... was often marshy, the earli-est human inhabitants of northern Italy tended to settle in areas away from8 italy in prehistoryMap 1. Physical map of Italy.FRANCEYUGOSLAVIASardiniaCorsicaSicilyMarseillesMilan A PENNINES A LPSPoRiverPO ... inter-pretations of the same data, another narrative history of early Rome, whichadopts a more critical approach to the ancient sources, may prove to behelpful in stimulating and advancing modern ... three major areas of Etruria, Latium, and Campania, all possessing a rich volcanic soil, enjoying a moderate annual rainfall, and destined to play the most important rolesin the history of ancient...