Roman Geography/ Early Settlers

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Geography :(

Italy is a peninsula extending about 750 miles from north to south. It is not very wide, as it averages about 120 miles across. The Apennine mountain range forms a ridge running from north to south, dividing west to east. Italy contains fertile plains that are ideal for farming. The most important geographical features of Rome are the Po River Valley in the north, the plain of Latium on which the city of Rome is located, and the region of Campania, south of Latium.

Geography was a key factor in the development of Rome. The Apennines are less rugged than the mountain ranges of Greece, hence it was easier for Rome to unite instead of dividing into small, separate communities. Additionally, Rome had more farming land that Greece, hence it was more equipped to handle a large population.

The central location of the city of Rome was favorable to early settlers. It was located about 18 miles inland on the Tiber River, thus Rome had a route to the sea. Yet, it was far enough from the sea to be safe from pirates, hence making it an ideal location. Rome can easily be defended due to it being built on 7 hills. Rome was also situated where where the Tiber River can easily be crossed, ergo it became a natural crossing point for north-south traffic in western Italy. Thereby, Rome became an excellent central location from which Italy can expand.

The Italian Peninsula is a vital crossroad between the western and eastern Med. Sea due to the way the land protrudes into the sea. Due to Rome's central location, the establishment and governing of their Mediterranean empire was easier.

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Early Settlers

Early Roman settlers consisted of Indo-European peoples that moved into Italy during a period from about 1500 BC- 1000 BC. One of the groups of the Indo-Europeans were Latins who lived in the region of Latium. They spoke Latin which originated as an Indo-European language.

The Latins were farmers and herders who lived in settlements made of huts on top of Rome's 7 hills. After about 800 BC, other groups of people began moving into Italy, most notably being the Greeks and Etruscans.

The Greeks came to Italy in large groups during the age of Greek colonization. They first settled in Southern Italy and them slowly moved around the coast and up the peninsula. The Greeks also settled in the eastern 2/3 of Sicily, an island south of the peninsula. The Greeks had a great deal of influence over the people of Rome. They cultivated olives and grapes, as well as provided the Romans with the Greek alphabet, and inspiration for architecture, sculpture, and literature.

The development of Roman culture and society is mostly attributed to the Etruscans. They were located north of Rome in Etruria. After 650 BC, Etruria expanded into north-central Italy and came to control Rome and the majority of Latium. The Etruscans found Rome a village, but soon launched a building project that made Rome into a city. The Romans borrowed numerous ideas from the Etruscans, including the way they dress and the organization of their military.