The alps have played an important role in italy. given the location of the alps how might they have been both a and a hindrance to the development of italy

The alps is the tallest and most vast mountain range in Europe spanning eight countries -  Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Monaco, France, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia. Given the location of the alps, it became a hindrance to the development of Italy by isolating it from the rest of Europe. On the other hand, the mountain helped Italy by protecting it from intruders by also serving as a barrier.  

Ongoing civil wars western roman empire finally collapsed476 c.e. romulus, the last of theroman  emperors in  the west, was overthrown by the germanic leader odoacer, who became the first barbarian to rule in rome. the order that the  roman empire  had brought towestern  europe for 1000 years was no more.