Throughout the history of Greece, its geography has been both a blessing and a curse, a blessing because it allowed Greece to dominate the "known Western world" for a good portion of Europe's ancient history due to a combination of sea access and rugged topography. In the ancient era, these were perfect conditions for a maritime city-state culture oriented toward commerce and one that was difficult to dislodge by more powerful land-based opponents. This geography incubated the West's first advanced civilization (Athens) and produced its first empire (ancient Macedon). Greece in Europe However, Greek geography is also a curse because it is isolated on the very tip of the rugged and practically impassable Balkan Peninsula, forcing it to rely on the Mediterranean Sea for trade and communication. None of the Greek cities had much of a hinterland.