1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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