Which feature of Greece’s geography explains the ancient Greeks’ need for trade?
(1 point)
Responses
the mountainous landscape
the dry summer climate
the location along the seacoast
the location along the boundary between Asia and Europe
The correct answer is (1) the mountainous landscape. To understand why the mountainous landscape of Greece explains the ancient Greeks' need for trade, we need to consider the geographical characteristics of the region.
Greece is known for its rugged and mountainous terrain, with nearly 80% of its land consisting of mountains. These mountains, such as the Pindus Range and Mount Olympus, create natural barriers that isolate different regions from one another. As a result, it becomes challenging for communities within Greece to interact and access resources.
The mountainous landscape limited the available agricultural land in Greece, making it difficult for ancient Greeks to rely solely on local resources to sustain themselves. They needed to trade with other regions to obtain goods and resources that were not readily available in their own local areas.
Trade became essential for the ancient Greeks to access vital commodities like grain, metals, timber, and even basic agricultural produce. The Greeks would trade their surplus goods, such as olive oil and wine, for these necessary resources from other regions.
Moreover, the mountains affected the development of infrastructure, making transportation and communication between different parts of Greece more demanding. The lack of easy land routes forced the ancient Greeks to rely heavily on maritime trade, using their coastal location to connect with other civilizations and communities across the Mediterranean Sea.
In conclusion, due to the mountainous landscape of Greece, which limited agricultural land and created geographic isolation, ancient Greeks relied on trade to access essential resources and goods that were not locally available.