Where was Rome Located?

Italy is a boot-shaped country in the Mediterranean. The toe of the boot points toward the island of Sicily and the high heel points towards Greece. The Alps are mountains at Italy’s northern border and separate Italy from Europe. The Apennines is a mountain range that extends through Italy from north to south.

Contrasting Greece to Italy Mountains were less rugged than Greece Large flat plains of better farmland allowed more people to settle in Italy than in Greece Mountains were more rugged than Italy Difficulty of crossing caused the development of isolated communities

Comparing Greece to Italy Both peninsulas Both have mountain ranges

The Origins of Rome Italy’s terrain was easier to farm than the terrain of Greece, so Italy could support more people. The Latins built the city of Rome on the plain of Latium. Rome was located in central Italy about 15 miles up the Tiber River from the Mediterranean Sea. This provided a source of water and protection from pirates. Rome was built on seven hills with very steep sides which made it easy to defend against enemy attacks. It was also located at a place where people stopped going north or south and a port for merchant ships in the western Mediterranean. This helped Rome become a center of trade.

The Origins of Rome Two stories tell about Rome’s beginning: the legend of Remus and Romulus and the tale of Aeneas and his Trojan followers.

Check for Understanding True or False 1.  A legend is a true story. 2.  Romulus and Remus were twin brothers. 3.  The twin babies were thrown into the river Nile. 4.  The babies were rescued by a she wolf. 5. Later they were found by a shepherd called Faustulus. 6. When they grew up the boys killed their grandfather. 7.  Romulus and Remus argued about what to name their city. 8.  Remus killed Romulus. 9. Romulus was carried to the heavens by his father Mars.