The Geography of Ancient Rome What is the best story you have ever heard? Why?

The Beginnings of Rome Founding of Rome owed much to it’s 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

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

Rome’s 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

Italian Peninsula Rome’s 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

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