Rome and Its Beginnings

The Shepherd Faustulus Bringing Romulus and Remus to his Wife
Painting by Nicolas Mignard, 1654
Rome is the capital of modern-day Italy, as it was during the ancient Roman Republic and later, the Roman Empire. Founded more than 2,500 years ago, Rome is the largest city in Italy, and is centrally located on the "boot" of the Italian Peninsula. The geography of the Italian Peninsula had a number of features that made it possible for ancient Rome to prosper. First, the soil and land in Italy were ideal for agriculture and farming. In addition, the lands of ancient Rome were surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. This body of water protected the territory, as there were no immediate neighboring peoples living along the peninsula. Also, the Mediterranean Sea was important for trade with distant territories.

Take a moment to view the video,
Origin and Homeland of Rome, from eMediaVA
SM. You will discover information about Rome, its early beginnings, and how it initially became successful. As you watch the video, think about how Rome's policy of inclusion was different from other civilizations you have learned about.