Greek colonisation

Greek colonisation was how people from ancient Greece spread out during the 8th–6th centuries BC. They traveled across the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This was different from earlier times because it was more planned. Leaders called oikistes led groups from their home cities, called metropolis.

Many new places, called colonies or apoikiai, grew into strong Greek city-states. These new cities often made their own rules and decisions far from where they started.

Motives

Greek colonisation happened for many reasons. One big reason was that many Greek cities were growing too fast. There were too many people and not enough space or food for everyone.

Another reason was to find better land. Some places had more fertile soil and water, making it easier to grow food. For example, the city of Cyrene in Libya was founded because the island of Thera had too many people and not enough rain.

Greek people also wanted to share their culture. When they set up new cities, they often tried to make them like their old homes. This helped spread Greek ideas and ways of life.

Some new cities were started to make trade easier. These places, called Emporion, were set up in spots where ships could stop and trade goods. This helped everyone get what they needed.

Later, some cities were set up to help protect important trade routes or to gain more power.

Finally, some people moved away to escape problems at home, like fights or unfair rules. By starting a new city far away, they could find a fresh start and live more peacefully.

Characteristics

The Argonautica, the myth thought to pertain to the bold nautical expeditions of this period

The founding of Greek colonies was usually a planned effort led by a mother city, often with help from other cities. Leaders called oikistes were chosen to guide these new settlements. The colonists would divide the land into farms and set up governments similar to their home cities.

These colonies were often built near coastlines between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. Coastal locations helped with trade and communication, allowing Greek culture and influence to spread across the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas. While some colonies were set up inland, most preferred the coast because of the Greeks' strong ties to the sea.

History

Further information: Colonies in antiquity

The Greeks started settling new areas around the beginning of the 8th century BC. Groups from Euboeans created places like Pithecusae in Southern Italy and Olynthus in Chalcidice, Greece. Later, they made more towns such as Cumae, Zancle, Rhegium, and Naxos.

By the end of the 8th century, Euboea became weaker because of wars, but other Greek groups kept growing. People from Thrace and the Black Sea area began their own settlements around the 7th century BC. Places like Cyrene and Andros were founded, and Samos helped start several towns along the northern Aegean coast.

Greek settlements were different from colonies made much later. They weren’t ruled by one leader. Instead, many small Greek cities sent out groups to start new places. These new towns often grew from simple trading spots into independent cities quickly. Unlike later empires, the Greeks mostly settled along coastlines and didn’t try to control land far inland.

Locations

Macedonia and Thrace

Many colonies were founded in Northern Greece, mainly in the region of Chalcidice but also in Thrace.

Chalcidice was settled by people from Euboea. Important settlements in Chalcidice included Olynthos, Torone, Mende, Sermyle, Aphytis, and Cleonae. Other key colonies were Acanthus and Potidaea. Thasians founded Datus. Later, the Athenians founded Ennea Hodoi near Amphipolis.

Many other colonies were founded in Thrace by people from the coast of Asia Minor. Important ones included Maroneia and Abdera. The Milesians founded Abydos and Cardia, and the Samians colonised Samothrace. The Parians colonised Thasos.

In 340 BC, Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandropolis Maedica.

Magna Graecia: mainland Italy and Sicily

Greek colonies and their metropolitan cities depicted with red labels, while Phoenician colonies are depicted with yellow labels (4th century BC)

Main article: Magna Graecia

Colonies of Corinth in Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea

The Ionian Sea and Illyria were colonised by Corinth. Important colonies included Leucada, Astacus, Anactoreum, Actium, Ambracia, and Corcyra.

Corinth also founded colonies in Illyria, such as Apollonia and Epidamnus.

Colonies of Syracuse in Adriatic Sea

In the early 4th century BC, the ruler of Syracuse founded new colonies in the Adriatic Sea, including Ankón (now Ancona), Adrìa (now Adria), Issa (now Vis), and Lissos (now Lezhë).

Syracuse also worked with Paros to found Pharos on the island of Hvar in Croatia. The colony of Issa later started other settlements.

Black Sea and Propontis

The Greeks created many colonies around the Black Sea. Most of these colonies were founded in the 7th century BC by Megarans and some Ionian cities like Miletus, Phocaea, and Teos.

In the area of Propontis, the Megarans founded cities like Astacus in Bithynia, Chalcedonia, and Byzantium. Miletus founded Cyzicus, and the Phocaeans founded Lampsacus.

On the western shore of the Black Sea, the Megarans founded Selymbria and Nesebar. Milesians founded Histria, Argame, and Apollonia.

The most important colony on the southern shore of the Black Sea was Sinope, founded by Miletus. Other colonies included Trebizond, Cerasus, Cytorus, Cotyora, Cromne, Pteria, and Tium.

Further north, the Greeks colonised Barythmenis, which became Borysthenes.

The Temple of Concordia, Valle dei Templi, in present-day Italy

Wider Mediterranean

Greek colonies spread as far as the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.

Africa

In North Africa, colonists from Thera founded Kyrene. Other colonies in the region included Barca, Euesperides (now Benghazi), Taucheira, and Apollonia.

By the middle of the 7th century BC, the Greeks had founded Naukratis in Egypt.

Asia

At the mouth of the Orontes River, the Euboeans established a trading colony around 825 BC. Nearby, Cape Basit had Greek presence, and there was a settlement at Tell Sukas.

