Rome before Rome: the role of landscape elements, together with technological approaches, shaping the foundation of the Roman civilization

Abstract

Most of the ancient cities link their initial fortune to the uniqueness of their geographical position: rivers, hills, islands and natural resources are playing a fundamental role in the game of shaping a powerful future for any urban settlement. However, very few cities share the astonishing destiny of the City of Rome, where all those factors, together with the powerful boost of its citizen’s determination and their primitive but effective technologies, have contributed to design the fate of that urban area, establishing the basis of western civilization and giving a fundamental contribution of all humankind.