Athens Geography The peninsula of Attica is the highest-populated region of Greece. The center of Athens is surrounded by hills and parks, such as Lycabettus hill, Philopappou hill, the Acropolis hill, and others. Also, it is washed by underground rivers, such as Iridanos, Kifissos, and Ilissus.

What was the most important part of Athens geography?

The Acropolis played an integral role in Athenian life. This hilltop not only housed the famous Parthenon, but it also included temples, theaters, and other public buildings that enhanced Athenian culture. Geography plays a critical role in shaping civilizations, and this is particularly true of ancient Greece.

What are 4 major geographical features of Ancient Greece?

Some major geographic features of Greece:

  • Mount Olympus – Home of the Gods (Zeus, Athena)
  • Mediterranean Sea.
  • Aegean Sea.
  • Balkan Peninsula- mainland Greece, juts out into the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Island of Crete (Minoans)
  • Peloponnesia – where the Spartans settled.





What are 3 geographical features of Ancient Greece?

The main physical geographic features of Ancient Greece are mountains, islands, and the sea. The mountains of Ancient Greece separated people geographically. Because of this, Greek city-states tended to be isolated from one another. This meant that societies grew and developed independently.

What was Greece like geographically?

Greece has the longest coastline in Europe and is the southernmost country in Europe. The mainland has rugged mountains, forests, and lakes, but the country is well known for the thousands of islands dotting the blue Aegean Sea to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Ionian Sea to the west.

How did geography affect Athens?



The geography of the region helped to shape the government and culture of the Ancient Greeks. Geographical formations including mountains, seas, and islands formed natural barriers between the Greek city-states and forced the Greeks to settle along the coast.

What are 5 facts about ancient Athens?

Here are 10 fun facts about Athens, Greece that you might not already know:



  • It’s Europe’s oldest capital city.
  • The ancient Olympic games were never actually held there.
  • It was the birthplace of democracy.
  • The marathon was named after a long run to Athens in 490 B.C.
  • It was the first European Capital of Culture.

How was Athens different from Sparta?

Athens was a centralized government whereas Sparta was a decentralized government. Athens was a “limited democracy” where all qualifying citizens could vote their governmental assembly. Adult men were the only citizens who were able to vote at this time.

How did geography impact Ancient Greece?

Greece’s steep mountains and surrounding seas forced Greeks to settle in isolated communities. Travel by land was hard, and sea voyages were hazardous. Most ancient Greeks farmed, but good land and water were scarce. They grew grapes and olives, and raised sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens.

What was unique about the geography of Ancient Greece?

Unlike many of these other civilizations, the Greek civilization did not develop in a river valley, but it was surrounded by water. Ancient Greece had the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Aegean Sea to the east. Greece is actually a series of islands or archipelagos and peninsulas.

What are the features of Athens geography?



The center of Athens is surrounded by hills and parks, such as Lycabettus hill, Philopappou hill, the Acropolis hill, and others. Also, it is washed by underground rivers, such as Iridanos, Kifissos, and Ilissus. Most of the time, these rivers are dry but in the winter they get filled with the rainwater.

What two geographic factors impacted Greece?

Mountains and the sea cut off Greek centers of population from one another; such geographic barriers led the Greeks to organize many independent “city-states”. Each city- state was called a “polis”.

What was the environment like in ancient Greece?

Summers were hot and dry, and winters were wet and windy. Ancient Greeks raised crops and animals well suited to the environment. Wheat and barley were grown, and olives and grapes were harvested. The many hills and mountains provided shrubs to feed the herds of sheep, goats, and cattle.

What was most important to Athens?

Athens Values



Their main goal was building a democracy. Athenians believed that the only way to build a strong democracy was to create well informed citizens.

What was the most important thing in Athens?



One of the things that Athens is most famous for, is being the place where democracy first began. The Athenians invented democracy in the 6th century BC.

Why was Athens location important?

The leading position of Athens may well have resulted from its central location in the Greek world, its secure stronghold on the Acropolis and its access to the sea, which gave it a natural advantage over inland rivals such as Thebes and Sparta.

What was very important in Athens?

Athens was one of the most important and powerful cities in Greece during the Classical period. It was also the first of the Greek city states fully to develop democracy. It was very important for Athenians to take an active part in the running of Athenian government.

What are 4 facts about Athens?

15 Incredible Facts About Athens

  • Athens is Europe’s oldest capital.
  • Athens has experienced almost every form of government.
  • If it weren’t for an olive tree, Poseidon might have been the city’s patron.
  • The ancient Olympic games were never held in Athens.
  • Athens is home to the first known democracy.

What was Athens lifestyle like?

Life in ancient Athens was different than in the rest of Greece. Men were the only people considered citizens, so they were frequently seen around the town conducting their business along with slaves. Men went to the market, met with friends to discuss politics, and went to temples to worship.