What affect did geography have on Ancient Greek social, political, and economic development?

The geography of Greece had a very important effect on the history and culture of the Hellenic people in the ancient world. Most of Greece is filled with steep mountains that make travel from one area to another very difficult. As a result, the people of Greece developed culturally and politically independent of one another. The Greeks developed into dozens of city-states that were autonomous. This led to cooperation and trade between the various city-states,...

The geography of Greece had a very important effect on the history and culture of the Hellenic people in the ancient world. Most of Greece is filled with steep mountains that make travel from one area to another very difficult. As a result, the people of Greece developed culturally and politically independent of one another. The Greeks developed into dozens of city-states that were autonomous. This led to cooperation and trade between the various city-states, but also led to rivalry and warfare at times.

The mountains also produced another challenge: finding available land for farming and food production. To solve this problem, the Greeks used another key feature of its geographical situation, the seas. The Greeks developed colonies throughout the Mediterranean Sea and in Ionia to fulfill its agricultural and population pressure issues. In doing so, the Greeks spread their culture and influence throughout Asia Minor and Europe. The Greeks became excellent navigators of the seas and created trade opportunities in far away lands. They also utilized the strength of their naval powers to keep enemies at bay and create wealth, especially with regards to the Persians.