Final answer:
The major bodies of water near the Italian peninsula are the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Sicily. Early people of Italy primarily traveled by boat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major bodies of water that are near the Italian peninsula are the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Sicily. The islands that are near the Italian peninsula are Sicily and Sardinia.
The early people of Italy, including the Etruscans and the Romans, primarily traveled by boat due to the peninsula's favorable access to the Mediterranean Sea. They were skilled navigators and established trade routes with other cultures around the Mediterranean, such as the Greeks and the Phoenicians.