Welcome to ancient Rome! Here you will get an idea of where you would have been if you lived in ancient Rome and what you would have seen if you looked out of your window. Explore these questions to learn about the land of the Roman empire!

Where on Earth is Rome?

illustration courtesy of Jane Shuter

Rome is located in Italy, a peninsula that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. The picture above is of Italy. It is easy to spot on the map because it looks just like a boot.

What would I see if I looked out my window?

Depending on where you live in Rome, you might see different things from your window. Most Romans lived in the country where they were farmers. The countryside was green and hilly. Many Romans living in the country might have seen a river from their houses since Rome is located near a long river known as the Tiber River.
Other Romans lived in small towns or cities. Here, a view from the window would be much different than one from a window in the country since towns and cities had many buildings and roads. Every Roman town had a forum, a central area with shops and temples, which was always crowded with people. Towns also had a public bath, theater, and workshops. Romans' houses surrounded this large area. As you can see, cities and towns had less open space than the countryside.