Latin League

The Italian people, in the early centuries of the first millennium BC, found themselves surrounded by various new invaders. At first the Italians occupied the center of the peninsula, but later they separated into two main divisions. The so-called "highlanders" took the central and eastern portions. The Latins, or "lowlanders," dwelt in the west. Because of their relations with the Etruscans, the Latins became more thoroughly civilized than the highlanders. It wasn't long before their settlements grew into cities, and these became city-states. Although these city-states were independent, they were bound together by the necessity of defending themselves against the Etruscans and other enemies. Early in the first millennium BC the Latins formed what was known as the Latin League.