Geography of Rome Pages 224 - 227

Objectives Describe the geography of the Italian peninsula. Explain why such geography would attract human settlement. Describe Rome’s legendary founding.

The Big Picture 700 B.C. – people from Sparta and other city-states began leaving Greece Not all people left Greece, just some people Many sailed to west to present-day Italy The land was rich and fertile there While Sparta and Athens got powerful in Greece, Rime started to form Eventually Rome would conquer Greece

A “Boot”! Peninsula, part of European continent Juts out into Mediterranean Sea like a kicking boot! The island west of the “toe” is Sicily many Greek colonists settled there because of its fertile land

The Alps North border = Alps The Alps wall off the Italian peninsula from the rest of Europe (Just like the Himalayas separate India from the rest of Asia!)

The Apennine Mountains Form a giant “backbone” through the Italian peninsula Towering height makes it difficult to travel across the peninsula Apennines lack rich soil There is more sheep herding than farming here

The Latium Plain Located on the west coast of central Italy The Tiber River runs through the center of this plain Rome rises here!

The Legend of Romulus and Remus Twin boys were born, Romulus and Remus King was afraid the boys would steal his throne and gave orders to throw the boys into the Tiber River The boys didn’t drown and were rescued by a wolf

The Legend of Romulus and Remus A shepherd came upon the wolf’s den and took the boys home Romulus and Remus grew up to be strong and brave The boys founded a city where they were rescued by the wolf The two brothers fought over naming the city Romulus killed Remus; the city was named after its first king, Romulus

Romulus and Remus: Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1D9wd29jI

“City of Seven Hills” Romulus and Remus story is a legend… so how did Rome really come to be? When Rome developed, it expanded across seven hills Hills helped to protect Rome from attack Tiber River acted as a “highway”

“City of Seven Hills” Rome was also surrounded by inactive volcanoes Earlier eruptions made the soil very fertile People were able to grow many different crops Grapevines In time, Italy’s fine wines became one of its most valued trade goods

Peoples of the Peninsula Before Rome was founded, Etruscans settled there The Etruscans and Romans would eventually fight – in the end, the leading families of Rome overthrew their Etruscan king

Sum It Up At the base of Italy’s two mountain ranges – the Alps and the Apennines – lie fertile regions (such as the Latium plain). Italy’s fertile plains were well used by local farmers as well as colonists from Ancient Greece. The city of Rome was founded on seven hills. They helped to protect it from attack. Etruscan kings ruled Rome before being overthrown by Romans in 509 B.C.

Think About It Why did grapes become an important crop in ancient Italy? How did Rome come to be founded, according to legend? Why was the location of Rome a good place for a city? What were the causes of farmers’ success at growing grapevines in Italy? How did the mountains of Italy affect communication and transportation?