Transcript Mediterranean Geography

Mediterranean Geography
Ancient Greece
&
Ancient Rome
Greece - Soil & Plants
 Vegetation is
dependent on
geographical
regions.
 Due to the variety of
land, there a some
6,000 indigenous
species in Greece.
 In Ancient Greece,
farmers grew olives,
figs, grain, fruit and
grapes in the fertile
valleys.
Soil & Plants
 However, other parts of Ancient
Greece had drier soil and less
vegetation, particularly around
the cities.
 Although surrounded by sea
water, they found it difficult to
find fresh water away from the
valleys.
 The high mountains also
prevented large-scale farming,
so the Greeks were forced to
look beyond their own country
for fertile land.
Volcanic
 Another important
aspect of the Greek
environment is that it is
very unstable.
 Greece is in the middle
of a very volcanic zone,
between the European
and African tectonic
plates.
 There are several active
volcanoes and
earthquakes are
common.
Mediterranean Geography
Ancient Rome
The Climate
 Climate is very
similar to Ancient
Greece with
temperatures
around 30
degrees in the
summer and 15 in
the winter.
Hills & River
 The spot had a mild
climate, good farmland &
was in a strategic
location.
 Built the city on seven
hills that could be
defended
 Farmed at the base of the
hills & lived on the hilltops
 City was close to the
Mediterranean Sea & its
trade routes
 Lay next to the Tiber River,
which aided trade &
provided protection
Italian Peninsula
 Rome’s location on the Italian
Peninsula helped its
development
 Surrounded by water on
three sides
 Roman ships could sail to
other lands surrounding the
Mediterranean
 Helped in conquering new
territories, developing trade
routes
 Alps, Apennines mountains
protected Rome, but didn’t
isolate it
 Italy’s large plains made
farming easier than in Greece
Volcanic
 The area is also
volcanic in origin,
which makes the soil
naturally rich in
water springs &
minerals.
 Hill made of tufa
rock (hardened
rocky sponge), which
was used for building
& construction.