Ancient Roman Geography

1. Ancient Roman Geography By Jason Smith

2. Tiber River • It is the third Longest River in Italy. • Rome is located along the banks. • Romulus and Remus were said to be found on this river when they were rescued by the she wolf.

3. Po River • Another important river in Northern Italy. • It is the longest river to flow through Italy and it went through important cities such as Milan and Turin. • Also the Po River empties out into the Adriatic Sea.

4. Rome; Center of Ancient Italy • Rome was located on the Tiber river close to the Mediterranean sea. It’s location made it easy to trade with. • Rome also extended it’s empire far throughout Europe and also northern Africa.

5. Mt. Vesuvius; Deadly Volcano • Mt. Vesuvius is most known for its eruption in 79 AD when it took out Pompeii and Herculaneum covering them both in volcanic ash. Wiping them clear off the face of the earth. • No one knew that these cities ever existed until they started digging up the ground that was covering it in which they discovered a whole city which seemed to be stopped in the middle of time.

6. Herculaneum • Herculaneum was a smaller town close to Pompeii and next to the volcano Vesuvius. • Herculaneum was more of a fishing industry due to its location right off the coast of the Mediterranean sea. • When Mt. Vesuvius erupted Herculaneum was covered in volcanic ash and preserved for thousands of years.

7. Pompeii • Pompeii was located near Vesuvius also. • In 79 AD the volcano erupted burying everything and everyone still in the town.

8. Capitoline Hill • In early Roman times the Capitoline Hill was the center of politics, religion and social life. • On the hill was a temple dedicated to Jupiter and also there were other structures on the hill.

9. Palatine Hill • The Palatine Hill was located between the Circus Maximus, Forum Romanum, and the Velabrum. • The cave in which Romulus and Remus were raised in was located on the western slop of the hill. • Many Imperial Palaces had been created on the hill. Some which are still standing today.

10. Apennine Mountains • Apennine Mountains stretch from the Northern part of Italy to the southern most part of the Peninsula. • These mountains act as the “backbone” to Italy.

11. Alp Mountains • The Alp Mountains stretch all the way across the most northern part of the Italian Peninsula. • These Mountains really made it hard on Hannibal during the Punic Wars when he had to cross them with all his soldiers and elephants.