Final answer:
The Latins settled along the Tiber River by 1200 BCE, benefitting from the fertile lands for agriculture. Their culture later closely resembled the Villanovan culture, leading to a shared material culture with the Etruscans. Rome's origin along the Tiber similarly fostered trade and cultural intermingling, especially with Greek merchants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Latins, who were primarily farmers and pastoralists, settled along the Tiber River by 1200 BCE. This settlement was strategic as the Tiber River provided fertile land conducive for their agricultural activities. Around the end of the first millennium BCE, they moved into the valleys to take better advantage of these agricultural opportunities.
As their culture evolved, the Latins began to align more closely with the Villanovan culture that was prevalent in nearby Etruria and the Po valley. This sharing of material culture is noted through archaeological findings, including the similarity of the Latins' Villanovan style with that of the Etruscans, a connection evident through the discovery of items such as the Villanovan cinerary urns.
The city of Rome itself, with its origins steeped in Latin and Etruscan culture, was also situated along the Tiber River. This location was strategically selected as it was the point up to which sea-going vessels could navigate, making it a hub for trade, particularly with the Greeks who influenced the local culture significantly during the Iron Age.