THE ROMANS.
The Romans were in the strictest sense an historical people. Unlike the development of other nations upon an original soil and under favorable circumstances, the history of Rome begins with a struggle against immediate surroundings; the surmounting of internal as well as of external obstacles was the condition of its existence as a state. And when the latter had been securely established, and the question of exist ence had given place to the impulses of activity, we see the Romans turn away from all indigenous culture to become the representatives of Grecian civilization, which they carried with them over Africa and Europe to the shores of the ocean, and whose dissemination took the form of a juris prudence which formed one of the mightiest influences for all future developmen t.
the individuals who established the Roman state and laid the foundations of its subsequent empire belonged by birth and education to a distinct nationality, and it would be of great import ance could we learn with what traditions they began their labor; for legend, differ as it may from history, has its basis in fact. Unfortunately, little more can be said than that the Latins, as is clear from their language, had the same Aryan origin as the Greeks.
The the numerous tribes which crowded in pre historic times from the North southward into the Italian peninsula, the Etruscans alone, who appear on the scene before the Romans, had attained a high degree of civilization. Yet this very people is represented to us as a mixed race, although we are unable to learn exactly what elements had been added to the original stock.
Should the inference which has been drawn from late investigations be substantiated, that the Etruscan migration into the peninsula took place not from the North, as has hitherto been supposed, but rather from Egypt, many points thus far enigmatical would find a ready explanation. For the artistic and industrial productions of the Etruscans, of which numer ous remains are extant, have such a resemblance to those of Egypt that mercantile intercourse with the inhabitants of the banks of the Nile, which is proved to have existed, does not suffice to explain the similarity.
The scaraberus 33, figs. 9, to) itself, which is specifically Egyptian, has been found among Etruscan remains. Vet the style of these remains, which are chiefly small articles, shows peculiarities that seem entirely national and cannot easily be accounted for. Perhaps the earthen ves sels (ph. 4, jigs. 91-93) which have been found in the Italian palefittes, and which seem to contain the germs of a similar style, have sonic con nection with them.
Etruscan Utensils, repeat what we have already stated (p. 49), that during several centuries before their appearance in history the inhabitants of the countries north of the Alps probably derived from Etruria the bronze articles which constituted their household goods and articles of luxury. These objects, the shape and ornamentation of which are entirely characteristic, and which are found even more abundantly in the south, along the northern slopes of the mountains, than toward the coasts of the northern seas, are very different from the productions of native industry of which we shall treat hereafter. Plate 33 represents a number of vessels (jigs. 13-31) and some utensils and articles of jewelry (figs. 36, 37, 54, 55), all of which exhibit this peculiar style and evidently belong to some highly-developed civilization. Etruria is still more remarkable for its architectural achievements; but the consideration of these does not belong to our task. (See Vol. IV.) Etruscan Commerce ana' extensive and profitable commerce of the Etruscans with foreign nations, and the flourishing condition of the native industries, which supplied materials of export for the former, enabled them to display a degree of stateliness suggestive of city life at a time when rural simplicity prevailed throughout the rest of Italy. This is shown, too, by ancient representations of their costumes, the precise dates of which, unfortunately, cannot be ascertained.