How Rome began: Italy's geography, the Etruscans and early Roman society
Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Italy's land
Feature Where What it did Alps across the top of Italy made a mountain barrier in the north Apennine Mountains run south from the western end of the Alps down the whole peninsula crossed the interior and split Italy into regions Po River Italy's longest river, about 650 km, from the Alps in the southwest to the Adriatic Sea ran through a valley in the north The peninsula boot-shaped, jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by sea, so its place shaped its history Below the chart: west of the Apennines are wooded hills where many old Italian cities stand, including Rome.
Which mountains run down the whole length of the peninsula, by the chart, Tala asks?
- The Pyrenees, far to the west
- The Alps, across the top
- The Apennine Mountains
- The Atlas Mountains, in Africa
The Apennines cross the interior of Italy. What was one effect, Bo asks?
- Italy was split into regions
- The Po River dried up
- Italy became one smooth flat plain
- The Alps moved south
Etruscans and early Rome
When What happened 8th to 1st century BCE Etruscan towns flourish in central Italy, from northern Latium to Tuscany about 616 BCE Tarquinius Priscus begins a line of three Etruscan kings in Rome during their rule a marshy area is drained and becomes the Forum, the heart of the city; stone buildings replace wooden huts 510 or 509 BCE Etruscan rule in Rome ends and the Roman Republic begins (sources differ by a year) by 272 BCE the Romans control the whole Italian peninsula Below the chart: dates this early are approximate. Public meetings took place in the Forum.
Under the Etruscan kings a marshy area was drained. What was one effect, Esme asks?
- It became the Forum
- It became a new river
- Etruscan rule ended at once
- It became farmland for Etruria
Etruscan rule in Rome ended in 510 or 509 BCE. What began then, Jun asks?
- The Roman Republic
- The Etruscan towns
- The Roman Empire
- The Roman legend
Which came first, the first Etruscan king or the end of Etruscan rule, Kira asks?
- The first king, about 616 BCE
- Both in the same year
- The end of rule: 510 is smaller
- Neither: both are CE
About how many years passed from 616 BCE to 272 BCE, Luz asks?
- About 344 years
- About 888 years
- About 354 years
- About 34 years
Which step in the chart came last, Milo asks?
- The end of Etruscan rule in Rome
- The first Etruscan king
- Control of the whole peninsula
- The draining of the marsh
Which claim does the chart support best, Noah asks?
- Etruscan kings ruled Rome before the Republic
- Romans ruled Italy before the Etruscan kings
- Romulus founded the Republic
- Etruscan kings ruled Rome after the Republic began
Below the chart: west of the Apennines are wooded hills where many old Italian cities stand, including Rome. Pia's friend says the Alps run down the whole length of the peninsula. What is the best reply?
- Agree: the Alps run south along the coast
- Disagree: no mountains cross Italy
- Disagree: the Apennines do, not the Alps
- Agree: the Alps and Apennines are one range
Below the chart: dates this early are approximate. Public meetings took place in the Forum. Ren's friend says Etruscan rule in Rome ended about 616 BCE. What is the best reply?
- Disagree: it ended in 272 BCE
- Agree: 616 BCE ended it
- Disagree: that is when it began
- Disagree: it ended in 100 BCE

