The exploration of Marco Polo and the Crusades.
In politics, a party platform simply refers to a group of issues that a political party, such as Republicans and Democrats, stand behind. For instance a leading Republican platform would be low taxes, pro life, etc.
As a peninsula, the people of Greece took advantage of living by the sea. The mountains in Greece did not have fertile soil good for growing crops, like in Mesopotamia, but the mild climate allowed for some farming. The Greeks, like many other ancient civilizations, felt deeply connected to the land they lived on.