Rome: Beginnings

Geographic Advantages

River access to port city of Ostia.Access to Med.

tradeSits on north – south

trade routes on peninsula

Geographic Advantage

Mild climate with fertile soil

Seas and Alps provided some protection from invasion

Mid-point between eastern & western Med.

Romulus & RemusTwin sons born to the

daughter of ousted king

Floated down Tiber R.Saved by a she-wolfFound and raised by a

shepardFounded a new city

on the TiberRomulus killed Remus

AeneasAenead – written by

Virgil to rival HomerEscaped Troy to

establish Alba Longa in Italy

Romulus and Remus were his descendants

EtruscansRuled Rome for

about 100 years influencing developmentSewersAlphabetBuilding techniquesArtsGovernment formsPublic spectacles