Rome

Among the greatest empire-builders in recorded history.

Roman legions helped to maintain control over the vast empire.• Guarded distant borders• Built extensive network of roads and

bridges• Kept trade routes open• Fought wars to expand territory

The Italian peninsula was about 3 times as large as ancient Greece.

Even with 3200 km of coastline, good harbors were difficult to find.

In spite of this, trade up and down the coast and across the Mediterranean was constant.

Romans could reach the Middle East, Greece, Spain and North Africa by sea.

Ancient Civilizations

Eastern Hemisphere

Most of Italy is either hilly or mountainous, which made overland transportation and communication difficult.

Mountain ranges helped protect from invasion.

Unlike Greece however, the mountains did not prevent Rome from unifying under a single ruler.

Fertile Land Located in three areas.

• The great northern plain with deposits from Po River

• The Latium and Campania plains with deposits from volcanoes.

Like Greece, Rome eventually had to find colonies to supplement their food supply.

Rivers & Climate Three main rivers were the Po, the

Arno, and the Tiber. Most of the peninsula enjoyed a

climate of rainy winters and hot, dry summers.

However, the river valley of Po had moderate winter snow, summer rain and a wet spring and fall.

Resources Building stone Limestone Marble (difficult to work with) Concrete (volcanic ash mixed with

water) Copper Iron Tin (mixed with copper to make

bronze)