Which feature of Greece's geography explains the ancient Greeks' need for trade?

1 answer

The feature of Greece's geography that explains the ancient Greeks' need for trade is their lack of natural resources. Greece is a mountainous and rocky land, with limited arable land for agriculture and few natural resources such as metals and timber. Due to this scarcity, the ancient Greeks had to rely on trade to acquire essential commodities like metals, wood, grain, and luxury goods. They needed to import these resources from other regions, such as Egypt, Persia, and Asia Minor, in exchange for their own products like olive oil, wine, marble, and pottery. This need for trade fostered a maritime culture among the ancient Greeks and led to the establishment of extensive trading networks throughout the Mediterranean and beyond.