During the development of ancient civilizations, such as Sparta and Athens, geography was an important factor which influenced how the civilizations were developed, what the civilization’s resources were, and the affects geography has on the differences between each area. Geography is extremely important to all areas in different ways. For example, geography can affect an area drastically, whether a country has sea, mountains, or rich farming land, each area is different. For example, Athens and Sparta were two areas that were drastically different. The two differed greatly due to isolation because of the tall mountains that were difficult to communicate over. Because it was difficult to communicate and travel due to the mountains, each civilization …show more content…
For example living in Sparta becoming a farmer is much more likely then living in Athens and becoming a farmer due to the differences in there soil. All areas around the world had specific characteristics that influenced their civilizations, for example the Peninsula of Greece. Greece had two distinguishing characteristics that influenced how the area began: easy access to water and a very mountainous region. Being very close to the water, Greece was able to trade with their neighbors. Also because Greece was so close to water, the land contained many islands, harbors, and rivers. Since the people of Greece had easy access to water, it was more likely for them to become traders and explorers then in other places that were not located near a sea. Also because eighty percent of Greece was mountainous, it was strongly affected by the mountains. For example, the development of the Polis, also known as a city-state, was due to the mountains. Also, the very tall mountains made it strenuous to travel and hard to communicate. Because of this, each city-state was not only the basis for how people organized themselves but also created very different civilizations due to the isolation, like Athens and Sparta. The geography of an area affects how it is developed and also
In Greece, the geography affected early settlements in positive ways. An example is Mount Olympus, since it was so high up and covered by clouds, Greeks believed Gods lived there. Document 2 states, ”According to the ancient Greeks, their gods controlled every part of daily life--the weather, crops, money, love, and business, phases of the moon, earthquakes, and even whether a loaf of bread burned in the oven.” This proves that ancient Greeks not being able to see the top of the mountain, made them believe the gods were up there, and it gave them an explanation to everything. Another one is, how hot and dry climates were great for growing olive trees. In document 4 it states, ”Olive oil was as good as money to the ancient Greeks, since they could trade it for other land not available
Geography has always been a unique and picturesque part of Greece. Greece has amazing mountains and landscapes. Having the geography Greece has, has both positive and negative effects on Greece but the results are ultimately negative. Like the lack of communication and the isolation between communities. Also the natural disaster were negative too.
The geography of the region shaped the lives of the people in the Ancient World by allowing permanent settlements to flourish, by allowing technology to adapt, and by isolating them from other cultures. The geography of a civilization can range from mountains, deserts, oceans, and forests. This can allow for many advancements and setbacks.
Geography affected where ancient civilizations settled in several ways. The three ways that geography affected where ancient civilizations are water sources, fertile soil, and natural barriers. If a community did not have these essential resources, they would perish. Human civilizations started because of these three key items. Fertile soil was necessary if a community did not want to starve.
There is a saying that “Geography is destiny”. For early civilizations, geography was an obstacle when it came to survival. As people settled in permanent locations, they relied on the local geographical features to sustain themselves. As people relied on geography, it helped shape the development of early civilizations, such as to provide many natural barriers, trade routes, and fertile land. China, for example, was able to develop and prosper due to its natural barriers.
Why did the geography of this region lead to the creation of the polis structure? (2-3 sentences) The mountains in Greece allowed each of these poleis to form and were secluded from one another as well as had their own culture, government, and military. A military advantage of being in an independent polis is that the people were in a region with many mountains that served as a natural defense. 6.
During the late Archaic Greek and Classical periods, two particular city-states were in existence with significant similarities as well as differences. These two city-states, Sparta and Athens have unique formations of government, histories, goals, as well as societies.
To start off, the geography of Greece affected early settlements in many positive ways. One great example of the lands geography that made a positive impact on Greece was Mount Olympus, more importantly it’s height. Mount Olympus was and still is a very tall mountain. Since the mountain reached so far up into the sky, the top of it was
One way was the sea. Athens was located on the Attica peninsula so they were surrounded by water on three sides and Athens built its naval supremacy of Triremes. The Triremes gave Athens control of the Mediterranean Sea so they controlled trade and gained the name the “Big Olive.” A lot of the battles of the Persian war were fought with navies and the Trireme allowed for them to win the narrow straits of Salamis. The sea also greatly impacted economy. The Ionian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Aegean Sea connected all of the land and islands of Ancient Greece so they could trade with one another. The Sea also allowed for travel and they could trade with other countries like Egypt. They could make a profit for their natural resources and benefit from obtaining resources that were not natural to Greece at the time. The biggest impact geography had on Greece was the land. The land was dry with only 20% arable land and it was extremely mountainous. The mountains ran from the northwest part of Greece to the southeast part along the Balkan Peninsula. Due to the dryness, the Greek city states were constantly looking to expand their land and the mountains caused each city state to be spread apart. This made them have decentralized governments. Also due to the mountainous geography, there were over 1000 Greek city states including Athens and Sparta. Land also was on Sparta’s side during the Peloponnesian
The geography of Greece prompted the distinguishment of the independent city-states. This altered the political development of Greece because the different states had separate forms of government. For example, the state of Athens had a direct form of democracy as a government. Whereas, Sparta was an isolated military state. The mountains also posed as natural barriers for these states, unlike the mountains of Italy which were low and rugged and caused the people to unite. The mountains also obstructed the states of Greece to be culturally diffused. Although they practiced similar religious beliefs, Greeks were prevented from trading with each other. The mountains helped some states as a barrier from invasions. The terrain also assisted the independent Pious to practice their own culture. Sparta is one of these independent culture states. The state prevented trading and other “outside” communication in order to rid of cultural diffusion. The mountains helped them to begin their own particular society and to be unaffected by other external
The geography of Greece forced the Greeks to look to the seas as highways for trade to meet their
The early civilizations depended deeply on the geography of the land they settled on. The fate if their societies depended on how these civilizations could manipulate and harness the lands to their benefit. The early civilizations of Greece and China depended on their lands for sustenance and protection, in doing so it helped those early societies develop into culture-rich societies. Leadership, culture , and mastery of geography helped Greece and China flourish as strong civilizations that still have an impact on present day societies. Despite being the farthest civilization during the period, China thrived in isolation (Acrobatiq 2014).
Geography had a tremendous impact on early civilizations, the topography of the different regions played a key role in their development and formation. This statement by Fernand Braudel “ Geography is the stage in which humanity’s endless dramas are played out” (Getz et al., Exchanges, 26) is a very moving and telling description. The terrain, whether it is natural or man made is not the end all, be all. It does however affect the stage a great deal. Mountainous areas act as blockades, which keep the societies independent, plains open up the area, and rivers enable everything to move around freely. 2
The Greek Civilization began in a coastal, mountainous region. The regions soil is stony, so much of the land was only good for the pasturing of livestock; however, there were places that were suitable for planting crops, such as olives. The mountains and the sea were a great form of natural protection, creating a barrier between them and potential invaders. The sea gave the Greeks a fast
I think what city-state had the geographical advantage was Sparta, because they had mountains, their own water supply and a fertile valley. First, Mt.Taygetus and Mt.Pamon protected all the people from all enemy attacks. The mountains helped people survive and live with no worry that there would be enemies attacking. Secondly,They had their own water supply. The Eurotas River provided needed water, and helped to grow all the food they wanted and needed. Finally, the fertile Eurotas valley provided them with rich soil to help them plant their food and everything they needed so they wouldn’t have to count on anybody else to do so. And this is why Sparta had the geographic advantage.