The Geography of Ancient Rome

So… Why are we learning this?

O Well.. O There are still many cultural connections

among Mediterranean areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa as a result of Rome’s influence.

O And Geography has an important part to play in this influence…

A question for you! O By the time we finish today, you should

be able to answer this question.

OWhy was Rome’s location so favorable?

Geographic LandmarksO Italy is a peninsula in the Mediterranean

Sea. (Its most prominent feature is its boot-like shape kicking the island of Sicily.)

O FYI: A Peninsula is land surrounded on three sides by water. (What are those waters? Look at your map!)

O Why is this good? O Roman ships could easily sail to other lands O This helped them conquernew lands and develop trade routes.

Another LandmarkO Much of Italy is covered by mountains.

O The Dolomite mountains which extend across northern Italy are part of the Alps mountain range.

O The Apennine mountains cut down the center of Italy, stretching from north to south, dividing the east and west coasts.

O Why is this important?O Protection, but it didn’t isolate Rome from the rest of the world.

More landmarks!!!O The Po Valley, just south of the Dolomite

mountains, is the basin of the Po River. O It is fertile farm land, which made

farming in Rome easier than in Ancient Greece.

O Italy includes two large islands: Sicily and Sardinia. O Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean,

with active volcanoes and earthquakes. O Sardinia is basically mountains rising out of the

ocean.

ClimateO Rome (and today’s modern Italy) has two

climate regions. O In northern Italy, temperatures can reach

below the freezing during the winters, with snow in the northern most areas. O It’s climate is much more like what you would

see in countries like Germany or Belgium.O Southern Italy has a warmer, more

moderate climate. O Much more like Spain, Greece, Turkey.

So… Back to our question!O Why was Rome’s location so favorable?

O Here’s another view:O Read the handout/reading Rome’s Perfect

LocationO Answer the reading review questions on a

Separate piece of paper.

Due: NEXT CLASS (Friday!)