The Impact of Geography and Natural Terrain on History

I found Hugh’s comment about terrain influencing a range of social political relations very fascinating and it got me thinking about how geographical designs of areas both in nature and in man-made cities can have a large impact on social and political histories.  I grew up in Washington, D. C., learning that the city had been planned out strategically in 1791 to include countless “traffic circles” to create diversion and confusion in the route to the White House and Capitol in the event of that enemies ever invade the city.  The Industrial Revolution brought the development of modern day urban city centers, the main ones of which have always been traditionally located along a body of water, to allow for easy transportation of goods in and out of the city in a time when boats were the fastest route of transport.  The Alps, as an enormous mountain stretching across southern Europe have long played a role in political invasions and conflicts, particularly in historical crossings into Italy by leaders such as Napoleon in building the French Empire. 

This tradition of geographical design and natural terrain and resources having major affects on the course of history is something I have never given much thought to before, but now believe has potentially greatly shaped the world as we know it.

I am interested in looking more into studying the geology and topography of the Balkans and how it has possibly affected the history there.  In initial research, I have found discussion from U.S. Army Colonels in 1992 stating that the hilly, forested terrain of the Balkans played a large role in allowing independent guerrilla bands to hide and fire low-tech explosive weapons, to which the larger U.S. Army was nearly defenseless (source: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-09-27/news/9203280132_1_mortars-balkans-croatian).  These terrain conditions also affected the Blitzkrieg invasion of Greece in 1941 at the start of WWII (source: Blitzkreig in the Balkans & Greece 1941 by Bob Carruthers).  As we delve further into research of the Balkans and finalize our ASK questions, I would be very intrigued to study further and explore the impact that the natural terrain of the Balkans has played in shaping their political history.