Rest of the Mediterranean

Colonies
City		Year (BCE) of foundation - by author
	Greek	Thucydides	Eusebius	Jerome	Others
Cumae	Κύμη	-	-	1050(?)	-
Metapontum	Μεταπόντιον	-	773(?)	-	-
Zancle	Ζάγκλη	-	757/756	-	756
Naxos	Νάξος	734	735	741	-
Syracuse	Συράκουσαι	733	733	738/737	733
Lentini	Λεοντῖνοι	728	-	-	-
Catania	Κατάνη	728	733	737/736	-
Megara	Μέγαρα	727	-	-	-
Reggio	Ερυθρά / Ρήγιον	-	-	-	c. 730
Milazzo	Μύλαι	-	715(?)	716(?)	-
Sybaris	Σύβαρις	-	708-707	709-708	721/720
Crotone	Κρότων	-	709	-	709/708
Taranto	Τάρας	-	-	706	-
Locri	Λοκροί Ἐπιζεφύριοι	-	673	679	c. 700
Poseidonia	Ποσειδωνία	-	-	-	700(?)
Gela	Γέλα	688	688	691/690	-
Caulonia	Καυλωνία	-	-	-	c. 675
Acre		663	-	-	-
Casmene	Κασμέναι	643	-	-	-
Selinunte	Σελινούς	627	757(?)	650/649	650
Himera	Ιμέρα	-	-	-	648
Lipari	Μελιγουνίς	-	627(?)	629(?)	580/576
Camarina	Καμάρινα	598	598/597	601/600	598/596
Agrigento	Ακράγας	580	-	-	580/576

Index of Greek colonies before Alexander the Great (pre-336 BC)

Modern Albania

AL1. Nymphaeum AL2. Epidamnos AL3. Apollonia AL4. Aulon AL5. Chimara AL6. Bouthroton AL7. Oricum AL8. Thronion

Modern Cyprus

CY1. Chytri CY2. Kyrenia CY3.Golgi

Modern Egypt

E1. Naucratis

Modern France

F1. Agde F2. Massalia F3. Tauroentium/Tauroeis F4. Olbia F5. Nicaea F6. Monoikos F7. Antipolis F8. Alalia F9. Rhodanousia F10. Athenopolis F11. Pergantium

Modern Georgia

G1. Bathys G2. Triglite G3. Pityus G4. Dioscurias G5. Phasis G6. Gyenos

Modern Greece

GR1. Potidaea GR2. Stageira GR3. Acanthus GR4. Mende GR5. Ambracia GR6. Corcyra GR7. Maroneia GR8. Krinides GR9. Olynthus GR10. Abdera GR11. Therma GR12. Arethusa GR13. Leucas GR14. Eion GR15. Sane GR16. Amphipolis GR17. Argilus GR18. Sane GR19. Akanthos GR20. Astacus GR21. Galepsus GR22. Oesyme GR23. Phagres GR24. Datus GR25. Stryme GR26. Pistyrus GR27. Rhaecelus GR28. Dicaea GR29. Methoni GR30. Heraclea in Trachis GR31. Heraclea in Acarnania GR32. Anactorium GR33. Sale GR34. Drys GR35. Toroni GR36. Amorgos GR37. Actium GR38. Scabala GR39. Philippi GR40. Colonides GR41. Oliarus GR42. Potidaea GR43. Thera GR44. Myrcinus GR45. Tarphe GR46. Sollium GR47. Proschium GR48. Ambracia

Modern Italy

I1. Olbia I2. Adria I3. Ancona I4. Megaris I5. Cumae I6. Procida I7. Dicaearchia I8. Neapolis I9. Poseidonia I10. Metapontum I11. Sybaris I12. Thurii I13. Taras I14. Siris I15. Crotona I16. Gallipoli, Apulia I17. Hyele/Elea I18. Messina I19. Kale Akte I20. Syracuse I21. Didyme I22. Hycesia I23. Phoenicusa I24. Therassía I25. Lipara/Meligounis I26. Epizephyrian Locris I27. Rhegium I28. Lentini I29. Selinountas I30. Megara Hyblaea I31. Naxos I32. Tauromenium I33. Acragas I34. Himera I35. Gela I36. Catania I37. Leontini I38. Ereikousa I39. Euonymos I40. Kamarina I41. Medma I42. Hipponion I43. Heraclea Minoa I44. Caulonia I45. Trotilon I46. Pyxous I47. Mylae I48. Laüs I49. Terina I50. Rhegion I51. Tindari I52. Macalla I53. Temesa I54. Metauros I55. Krimisa I56. Chone I57. Saturo I58. Heraclea Lucania, Siris I59. Scylletium I60. Agathyrnum I61. Adranon I62. Akrillai I63. Casmenae I64. Akrai I65. Engyon I66. Thapsos I67. Pithekoussai I68. Castelmezzano I69. Licata I70. Ortygia I71. Lagaria I72. Hydrus I73. Mactorium I74. Helorus I75. Petelia I76. Satyrion I77. Xiphonia

Modern Libya

L1. Barce L2. Cyrene L3. Balagrae L4. Taucheira L5. Ptolemais L6. Euesperides L7. Antipyrgus L8. Apollonia L9. Cinyps L10. Menelai Portus

Modern Montenegro

M1. Bouthoe

Modern North Macedonia

NMA1. Damastion NMA2. Heraclea Lyncestis

Modern Palestine (Gaza Strip)

PA1. Anthedon (Palestine), probably a colony of Anthedon (Boeotia) from c. 520 BCE

Modern Romania

RO1. Tomis RO2. Histria/Istros RO3. Aegyssus RO4. Stratonis RO5. Axiopolis RO6. Kallatis

Modern Russia

RU1. Tanais RU2. Kepoi RU3. Phanagoria RU4. Bata RU5. Gorgippia RU6. Hermonassa RU7. Korokondame RU8. Taganrog RU9. Tyramba RU10. Patreus RU11. Torikos