The hills of Rome supported Wheat cultivation as well as the cultivation of Olive trees, fruit trees, and vineyards.
In order to combat the Malaria problems of the nearby swamps, the Romans were forced to drain and pave the wetlands near Rome.
Without the rugged mountain ranges of Greece to hold the back, Rome's flatlands were far more extensive and agriculturally productive, allowing it to support a large population.
Located eighteen miles inland on the Tiber River, Rome had access to the sea yet was far enough inland to be safe from pirates. Built on seven hills, it was easily defended. Because the Tiber could be readily forded, Rome, located near the mouth of the Tiber, became a natural crossing point for north-south traffic in western Italy.