A map titled Italian Peninsula. A key shows Mountains in teal, Plains in green, Hills in yellow. The Italian Alps are along the northern border of Italy. The Apennine Mountains run down the center of Italy. The Tiber River is on the west side of the Apennine Mountains, going through Rome. Sardinia is west of Italy. Sicily is southwest of the bottom tip of Italy. The Mediterranean Sea is south of Sardinia and west of Sicily. The Adriatic Sea is east of Italy. Which statement best explains how the location of the Italian Peninsula helped the growth of Rome? Romans were able to cross the Adriatic to trade with neighbors. The Mediterranean Sea provided trade routes and opportunities to travel. The plains provided excellent farmland for growing crops. The Italian Alps made it difficult to trade with Sardinia and Sicily.