The Greeks, because Rome loved the Greek culture. The Greeks, because Rome loved the Greek culture. No group influenced Rome's early growth. Three groups influenced Rome's early culture and religion: the Sabines, the Etruscans and the Greeks. The foundation of the city of Rome was said to have involved a fusion between Latins and a group of Sabines who lived on two of the Seven Hills of Rome. The Second king of Rome was a Sabine from Sabina (land of the Sabines). He laid the foundations of early Roman state religion and introduced elements of Sabine religion. The Greeks established settlements on southern Italy. Being a more advanced civilisation, they had a great impact of the Italic peoples they came into contact with. The Etruscan civilisation arose out of contact with and trade with these Greeks. They adopted the artistic styles of the Greeks for their pottery decoration and Greek architecture. The Italic peoples, including the Etruscans and the Latins (the Romans were Latins), adopted and adapted the western Greek alphabet to develop their written languages. The Romans acquired the books of Greek oracles in their early days. These became important in Roman religion. The extent of Etruscan influence is difficult to ascertain because of the lack of archaeological evidence form the early period of Rome. They had some influence in region and in some customs. It is likely that this influence came from the Etruscans being Rome's next door neighbours. Regarding the contribution above: 1) The Etruscans did not inhabit the land where the Roman Empire took root. That would be the city of Rome. Rome was a Latin city in Latium (the land of the Latins). Rome was on the border between Latium and Etruria (land of the Etruscans) and the Etruscans lived north of that river. 2) There is no evidence whatsoever that the Romans adopted the system of government of the Etruscans. The Romans already had their social hierarchy and system of government before the alleged Etruscan "domination." In fact, they had system of government before the alleged Etruscan "domination." In fact, they had a king advised by the senate right form the foundation of the city. 3) The early Romans did not treat their women the same way as the Etruscans. In those established whether the Romans adopted their building designs from the Etruscans or the Greeks because the Etruscans adopted Greek architecture. 5) There is no evidence whatsoever that the Romans borrowed the urban planning of the Etruscans.
