Final answer:
Italy was strategic for Rome's expansion due to its geographic defenses, trade routes, access to seaports, and Rome's political strategy of integrating conquered peoples. These elements allowed Rome to grow its wealth, military might, and influence over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Italy's strategic importance for Rome's expansion was multifaceted. Rome's initial geographic position on easily defendable hills, at the intersection of trade routes with proximity to the Tiber River, provided the city with natural defenses and a thriving commercial sector. These factors contributed to Rome's early prosperity and capacity for expansion. Additionally, Italy's seaports, including Rome's port at Ostia, were vital for trade, as shipping by sea was more cost-effective than land transport. The Italian peninsula's robust network of Roman roads facilitated internal connections and sustained trade long after the fall of the Roman Empire, keeping cities like Florence and Pisa as central hubs.
The expansion of the Roman Republic, bolstered by the 338 BCE conquest of the Latin League, was strategic in growing Rome's military might by integrating defeated allies. Rome offered these cities citizenship (without voting rights) in return for military support, which secured further loyalty and troops. The incorporation and loyalty of each additional territory expanded Rome's control and enriched its trade networks, demonstrating the key political and military strategy behind its expansion. Lastly, Rome's importance was reasserted by its historical and political status as Italy's capital and the presence of Vatican City, further cementing its cultural significance within the peninsula.