Rome 500 BC

Rome during the 6th century BC, done with colored pencils. Rome started as a series of small villages near the Tiber River on a series of hills. The people were farmers and cattle herders and lived in wood huts. Then the Etruscans came and conquered them. These people here are Etruscans. The Etruscans were originally a Middle Eastern culture that invaded and conquered part of Italy. Since they knew how to work metal and were superior fighters they were able to dominate the native Italians who outnumbered them. They introduced the Romans to metal working, writing, and established trade with the Greeks and Carthaginians. They also laid the foundations for classical Roman architecture and city planning. This is a town square, with a temple in the back made out of wood. The concept of having a town square that acts as a "center of town" is still prevelant in Spain which was heavily Romanized later on. They call it the "plaza mayor" and the plaza mayor of Madrid is also referred to as "el centro de Espana" (the center of Spain). They also introduced the concept of diviniation by examining the entrails of animals (the old guy), and through the Etruscans the Romans were indirectly exposed to Greek culture. Near the end of the 6th century the Romans threw off their Etruscan king and began to expand.

To see just the lineart: [link]