Geography and Economy of Ancient Rome

What impact did the climate of central Italy have on Rome's development?

• It helped farmers produce a consistent supply of food, which enabled the economy to diversify.

• It lengthened the military campaign season, which made rapid conquest easier.

• It made it easy to grow spices but hard to grow food crops, which contributed to the need to establish trade.

• It fostered tropical diseases, which promoted rapid medical and scientific advancements.

The Roman Empire began with a settlement in which location?

• the Euphrates River valley

• the middle of Italy

• the mountains of central Europe

• the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea

Which factor most contributed to the early success of Roman agriculture?

• annual flooding

• advanced farming methods

• a mild climate

• government-run farms

What effect did the Alps have on Rome?

• They funneled European trade routes directly into Rome.

• They made travel across the Italian Peninsula difficult.

• They provided runoff that ensured Rome an adequate water supply.

• The limited Rome's connections with other European peoples.

Which of these groups benefited the most from the extensive system of roads and bridges built throughout the Roman Empire?

• foreign invaders

• farmers and domestic workers

• merchants and traders

• religious missionaries

Which statement best explains how Rome's proximity to the Tiber River delta contributed to its prosperity?

• Rome was close enough to use the river for access to the sea, but too far to use the river for agricultural purposes.

• Rome was close enough to use the river to import grain from nearby civilizations, but far enough away to avoid damage from routine flooding.

• Rome was close enough to use the river to irrigate fields, but too far to use it as a reliable source of travel.

• Rome was close enough to use the river for agricultural and trade, but far enough away to be protected from foreign invasion.

Which factor contributed most to the development of Rome's early trade ties with North Africa?

• proximity to important shipping lanes

• nearby supplies of gold and silver

• production of spices and silk

• large agricultural food surpluses

Roman coins typically included images of

• major military victories

• emperors and gods

• governmental buildings and temples

• scenes from faraway places

The growth of the Roman population as the empire expanded produced which of these problems?

• political turmoil in the provinces

• deadly communicable diseases

• deepening religious conflict

• reliance on foreign grain

An archaeologist finding a Roman coin in India most likely indicates that

• Roman ambassadors signed treaties with Indian rulers

• Roman trade networks reached all the way to India

• the Roman army attempted to invade India at one point

• the Roman Empire controlled India for a period of time