for me, geography greatly affects history in a sense that geography is not only focusing on the physical features of a land but also in human activities which according to my research belongs to human geography.
i believe it has something to do with isolation. they had huge mountain ranges cutting them off from Europe - the greatest powers at the time - and this separation from the rest of the world led them...
The mountains helped develop the city-states by separating them. The bays provided harbors for ships, and the coast was fertile, so the could farm. They used the seas for trade and transportation....
Geography influences culture
Geography influences diet and thus culture. It determines resource bases and thus tools and technology. Geography influences weather patterns and thus daily life.