... its site (see Appendix, figure 2), it soon developed into an emerging european power. This map (figure 2) shows Rome at a later stage in its development but indicates adequately how the seven hills it is built upon provided an easily defendable site. It also displays how essential the Tiber was to the development of Rome; acting as a bridging point and allowing the city to operate as a port and a place of contact between the Mediterranean maritime world and the peoples of the Italian peninsula. As Rome accumulated wealth and power from this maritime trade its attention turned to more ambitious matters; that of conquering the various races that constituted Italy. After repeated failures Rome overcame the Etruscans and Gauls in the north; the Sabines, Volscians, and Hernicans in the near east and south; and the Greeks in the south. The extent of Roman expansion in Italy by 268BC ...

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