Introduction to Rome Geography

The Italian Peninsula Physical features

‘History is Governed, if not determined by Geography’ Consider the following questions when thinking about how an area is run either politically, economically or socially.

Do the mountains protect, divide or obstruct? Do the mountains breed a type of personality? Does the sea? Do they both affect the character of a nation or civilization? Would the Romans favour trade or agriculture?

Would the Romans be good fighters or Sailors? Could the land produce enough food? Where would they get more food if they needed it? From what direction would invaders come? Would unity be easier than Greece?

Which side of the Peninsula would develop first?

Physical Features The Italian Peninsula is 3 times bigger than Greece. Italy is shaped like a boot, juts approximately 960km out into the Mediterranean Sea and is 160km wide.

There are 3200 km of coastline Good harbours are hard to find. There are better harbours on the West Coast of Italy and therefore it was more westward oriented.

Strategically,Italy is located in the center of the Mediterranean Strategically,Italy is located in the center of the Mediterranean. The Romans could reach the Middle East, Greece, Spain and North Africa easily by sea.

The main mountain chain( Apennines) runs down the eastern length like a backbone.

The Alps( North), helped to protect Rome from invasion, although mountain passes allowed people to cross into Europe.

Unlike the Greeks( high peaks) the rugged Italian landscape did not prevent the Romans from unifying under a single ruler and creating a large empire.

Fertile Land There were three main areas of fertile land. 1) The great northern plain, enriched by the fertile deposits from the Po River. The Apennine ridge ( extended by the west to the east before turning south) cut off the plains from the rest of Italy. Until Julius Caesar, the area was considered to be part of Gaul.

Fertile Land 2) Plain of Latium 3) Plain of Campania Both were on the West Coast Both were small areas. The soil was enriched by phosphate from volcanoes ( were active until 1000BCE). As Rome’s population increased these 3 plains could not support the growing demand for grain. Like the Greeks, the Romans had to find colonies to supplement their food supply.

Rivers The mountainous character of the peninsula robbed it of many great rivers. There were 3 great rivers in the Roman Empire in Italy: 1) The Po River 2) The Arno River 3) The Tiber River Rome was built on the banks of the Tiber river, 24km from the coast. Rome controlled trade on the river and throughout the Mediterranean. Romans built on the port of Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber to accommodate ships too large to travel up the river.

Climate Mediterranean climate has rainy winters and hot , dry summers. Po River had a continental climate with moderate winter snow, summer rain and a wet spring and fall.

Questions 1. What geographic features put Rome in a good position to: Establish control over the Italian peninsula? Establish a large empire in the Mediterranean region? 2. What obstacles do you think the physical environment posed for the development of a large empire? 3. Compare and contrast the geographic features with those of Greece.

1. What geographic features put Rome in a good position to: Establish control over the Italian peninsula? Rome is located next to water (Mediterranean and Tiber). This made it easier for Romans to travel to other areas and take over. Rome is on the west side (better harbours). There was lots trade on the west side. Rome was also at the mouth of the Tiber. It had a growing economy, which meant a growing population and more power. Establish a large empire in the Mediterranean region? Located in the middle of the Mediterranean and it was easy to go to other countries.

2. What obstacles do you think the physical environment posed for the development of a large empire? Alps – barrier to traveling northwards Appenines – split the country in two

3. Compare and contrast the geographic features with those of Greece. Italian Peninsula Greece Mountains Coastal Lack of fertile land 3 times bigger Centre of the Mediterranean East