Ancient Civilizations: Rome, Greece, and Their Geography

The Geography of Rome and Italy

Rome was born in the heart of the agricultural plain of Latium, by the Tiber River and on the hillsides of the seven hills comprising its strategic location.

Geographical Features

• The Mountains

  The Italian Peninsula occupies the center of the Mediterranean. We know it as "the Boot." It is crossed by the Apennines, a mountain range which runs centrally between its two coasts. To the north, Italy is blocked by the Alps. When the Romans went through them, the course of history and the Mediterranean changed.

• The Seas and Islands

  Three seas bathe Italy: the Adriatic, the Tyrrhenian, and the Ionian. Notable islands include Sicily, Sardinia, and smaller islands like Elba and Capri.

• The Rivers

  • a) In the north: the Po
  • b) The Arno, which goes through Etruria
  • c) The Tiber, which provided Rome with water. It was the way through which a lot of goods arrived in Rome.

The History of Ancient Greece

The Minoans (1800-1200 BC)

At the heart of the Minoan civilization was a huge palace complex at Knossos. The palace was a great political, trade, and cultural center, and it controlled much of central Crete. At the height of its prosperity (around 1450 BC), over 10,000 people lived in the palace. Despite its wealth, around 1450 BC, the Mycenaean Greeks captured Knossos and destroyed all the other Minoan palaces and towns. This civilization was named "Minoan" after the legendary King Minos, son of Zeus.

Archaic Age (700-480 BC)

The first laws were written in this period. Due to political rivalry and socio-economic problems, tyranny replaced oligarchy. Tyranny means that one person seizes all the power and becomes the ruler. Many Greeks emigrated across the Mediterranean and founded colonies in Europe and Asia Minor, so trade developed and currency appeared.

The Peloponnesian War

This war was between Athens and Sparta, in which Athens lost and gave up its role as the trading and cultural leader in Greece to Sparta.

SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus

This Latin phrase means "The Senate and the People of Rome."

The Hellenistic Period (323-30 BC)

After the Peloponnesian War, King Philip II of Macedon united Greece under his rule. He was succeeded by his son, Alexander the Great, who spread the Greek borders to Egypt and India. When he died, at the age of 32, the territory was divided into several kingdoms that lasted until the Romans conquered Greece in 146 BC, and it became another province of the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire (27 BC - 476 AD)

The Early Empire (27 BC - 284 AD)

It was characterized by the spreading of the Roman borders and by the splendor of Roman culture. Augustus was the first of a long list of emperors and dynasties.

The Late Empire (284 AD - 476 AD)

This period was marked by difficulties of governing and by decadence. After Theodosius's rule, the empire was divided into two parts: the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire.