Final answer:
Greece structured its civilization into city-states due to mountains, coastline, and islands. These geographical features created barriers and encouraged independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Greece structured its civilization into city-states, or polis, instead of large empires due to several geographical features:
- Mountains: The mountainous terrain of Greece made it difficult to unify the entire region under one central government. The mountain ranges served as natural barriers, isolating different regions and leading to the development of independent city-states.
- Coastline: Greece had a long coastline with numerous harbors and natural ports. These coastal areas facilitated trade and maritime activities, encouraging city-states to focus on their own economic development and independence.
- Islands: Greece is made up of many islands in the Aegean Sea. These islands further reinforced the decentralized nature of Greek civilization, as each island often developed its own city-state.
These geographical features played a crucial role in shaping Greece's political structure, with city-states, rather than large empires, emerging as the dominant form of governance.
Learn more about Greek city-states