Rome’s Geographic Location
ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why was Rome’s location so favorable?
Hills and River
• In reality, Rome was settled by Latins
- spot had mild climate, good farmland, strategic location
• Built city on seven hills that could be defended
- farmed at base of the hills; lived on hilltops
• City was close to Mediterranean Sea and its trade routes
- lay next to Tiber River, which aided trade and provided protection
Italian Peninsula
• Romeʼs location on Italian Peninsula helped its development
- peninsula—land surrounded on three sides by water
• Roman ships could sail to other lands surrounding Mediterranean
- helped in conquering new territories, developing trade routes
• Alps, Apennines mountains protected Rome, but didnʼt isolate it
• Italyʼs large plains made farming easier than in Greece