1. The Italian peninsula became an ideal location to establish settlements for 3 main physical characteristics:
- The shape of the peninsula guaranteed natural harbors for ships.
- The location in the center of the Mediterranean Sea was the source of wealth and new ideas.
- Most people in this location were near water so fish became part of their diet.
2. The Ancient Rome settlements relied strongly on slavery, trade and agriculture. Therefore, the access to sea, fresh water, natural barriers and nutrient rich soil played an important role in early settlements.
