Greece is situated in southeastern Europe. It is defined by a series of mountains and surrounded by water on all sides except the north. It is surrounded by the Aegean Sea, Lonian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, and its land borders are Albania, Fyrom, and Bulgaria to the north, Turkey to the east. The Mediterranean Sea moderates Greece's climate. It cools the air in summer and provides warmness in the winter months. Summers are generally hot and dry and winter is moderate and rainy in coastal regions and cold and snowy in mountainous areas. The Greek civilization began in the Balkan Peninsula. However, a few Greeks lived in the islands and Asia Minor (Turkey). They began to live respectively in city-states or polis, which had their own government, laws, and armed forces. Athens and Sparta were significant city-states. Greek civilization began around 2000 B.C. By 1600 B.C, the Greek people had constructed fortified cities in the significant valleys and numerous individuals were edu...