Cicero's Republic Of Rome: Source Analysis

Source 1 is a description of the Republic of Rome from Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 BC). Cicero was a writer and philosopher who is famous for his vast collection of private letters to various individuals, such as Titus Pomponius Atticus to whom he wrote to without fear about every day Rome and it's politics.

Cicero in this source proclaims Rome to be founded on an amazing location tactfully thought out by Romulus. “The site of the city – a matter which calls for the most careful consideration". Cicero explains how Romulus when deciding to found Rome did so with "unbelievable foresight". However the ancient story of Romulus and Remus states that the brothers decided to build a city on the site of their abandonment. If this is to be believed
Coastal cities are usually the norm when creating a trading nation however not entirely necessary. Plenty of countries old and new have used rivers to transport goods, such as the Danube trade route running in a diagonal line from north-west to south-east Europe. Cicero understood the importance of trade for the Roman Republic as he states, "The river would enable his city to receive from the sea what she needed and to export by it her own surplus".

However although Cicero describes the Tiber river as "a copious and smooth-flowing river with a broad estuary on the sea", he doesn't mention the disadvantages of the Tiber. The Tiber river is shallow making it impossible for big ships and boats to navigate through it hindering trading possibilities for the Roman Republic. Furthermore due to the amount of silt in the river, debris will accumulate on Tiber island blocking the flowing water. This flaw in the foundation of Rome is highlighted in source 2, "water which overflowed from the river". If the blockage is not dealt with Rome will