Italy (Italia). See map, p.2: Remember that 'Italy' is, at this stage, no more than a geographical name; it does not denote a political or national unity.

• Central location in the Mediterranean, facing east and west.
• Separated from the rest of Europe by the Alps.
• Predominately hills and mountains; only about one-fifth is plain.
• Continental Italy - region of the Po Valley between the Alps in the north and the Apennines in the south where they run almost west to east across the peninsula.
• Peninsular Italy - the rest of the country south of the Po Valley
• Apennines - backbone of the peninsula descending in an arc from the northwest to the southwest (toe of the boot).
• closer to eastern (Adriatic) than western (Tyrrhenian) coast.
• Western coast more favored. Important regions: Etruria, Latium, Campania. See map, p.2.

• Late Bronze Age (1200 BC-1000 BC): Apennine (on either side of the mountain range).
• Early Iron Age (1000 BC-750 BC): Villanovan (Etruria and northern Latium).

Peoples of Pre-Roman Italy (see maps, p.8 and p.2):

• Latins (Latini): in the region called Latium; ethnic group to which   Romans belonged.
• Etruscans (Etrusci): in the region called Etruria, bounded by Arno and   Tiber rivers; north of Latium. The Etruscans were probably an indigenous people, and not immigrants from the east, whose Villanovan culture was transformed through contacts with Greeks and Phoenicians. Group of independent city states.
• Greeks: From the middle of the eighth century BC through the sixth   century BC the Greeks established colonies on the island of Sicily   and on the southwestern and southern coastline of Italy.  As a   result of Greek colonization the region became known as Magna   Graecia. The Greek colonists brought with them the alphabet, and   their skills in art, architecture and city planning.
• Umbro-Sabellians: Sabines (north-east of Rome); Samnites (central   and south Italy); Aequi, Paeligni, Volsci (central Italy).
• Celts: migrated over the Alps into the Po Valley during the 5th and 4th   centuries BC.

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