Bell Ringer/ Introduction

If you were founding a new city, what natural features would influence your choice of a building site?

Write your answer on your on paper. Use complete sentence or short answer/list form. Be Prepared to discuss your answer.

Turn to Page 263 in your textbook

The Origins Of Rome

What feature makes Italy easy to find on a map?

The Boot!

Key features:

Mountains:

•Alps: Across the top of the boot

•Appennines: Runs from north to south

RiverTiber

Affects of Geography

Tiber River:

Rome located 15 miles upriver from the Mediterranean Sea

1. Gave Romans a source of water

2. Easy access to Mediterranean Sea

3. Still far enough away from sea to escape raid by pirates

Mountains:

Rome built on seven hills

1. Easy to defend from attack

2. Located in a place where people could cross the river

3. Became key stopping point for people traveling North and South or by ship into the Mediterranean

Comparing & Contrasting

GREECE

Mountains more rugged

Difficulty crossing caused the development of isolated communities

ITALY

Mountains less rugged

Large flat plains of better farmland allowed more people to settle in Italy than Greece

Origins of Rome

Romulus & Remus

Brothers who were abandoned in the wilderness

Found in the Tiber River and raised by a wolf.

Founded the city of Rome

Romulus would be the first king of Rome

The Aeneid

Epic poem: Story of Aeneas

Trojan hero who sailed to the mouth of the Tiber river

Through marriage & warfare he would unite the locals known as Latins with his Trojan warriors.

Became known as “father “ of the Romans

Origins of Rome

Historians are not exactly sure of how Rome began

It is believed the Latins of Latium banded together for protection

It was these communities that became Rome

The Greeks and Etruscans played a role in shaping Roman civilization

Greek Contributions

Etruscan Contributions

Comparison Chart (Page 264: Early Influences)

How did they come to the area of Rome? When?

Exit Slip

Answer the question on your own paper and hand it to me on your way out.

How did Rome’s Geography help the Romans prosper?