Ancient Greek civilization began between the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea in a mountainous region called Hellas. This terrain influenced the development of independent city-states rather than large kingdoms. Two early civilizations, the Minoans and Mycenaeans, preceded ancient Greek civilization. The Archaic period saw the rise of poleis and the spread of Greek culture through colonization. The Classical period was defined by the growth of Athenian democracy and Spartan oligarchy and wars with Persia. The Hellenistic period began with the conquests of Philip and Alexander the Great, spreading Greek culture further and dividing Greece into successor kingdoms.