They were believed responsible for everything from good harvests to volcanic eruptions , and the Romans tried to satisfy them with prayers, rituals and more specifically the values of heroism, loyalty, and self - sacrifices on which Rome's military empire relied. The city of Rome itself has tremendous environment advantages which made it easier for Rome to become an important city. Rome is located at the first place that people can easily cross the Tiber river so it is the natural location of the main North-South road in Italy the reason you can cross the Tiber at Rome is that there is an Island in the river there (this is the same as at Paris )