Greece was located on what we now know as the European continent in the Mediterranean Sea. Notice where Ancient Greece is in relation to Italy, the home of the Roman Empire. Both of these civilizations are on the water. Greece is on a peninsula and is almost completely surrounded by water. Ancient Greece was made up of the Greek peninsula and many other islands. The largest island was called Crete. Click here to see the important island of Crete. The Aegean Sea is on the east side and the Ionian Sea is on the west side of the peninsula.
The location of the Ancient Greek civilization had an impact on the way the Greek people lived. Many Greeks made their livelihoods from the sea by fishing and boat building.