Urbanisation in Rome and Latium Vetus
Latium Vetus is accepted as having possessed an urban status by the archaic period. The evolution towards this status depended upon various factors operating through centuries. From an initial stage in which the region was composed of insular settlements, the first step towards urbanisation was nucleation of settlement. This was a federal grouping of small, self-governing kin units. Such were the curiae of history; their individualism is emphasised in the topography of the cemeteries. They are revealed in the remnants of early law operating along the lines of reciprocity and collusion. This nucleation was probably a result of demographic pressures; trade and technological innovation may also be considered contributory factors. Certainly these latter emerged as conditioning elements within the development of such communities. The separate units within the settlements practised an individual prestige-goods economy. Their powers were separate from those of the community as a whole. Such powers had to be curbed as the role of manufacture and trade increased. Thus the central, 'state' power grew, as may be seen in legal and historical developments. The aristocracies which had emerged had proved a destabilising
Betteridge, James
Settlements; Archaic period; Nucleation; Trade
Urbanisation in Rome and Latium Vetus. Latium Vetus is accepted as having possessed an urban status by the archaic period. The evolution towards this status depended upon various factors operating through centuries. From an initial stage in which the region was composed of insular settlements, the first step towards urbanisation was nucleation of settlement. This was a federal grouping of small, self-governing kin units. Such were the curiae of history; their individualism is emphasised in the topography of the cemeteries. They are revealed in the remnants of early law operating along the lines of reciprocity and collusion. This nucleation was probably a result of demographic pressures; trade and technological innovation may also be considered contributory factors. Certainly these latter emerged as conditioning elements within the development of such communities. The separate units within the settlements practised an individual prestige-goods economy. Their powers were separate from those of the community as a whole. Such powers had to be curbed as the role of manufacture and trade increased. Thus the central, 'state' power grew, as may be seen in legal and historical developments. The aristocracies which had emerged had proved a destabilising
urbanisation rome accept possessed urban status archaic_period evolution towards status depend_upon various_factor operate century initial_stage region compose insular settlement first_step towards urbanisation settlement federal group small self governing kin unit history individualism emphasise topography cemetery revealed remnant early law operate along_line reciprocity probably demographic pressure trade technological_innovation may_also consider contributory factor certainly latter emerge conditioning element_within development community separate unit within settlement practise individual prestige goods economy power separate community whole power curb role manufacture trade increase thus central state_power grow may_see legal historical_development aristocracy emerge prove destabilise