Ancient Greece's Two Main Occupations: Agriculture and Trade

1. Agriculture

Greece's mountainous terrain limited arable land, yet farming was the backbone of the economy. Key crops:

• Grains: Wheat, barley (staples for bread/porridge).
• Olives: Pressed for oil—crucial for cooking, lighting, cosmetics, and export.
• Grapes: Eaten fresh, dried as raisins, fermented into wine.

Farmers terraced steep hillsides with stone walls to create arable plots—a practice still visible today.

2. Trade

Greece's indented coastline and numerous islands created natural harbors, making maritime trade a natural advantage. Greek merchants exchanged:

• Exports: Olive oil, wine, pottery, textiles, metalwork.
• Imports: Grain (from Black Sea/Egypt), timber, metals, luxury goods.
• Partners: Other Greek city-states, Egypt, Phoenicia, Persia, Italy.

Why These Two Dominated

1. Mediterranean Climate: Hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters ideal for olives/grapes.
2. Geography: Poor soil pushed surplus population to coasts; sea access enabled trade networks.
3. Resource Scarcity: Lack of grain forced import dependence, stimulating export-oriented production.

Together, agriculture and trade sustained the polis system and funded cultural achievements.