- Ancient Greece was made up of mountainous peninsulas and islands, which caused small independent communities to develop with different ways of life and encouraged political participation and conflict. - The Minoan civilization on Crete was established by 2800 BC and traded by sea, but suffered a catastrophe around 1450 BC possibly due to volcanic eruption or invasion. - The Mycenaeans established fortified city-states with warrior aristocracies from 1100-1000 BC and developed trade networks, before their civilization collapsed around 1100 BC after invasions.