Final answer:
The first true villas in the Roman Republic appeared in the Mid to Late Republic as wealthy Romans began to showcase their wealth. These villas were initially agricultural estates but evolved into luxurious country homes, complete with gardens, fountains, and mosaics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first true villas of the Roman Republic appeared around the mid to late Republic period. During the Early Republic, Roman architecture was primarily functional, focused more on meeting practical needs than on luxury. The development of villas as opulent country estates took off more significantly during the Mid and especially the Late Republic, a time where Roman society saw increasing wealth and affluence among the elite. Notably, as the Republic evolved and expanded its territories, the wealthy began to display their status through more elaborate and luxurious countryside homes.
These villas often started as agricultural estates, but over time they included features such as gardens, fountains, and mosaics, transitioning to become symbols of leisure and wealth. This transformation can be linked to the economic and social changes in the Late Republic, where wealthy landowners benefited from large estates worked by slaves and an increase in the spoils of war. This period set the foundations for the more famous and extravagant villas of the Imperial era, such as Hadrian's Villa outside Rome.