This document provides background information about the founding and early history of Rome. It notes that Rome began along the banks of the Tiber River on the Italian Peninsula, which had a perfect location between Western Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia. The document discusses how Rome's location along the Tiber and access to the Mediterranean Sea via nearby ports allowed it to easily trade with other cultures and adopt new ideas. It also summarizes that Rome grew in population and prosperity over time, eventually defeating the Etruscan rulers who had previously conquered the city, marking the beginning of Rome's rise to power.