Chapter 9, Lesson 1: Geography of Ancient Rome
(This supplements the Chapter 9, Lesson 1 map.)

1. The Italian Peninsula is a part of the European continent. It juts
out into the Mediterranean Sea and slightly resembles a “boot.”

2. The island of Sicily lies southwest of the “toe” of the Italian
Peninsula. It was part of the original Greek colony in Italy, settled
around 750 B.C.

3. The Alps are Europe’s highest mountains. They wall off
(geographically separate) the Italian Peninsula from the rest of
southern Europe.

4. The Po River runs west to east just south of the Alps. About 900
B.C., its river valley was the home of the Etruscans, one of the three
groups who created Ancient Rome.

5. The Apennine Mountains form the “backbone” of the Italian
Peninsula. The soil was rocky and not very fertile, but it was good
for growing grapes and olives. Farmers also herded sheep on their
hillsides.

6. The Tiber River runs south and west out of the Apennines and its
fertile valley was the location of the city of Rome. It was settled by
the Latins around 1,000 B.C.

7. The Adriatic Sea borders the Italian peninsula on the east side.

8. Corsica and Sardinia are two islands that lie west of the Italian
mainland. Along with Sicily, they were valuable to the military and
the economy of Rome. Corsica, the smaller of the two, lies to the
north; Sardinia lies to the south.

9. The Tyrrhenian Sea lies between Corsica and Sardinia and the
Italian Peninsula. The Tiber River empties into it.

10. Romulus and Remus were the legendary founders of Rome. After
surviving a violent childhood, they built a city on Seven Hills
next to the Tiber River. The city was named after Romulus.