Looking at your map, you'll see a boot-shaped peninsula that sticks out between the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas. This land and some of its surrounding islands make up the modern country of Italy. The city of Rome eventually conquered the area that we know as Italy, and Rome went on to conquer most the civilizations that you have studied so far in this course. How did geography and climate help Rome grow?

Look again at the map and find Italy, noting that it is located in southern Europe. It's latitude gives the peninsula a temperate climate (warm summers and mild winters) that is good for growing crops and feeding its people. Also, Italy has the Alps (a very high mountain range) in the north. The Alps made it extremely difficult for armies to invade from the north. Also, the Apennines mountains that run the length of Italy made moving across Italy very difficult for foreign armies.