The Geography of Ancient Rome

1
The Geography of Ancient Rome

• What is the best story you have ever heard? Why?

2
The Beginnings of Rome

• Founding of Rome owed much to its location
• Rome begins in 509 B.C. w/ the overthrow of
  foreign kings
• Romans date their beginnings to 753 B.C. ,
  Romulus and Remus, raised be a she wolf found the
  city, sons of the god Mars, abandoned on the
  banks of the Tiber river, a shepherd found them
  and raised them, decided to build a city where
  they were found, argument broke out over what
  hill to build on, Romulus killed Remus w/ a
  brick, city named after Romulus
• Another Legend says that Aeneas founded the city
  after the Trojan war after Troy was destroyed

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The Founding of Rome

• In the Aeneas story Romulus and Remus are his
  descendants and are abandoned by their mother and
  rescued by a she wolf, fought over location,
  Romulus killed Remus on Palentine hill
• After Romulus a series of Roman kings ruled
• 600 B.C. Etruscans conquered Rome, from northern
  Italy
• 509 B.C. Overthrew Etruscan king, formed a
  Republic, elected leaders

4
Romes Geographic Location

• After the overthrow of the Etruscans, Rome grew
  from a city into a country, then an empire,
  location made this possible
• People founded Rome, not legends,1st settlers
  were the Latins, came from region around Rome
• Spot chosen for climate, farmland and good
  defense
• Rome built on 7 steep hills, farmed fertile plain
  at base of hills, homes on top of hills for
  defense
• Located short distance from Mediterranean , on
  trade routes, on Tiber River

5
Italian Peninsula

• Romes location on Italian Peninsula important to
  development
• Shaped like a boot, location made it easy to
  reach other locations by sea and to conquer and
  gain new territory and develop trade routes
• 2 main Mtn ranges protect Italy, Alps in the
  North, Apennines form a spine, did not separate
  Italy like Greece, large plains made farming
  easier

6
The Tiber River

• During earliest times Tiber served as a water
  source for farming and drinking
• A route for travel and trade, small ships could
  sail down to Mediterranean
• Located away from the sea provided protection