The Empire of Rome dominated most of Europe and much of Africa and the Middle East. What is often overlooked though is the key role Rome's geography played in it's rise to power. There were two mountain ranges, the Alps and the Apennines protected Rome from invasion because it acted as a natural barrier to prevent armies from invading in those areas. This also forced enemies to push through narrow passages, allowing time for Rome to set up and defend. The fertile land in Rome also allowed for extensive amounts of agriculture. It is often cited that the soil in Rome is some of the most fertile soil in Europe. Finally Rome benefited from it position, allowing to become a center for trade. Rome was positioned in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, which made Rome a very desirable place for trade, even before Rome rose to power. All in all Rome's natural barriers, fertile land, and central location played a key role in its rise to power.
Italy is a peninsula,which means that it has water on three sides. This was a natural barrier that kept groups from entering Italy without being detected by the Romans, and also served as protection. Italy also has two mountain rages (Apennines and Alps) that helped protect Rome from invasion. The river valleys made the area ideal for agriculture and allowed the population to grow. Italy is centered in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea which gave Rome an ideal location for trade.
