How the location of the City of rome was key to its early growth?

Rome grew from pastoral settlements on the Palatine Hill and surrounding hills approximately 18 miles (29 km) from the Tyrrhenian Sea on the south side of the Tiber.

At this location the Tiber forms a Z-shape curve that contains an island where the river can be forded. Because of the river and the Ford, Rome was at a crossroads of traffic following the river valley and of traders travelling north and south on the west side of the peninsula.

- the tiber provided plentiful water .. the main building block of a large city
- the hills and river formed a defendable position on which to build a city
- the tiber river was essential for trade / shipping goods
- the tiber could be crossed at rome (the first crossing point from the sea), hence was a common trading market for the peninsular ... the taxes and trade made rome rich
-rome was on the etruria / campania trade route