Rome has for over two thousand years been one of the most important artistic centres in the world. Early Ancient Roman art initially developed from the Etruscan art slightly to its north, but from about 2000 BC, as the Roman republic became involved with the Greek world, Ancient Greek art and architecture became the dominant influence, until the two effectively merged into a Greco-Roman style, often meaning Greek-speaking artists working for Latin-speaking patrons. Roman literature and philosophy was also centred on the capital.