Warm-up
What were
three
benefits of
Rome’s
location?
Agenda
1. Geography
2. Founding of Rome
3. Early Influences
Objectives
Students will be able to…
42. Describe the impact of Rome’s
geography.
43. Describe Roman mythology and
the early influences on Roman
culture.
Objective #42
Rome Geography
Italy
• People living in Italy first came into contact
with the Greeks in 900 B.C.
– Greek traders sailed on either side of the
Italy
– Greeks also set up farming communities
on Sicily and southern Italy
– What “crops” do you think they farmed?
– Greeks also introduced the Greek
alphabet to the people living in Italy
Geographic Location
• The Italian peninsula rests close to
the middle of the Mediterranean Sea
• The edges of the peninsula reach
towards Africa
• Center of trade for THREE
continents: Europe, Asia and Africa
Climate
• Moist, mild climate
• Provides for rich soil for farming
–This is what mostly attracted the
Greeks to Italy
Geographic Features
• Rivers
– Tiber, Po and Rubicon
• Mosquito-infested swamps
– People suffered from bouts of malaria and other
diseases
• Mountains
– Alps, Apennine
• Rocky and marshy coastline
• Islands (Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica)
• Surrounded by THREE seas
– Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Adriatic
How does geography
impact life?
• People living in Italy traded amongst
themselves, because they were
initially blocked by mountain ranges.
• Lacked good harbors, because of the
rocky coastline.
• They were land-locked for many
years.
Objective #43
The Founding of Rome
Aeneid Preview
Summary!
• Aeneas flees Troy and is destined to
found a new city in Italy. After
several false starts, including a stay in
Carthage, the Trojans found their city
in Latium. However, they soon go to
war with the Latins, but are
victorious with their allies.
Founding of Rome
• Read the story about Romulus and
Remus, answer the questions
Summary!
• Romulus and Remus were twin sons
of Mars, rescued by a wolf and raised
by a shepherd. In a fight over where
to build a city, Romulus killed Remus
and built Rome on a hill, named after
himself.
Rome’s Neighbors
Early Italians
• Latins
Greeks
Etruscans
– Nomads
Colonies who
Natives
in Italy
settled in
near
the Tiber
– Italy
Brought
Skilled
engineers
grapes
and
– First
olives
to live in
Rome
• Ruled
Rome
from
their
• Romans
Latins
Latin
language
600 BC
toborrowed
509 BC
some
• mythology
Influenced and
Roman
cultural
elements
architecture
and culture
Lessons from the
Etruscans
Etruscan Architecture
Keystone
Arches
Etruscan Engineering
Etruscan Government
Etruscan Metalworking
Etruscan Mysticism
Etruscan Sculpture
Etruscan Sporting
Events
Arches and Columns
Lessons from the
Greeks
Greek Coinage
Greek Monumental
Building
Greek Mythology
Greek Philosophy
Greek Pottery
Greek Science