Location is Key!
Rome began as a collection of small settlements located on seven hills near the Tiber River in Italy around 753 BCE. Over time the towns joined together to form the city of Rome and in 509 BCE, the Roman Republic was formed. Rome is located in the center of the peninsula of Italy. Because the city developed about 15 miles from where the Tiber River empties into the Mediterranean Sea, they had additional protection since invaders had to move inland from the coast to attack the city. |
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Situated with the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Rome eventually had significant access and influence on the entire region.This lead to the city becoming the political center of a large empire that extended from Great Britain to Spain and from North Africa to Southwest Asia.