Please select one word for each blank from the list of words given below. The Mediterranean Sea was an important route for merchants and 1____ during ancient times as it allowed for trade and cultural 2_____ between emergent peoples of the region. Several ancient civilizations were located around its shores; thus it has had a major 3_____ on those cultures. It provided routes for trade, colonization and war, and provided 4_____ (by fishing and the gathering) for numerous communities throughout the ages. This inland sea is bordered on the north by Europe, the east by 5_____, and in the south by Africa. This 969,100 sq. mile body of water is approximately 2,300 miles in length, and has a maximum depth of 16,896 ft. The typical Mediterranean climate is hot, with dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Major 6____ of the region include olives, grapes, oranges, tangerines, and cork.