The two most powerful neighbors of the early Romans were...

Question

A. Greeks in the north, and Etruscans in the south
B. Etruscans in the north, and Sabines in the south

C. Phoenicians in the north, and the Latins in the south

D. Etruscans in the north, and Greek colonies in the south

Answer 1

I do not think any of these is entirely correct.  Let us examine them one by one.

 

(A) The Greeks were mainly east of Italy, not north of Rome, although there were some Greek colonies in south Italy and Sicily.  The Etruscans were north of Rome, not south.

 

(B) This one comes close, since the Etruscans were north of Rome, but the Sabines were northeast of Rome, not south of Rome.  Check this out in maps of ancient Italy before the rise of Rome as a major power in Italy.

 

(C) The Phoenicians were spread out along the coastal areas of the Mediterranean, especially north Africa, and the islands of the Mediterranean.  They were not north of Rome.  The Latins pretty much were the Romans.

 

(D) This one is close, since the Etruscans were north of Rome, and there were Greek colonies in Sicily to the South, but most of Greek civilization was east of Italy.

 

As I mentioned, I do not think any of these is entirely correct based on maps of the early Roman world.