Ancient Rome: Geography The Italian peninsula was about 3 times as large as the homeland of the Greeks The boot-shaped peninsula juts approximately 960 km out into the Mediterranean Sea and averages about 160 km in width There is approximately 3200 km of coastline Lively trade was to be found up and down the coast Good harbours are harder to find here than in Greece Strategically located in the centre of the Mediterranean region: Romans could reach the Middle East, Greece, Spain and North Africa easily by sea

Terrain Most of the peninsula is either hilly or mountainous which made overland transportation and communication difficult (similar to Greece) Main mountain chain –the Apennines- runs down the eastern length like a backbone The Alps, the range in the north, helped protect Rome from invasion, although mountain passes allowed people to cross into Europe Romans, unlike Greeks, were able to unify under a single ruler and create a large empire

Waterways 3 key rivers: the Po, the Arno and the Tiber The Tiber River was particularly important because the city of Rome developed on its banks 24kms upstream from the sea Rome came to control trade on the river and throughout the Mediterranean

Climate Most of the Italian peninsula enjoys a Mediterranean climate with rainy winters and hot, dry summers The Po river valley has a continental climate with moderate winter snow, summer rain and a wet spring and fall The weather on the peninsula suited the production of wheat, olives and grapes very well

Agriculture Fertile land was located in three main areas: northern plain, plains of Latium and Campania on the west coast The plains of Latium and Campania had soil that was enriched by volcanic activity (volcanoes were active here until about 1000 BCE) As the population increased, fertile lands could not supply enough grain to support the population Rome was more productive agriculturally than Greece but also had to find colony to supplement their food supply

Natural Resources Building stone was one of the most prolific natural resources – later Rome began to use marble as well Volcanic dust mixes with water made and early form of concrete, an essential building material Mineral deposits included iron and copper Romans imported tin and combined it with their copper to make bronze Heavily wooded Apennine slopes provided timber needed for building ships