The sea was a highway rather than a barrier. Communities along the coast would be in intense contact. It was the mountains that rise beyond the coast that were

The sea was a highway rather than a barrier. Communities along the coast would be in intense contact. It was the mountains that rise beyond the coast that were the real obstacle. Even in the 21st century, it takes a lot of money and upkeep to make them passable for modern transport. The projected Beograd-Bar highway slightly south of Croatia is basically a white elephant project.