Greek colonies Colonies in antiquity

map of phoenician (red) , greek colonies (blue) @ 550 bc



ruins of peristyle home greek period of empúries, catalonia, spain

in ancient greece, colonies founded vanquished people, left homes escape subjection @ hand of foreign enemy; sequel civil disorders, when losers in internecine battles left form new city elsewhere; rid of surplus population, , thereby avoid internal convulsions; , result of ostracism. in cases motivation establish , facilitate relations of trade foreign countries , further wealth of mother-city (in greek metropolis). colonies established in ionia , thrace 8th century bc.

more thirty greek city-states had multiple colonies around mediterranean world, active being miletus, of ionian league, ninety colonies stretching throughout mediterranean sea, shores of black sea , anatolia (modern turkey) in east, southern coast of iberian peninsula in west, several colonies on libyan coast of northern africa, late 9th 5th centuries bc.

there 2 similar types of colony, 1 known ἀποικία - apoikia (pl.: ἀποικίαι, apoikiai) , other ἐμπόριov - emporion (pl.: ἐμπόρια, emporia). first type of colony city-state on own; second greek trading-colony.

the greek city-states began establishing colonies around 900 - 800 bc, @ first @ al mina on coast of syria , greek emporium pithekoussai @ ischia in bay of naples, both established 800 bc euboeans.

ancient greek colonies of black sea, 8th-3rd century bc

two waves of new colonists set out greece @ transition between dark ages , start of archaic period, 1 in 8th century bc , second burst of colonizing spirit in 6th century. population growth , cramped spaces @ home seem insufficient explanation, while economical , political dynamics produced competitive spirit between kingless, newly introduced concept of greek city-states, striving expand sphere of economical influence better fits true incentive. through greek expansion use of coins flourished throughout mediterranean basin.

influential greek colonies in western mediterranean – many of them in today s italy — included cyme, rhegium (rhegion) chalcis , zankle (c. 8th century), syracuse corinth/tenea (c. 734 bc), naxos chalcis (c. 734 bc), massalia (the later marseille, france, c. 598 bc) , agathe (shortly after massalia) phokaia, elea (italy) , emporion (nowadays spain) phokaia/massalia (c. 540 bc , 6th century), antipolis (nowadays france) achaea, alalia (corsica) phokaia/massalia (c. 545 bc) , cyrene (cyrenaica, nowadays libya) thera (762/61 , 632/31 bc).

the greeks colonised modern-day crimea on black sea. among settlements established there city of chersonesos, @ site of modern-day sevastopol. area significant greek colonies coast of ancient illyria on adriatic sea (e.g. ancient aspalathos , modern day split, croatia).

the iberian peninsula in 300 bc. phoenician cities in blue, greek cities in red.

the extensive greek colonization remarked upon cicero when noting though greek fringe has been woven shores of barbarians. several formulae adhered on solemn , sacred occasions when new colony set forth. if greek city sending out colony, oracle, 1 such oracle of delphi, invariably consulted beforehand. classes of citizens called upon take part in enterprises; 1 son chosen lot every house there several sons; , strangers expressing desire join admitted. person of distinction selected guide emigrants , make necessary arrangements. usual honor these founders of colonies, after death, heroes. of sacred fire taken public hearth in prytaneum, fire on public hearth of new city kindled. and, each individual had private shrines, new community maintained worship of chief domestic deities, colony sending embassies , votive gifts mother-city s principal festivals centuries afterwards.

after conquests of macedonian kingdom , alexander great, further number of hellenistic colonies founded in asia, europe , africa.

relations of colony , metropolis

the relation between colony , mother-city, known literally metropolis, viewed 1 of mutual affection. differences arose resolved peaceful means whenever possible, war being deemed excusable in cases of extreme necessity. worth noting peloponnesian war in part result of dispute between corinth , colony of corcyra (corfu). charter of foundation contained general provisions arrangement of affairs of colony, , special enactments. constitution of mother-city adopted colony, new city remained politically independent. holy fire of metropolis preserved in special place remind common ties. if colony sent out fresh colony on own account, mother-city consulted, or @ least requested furnish leader. colonies declaring commitment various metropolitic alliances formed in greek mainland , religious reasons pay tribute in religious centres, delphi, olympia or delos.

the cleruchs (κληροῦχοι, klêrouchoi) formed special class of greek colonists, each being assigned individual plot of land (κλῆρος, klêros) in place had been assigned. trade factories set in foreign countries, such egypt, different ordinary colonies, members retaining right of domicile in own fatherland , confining own quarter in foreign city.