Italy is a boot – shaped country and forms a peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea. Ancient Rome was a city surrounded by seven hills, located along the Tiber River in central Italy. The Tiber River provided a waterway to the Mediterranean Sea.

The northwest and central sections of Italy are rough and mountainous.

The southern part is more level and fertile and was used for farming.

The eastern coastline of Italy has few good harbors. Most of the harbors used by ancient Romans to trade goods with other parts of the Roman Empire lay on the western coast of the country.

Italy’s mild climate was attractive to ancient settlers. Temperatures rarely dip below 60° F (15°C) or above 85° F (29°C). Rainfall amounts to about thirty inches (76cm) per year.

Distribution of tectonic plate boundaries, active volcanoes and volcanic provinces in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region.

Resources:

http://www.slideshare.net/thebrightestman/ancient-greece-geographyhttp://www.slideshare.net/Ljohnston7/romegreece-geography http://www.slideshare.net/ssclasstorremar/9-greek-geo http://www.champaignschools.org/staffwebsites/cainza/geographyofancientrome.htmhttp://www.southerncrossgalleries.com/europe/vineyard-panoramic-landscape-00182/ http://www.greatmirror.com/index.cfm?navid=1454 http://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/italy/overviewhttp://geonaut-online.com/environment/geoscience-research/tephrochronology/