Notes: Ancient History
Cities of Vesuvius
Geographical Context:
Physical environment
Located in the region of Campania, 200km South of Rome.
Fertile soil, rich in phosphorus and potash, due to volcanic activity from Mt Vesuvius over the millennia.
Vesuvius is part of a chain of volcanoes-Mt Etna and Mt Stromboli
Earthquakes and tremors are common to the area-mentioned by Vitruvius and Strabo).
The Phlegraean Fields(fire fields) where geothermal activity produced steam and boiling mud. Romans built hot spa health resorts in the area at Baia.
The climate was temperate with coastal breezes and a short Winter
Its mild weather and beautiful environment attracted wealthy Romans to build holiday homes.
Pompeii and Herculaneum in ancient times were both on the coast of the bay known today as the Bay of Naples.
Pompeii was situated next to the River Sarnus.
Bay of Naples provided safe anchorage for the boats and stationed the Roman naval fleet at Misenum
Sources: Maps, charts, archaeological evidence-the sites themselves and various paintings that depict it.
Natural features/resources
Advantages of the area: climate was temperate and warm, fertile soil, proximity of the sea which gave Campania unrivalled reputation for produce in Italy.
Agriculture and fishing were its major industries
Pompeian speciality: garum- a fermented fish sauce from the guts of a live fish.
Salt extracted from the sea and used to preserve food.
In ancient times Campanion crops had a higher yield than the rest of Italy, producing up to three crops per year.
Produce of P and H
Vineyard-grapes and wine
Grain-wheat and barley
Veggies-cabbage, onions
Evidence: Many Pompeian wall paintings and mosaics depict the abundant produce of the area; Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, Florus and Pliny the Elder refer to Companion region as fruitful, abundant and fair.
The Eruption:
Pliny Phase Pompeii
Huge eruption and column of pumice and ash
Followed by discharge of magma, white frothy pumice, moving at
Geographical Context:
Physical environment
Located in the region of Campania, 200km South of Rome.
Fertile soil, rich in phosphorus and potash, due to volcanic activity from Mt Vesuvius over the millennia.
Vesuvius is part of a chain of volcanoes-Mt Etna and Mt Stromboli
Earthquakes and tremors are common to the area-mentioned by Vitruvius and Strabo).
The Phlegraean Fields(fire fields) where geothermal activity produced steam and boiling mud. Romans built hot spa health resorts in the area at Baia.
The climate was temperate with coastal breezes and a short Winter
Its mild weather and beautiful environment attracted wealthy Romans to build holiday homes.
Pompeii and Herculaneum in ancient times were both on the coast of the bay known today as the Bay of Naples.
Pompeii was situated next to the River Sarnus.
Bay of Naples provided safe anchorage for the boats and stationed the Roman naval fleet at Misenum
Sources: Maps, charts, archaeological evidence-the sites themselves and various paintings that depict it.
Natural features/resources
Advantages of the area: climate was temperate and warm, fertile soil, proximity of the sea which gave Campania unrivalled reputation for produce in Italy.
Agriculture and fishing were its major industries
Pompeian speciality: garum- a fermented fish sauce from the guts of a live fish.
Salt extracted from the sea and used to preserve food.
In ancient times Campanion crops had a higher yield than the rest of Italy, producing up to three crops per year.
Produce of P and H
Vineyard-grapes and wine
Grain-wheat and barley
Veggies-cabbage, onions
Evidence: Many Pompeian wall paintings and mosaics depict the abundant produce of the area; Strabo, Diodorus Siculus, Florus and Pliny the Elder refer to Companion region as fruitful, abundant and fair.
The Eruption:
Pliny Phase Pompeii
Huge eruption and column of pumice and ash
Followed by discharge of magma, white frothy pumice, moving at