Question

Which of the following geographic features most likely hindered the Byzantines from expanding north of Italy?

Answer 1

The Alps, and the consequent fact that most of the rivers directly north of Italy drain into the Atlantic or North Sea, away from the Eastern Mediterranean. Byzantium, like all Classical civilizations, was primarily a sea power, and all its commerce, government influence, and military flowed along coasts and rivers. From the capital and center on the Bosporus, it was easy to reach Greece and Anatolia (along the coast), and Dacia, along the Danube, and as far west as Italy and Spain, along the Mediterranean. But France and Germany required arduous and expensive overland journeys.

Answer 2

The Byzatines were East of Italy, so you can disregard France and Germany's struggles in the Alps for this question. Yes, the Alps were still a roadblock if the Byzantines decided to take the long route around, but the big problem invading Northern Italy was because of the nature of the Adriatic. The long expanse of water supported a war of attrition for any potential invaders. Up and down the Adriatic coasts, heavily fortified Venetian trading ports would slowly but surely chip away at any naval attack coming up the Adriatic. navies would have been weakened and trapped.

Answer 3

Mountainous terrain.