1) What are some of the important geographical features of the Italian peninsula? The Italian peninsula is surrounded by water on 3 sides. On the north side, it is separated from continental Europe by the Alps. Currently, the country of Italy resides there. Rome, one of the darkest kingdoms of all time. No known prehistoric society lived there. Many people believe that several thousand years ago the Italian peninsula was underwater, except for the mountain peaks, which were then islands. Many people believe that there may have been island tribes located on the islands before historical records, but many are unsure. The first peoples known to have migrated there were the Latinos and the Etruscans (who fell with the rise of Rome in 509 BC). The Romans had great difficulty trading in goods due to their location in the known world. They were one of the most eastern countries and, with many of their natural resources being the same as those of the Greeks, they could not attract a substantial number of people to trade with. They also had very few seaports. Due to the island's location, the potholes were difficult to find due to the jagged cliffs around many of their beaches, much like the beaches of modern-day Britain. Additionally, ships had difficulty reaching ports due to the hostile areas in which the waters were low. Many nations considered dealing with the Romans a problem and a liability. Some of the really positive things about the Italian peninsula are the fact that it is very fertile. Many things could be grown or produced there. Including cows, pigs, grapes, wheat and horses. Although wine was one of the most important crops in this region, the horses breaded there were some of the best of that era. They were strong, more muscular, and efficient at carrying people and covering long distances quickly. Another quality of the Italian peninsula was the Alps. Because of its difficulty in recovering, many civilizations did not want to take the time to cross it to invade Rome. Additionally, many of their cities were located on hilltops, making it very difficult for the UPS to reach them, and the fact that they had so few ports where ships could land made naval warfare virtually ineffective against the Romans. Romulus and Remus are twin brothers and central characters in the founding myth of Rome..