The physical features of the region of the Eastern Mediterranean had a very big influence of the location of the human populations and their cities, towns, villages. People are inhabiting and building cities, towns, villages, predominantly along the shore lines of the Mediterranean Sea. This is due to the harsh climate in the mainland, where there's deserts, or in the case of Turkey, there's a high semi arid plateau. Both are tough places for people to live and function, and build, so they have chosen the places along the shores of the sea where it is much more easier for living.