Yr 12 Ancient History Pompeii & Herculaneum Geographical Context

The Physical Environment of Campania Fertile region in Southern Italy Crescent shaped volcanic plain approx. 13,595 sq km. at the foot of Apennine escarpment, extending from the Volturno River in the north to the mountains of the Sorrentine Peninsula in the south Pliny the Elder – ‘One of the loveliest places on earth’.

Climate Two main seasons – hot dry summers (May to Sept) and mild wet winters (Oct – Apr). Annual rainfall – 845mm on coast. Sometimes winter was overcast, clear and cold; strong wind blowing from north-east

Mount Vesuvius – Effects on the Landscape Sits on an intersection of two fissures in the earth’s crust Only active volcano on European mainland Erupted 30 times after AD79 eruption Different in appearance today 1277 metres high 11km crater (circumference) Partly encircled by 1110 m ridge of Mt Somma

Mount Vesuvius – Effects on the Landscape Diodorus (Greek historian) suggests that people knew the volcano was active Strabo – ‘mountain covered with fertile soil; forming almost level plain; completely sterile & ash-coloured.’ Strabo’s account – first accurate description of the volcano in dormant phase