The Geography of Rome

1. Learning Target: How did the geography of Italy impact the development of Ancient Rome? The Geography of Rome Western Civilizaiton November 7, 2012

2. Joke of the Day

3. The Apennine Peninsula • Conveniently Located • Easy to trade and conquer • Mountains • Alps to the north • Apennines in the middle • Protected Rome, but did not isolate it • Large plains • Made farming easy • Used water-wheels to move water up hills/mountains to water crops

5. The Hills of Rome • Settled on hills • Defense • Marsh • Testaccio • Created entirely of broken Amphorae, a clay jug used for transport

7. The Marsh of Rome • River and Marshes led to repeated flooding of the hills / city • Cloaca Maxima • “The Great Drain” • System of drainage regulating the marsh and rivers underground

8. Cloaca Maxima

9. The Forum Boarium • The regulated marsh and Tiber River became a port and cattle market for the city of Rome

10. The Tiber River

11. The Tiber River • Water is a vital resource for survival • Marsh and flooding provided fertile farmland • Provided inhabitants of Rome access by water to: • Northern portions of the peninsula • The Mediterranean Sea • Provided opportunities to: • Trade internationally • Easily expand the Empire

12. Rome’s Geology • Volcanic Activity • Nearby Lake • Provided a plentiful supply of a variety of rocks and stones • Basalt – used for paving rodes • Travertine Tile – Architecture (Coliseum) • Tufa & Clay - pottery • Provided fertile soil and a wealth of minerals

13. Lake Bolsena