What was the role geography played in the rise of Roman Civilization?

Answer 1

The role of geography played in the rise of roman civilization helped many Greeks find a location in rome, and helped them in battle because of the natural barriers that protected them from attack.

Answer 2

Rome was/is in central Italy, which in turn was/is in the middle of the Mediterranean, between the western and eastern basins of this sea. This exposed the Romans to the Greek civilisation, which was influential around the eastern and central Mediterranean and also played a role in the development of Roman civilisation. Rome's conquest of the lands of the shores of this sea also played a role.

Answer 3

At the local level, Rome's location favoured the growth of a big city. Rome was the product of the unification

separate settlements on hills which became the Seven Hills of Rome. In those days people liked living on hills because they were easier to defend from raids. The hills and the valleys between them offered ample space for urban growth. The volcanic rocks of the area provided good building material. Rome was two thirds of the way between the Apennines (a mountain chain which runs along the Italian peninsula) to her east and the coast to her west. She was also in the only Ford on the river Tiber. Since this river runs in an east-west direction form the mountains to the sea, this made Rome the main north-south communication centre in the region. The Tiber also afforded navigation to the sea, which was only 14 miles away (16 nowadays). When Rome developed a thriving trade network around the Mediterranean, the Romans built a huge port on the coast (Ostia) near the mouth of the river. Large ships which come from everywhere in the Mediterranean unloaded their goods there. The goods were then transferred to smaller ships which reached to Rome by sailing up the river. Being inland also meant that there would not be any naval attacks. Being not far from the Apennines meant that Rome was not far from the many water sources on these mountains. When Rome's demand for water exceeded the supply form local sources, water was brought from the mountains by the aqueducts.

When Rome expanded into central and southern Italy and became the major military power in the Mediterranean, Italy's position was advantageous. Italy lies in between the eastern and western basins of the Mediterranean, which made it easier to fight in both of these basins and to control both. During the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) between Rome and Carthage, her big rival in the western Mediterranean, Rome was also able to fight a war a war in southern Spain and a war in Greece (in the eastern Mediterranean) at the same time as defending Italy from Hannibal's invasion of Italy. In the Third Punic War, Rome destroyed Carthage, which was in Tunisia. In the same year (146 BC) she also annexed mainland Greece. Rome then also expanded her control over both the eastern and the eastern Mediterranean further.