Final answer:
The rise of the Roman Empire began with the overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE. The new government format allowed for military reorganization, expanded alliances, and aggressive territorial conquests, setting Rome on the path to becoming an empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Event that Started the Rise of the Roman Empire
The event that truly marked the beginning of Rome's rise to an empire was A) The overthrow of the Etruscan monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic. This occurred in 509 BCE, when Romans ejected Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and his regime, paving the way for a new form of governance. The formation of the Roman Republic allowed Rome to pursue expansion and military conquests more aggressively, leading to the acquisition of new territories and the eventual establishment of the Roman Empire.
The legendary story of the city's founding and its repudiation of tyrannical Etruscan rule reflects the deep respect Romans had for law and order, which influenced their governance and military strategies. The Republic's military structure evolved from the Etruscan-organized phalanx to more advanced formations that would later dominate Greek forces, signifying Rome's growing military prowess and its ambition for expansion.
With a republic in place, Rome succeeded in uniting the Italian peninsula by securing alliances and relying on these partnerships to overcome opponents such as Carthage and the Hellenistic kingdoms. This solidified the Roman Republic as a dominant power in the Mediterranean by the mid-second century BCE.