Beginning in the second half of the eighth century, Greeks began to migrate from their Balkan homeland and establish new settlements all around the Mediterranean Basin. This Greek diaspora transformed Greek culture. But the Greek diasporic movement was not part of a single process. The diaspora developed over centuries. As best we can calculate the rate of new foundations it looks like:

1. 10thc: 5

2.9thc: 6

3.8thc: 12

4.7thc: 57 Interactive Map

5. 6thc: 52

The colonies founded during the 8thc appear to be connected to the The colonies founded during the 8thc appear to be connected to the metals trade. Chief among the Greeks involved were Eretria and metals trade. Chief among the Greeks involved were Eretria and Chalkis on Evvoia. Earliest colonies were at Pithikoussai & Kymai.Chalkis on Evvoia. Earliest colonies were at Pithikoussai & Kymai.

Pitikoussai is a relatively barren island off the coast of Italy near Pitikoussai is a relatively barren island off the coast of Italy near Naples. The archaeological evidence indicates that it was occupied Naples. The archaeological evidence indicates that it was occupied by Greeks from a number of communities & other Eastern traders. by Greeks from a number of communities & other Eastern traders. The settlement may have been as large as 10,000 people.The settlement may have been as large as 10,000 people.

Evidence from Evidence from the site the site indicate that indicate that large parts of it large parts of it were dedicated were dedicated to the to the production of production of metals: bronze metals: bronze and iron. The and iron. The stone circles in stone circles in the photo are the photo are the bases of the bases of iron-smelting iron-smelting furnaces. The furnaces. The source of the source of the metals was metals was area around area around Veii in Italy.Veii in Italy.

Another type of Greek Another type of Greek settlement abroad was settlement abroad was the entrepots, or trading the entrepots, or trading post. Al-Mina in Syria post. Al-Mina in Syria was such a place. was such a place. Another was Naukratis Another was Naukratis in Egypt. King Amasis of in Egypt. King Amasis of Egypt gave Greeks from Egypt gave Greeks from Chios, Teos and 5 other Chios, Teos and 5 other places permission to places permission to build a neighborhood in build a neighborhood in Naukratis for the Naukratis for the purpose of trade. Men purpose of trade. Men moving here did not moving here did not sever connections with sever connections with their home community. their home community. Temporary residence Temporary residence abroad.abroad.

Korinth is a good example of an earlier Korinth is a good example of an earlier diaspora group. Korinthians moved out diaspora group. Korinthians moved out first to unoccupied areas of western first to unoccupied areas of western Greece, like Kerkira and Lefkas, and then Greece, like Kerkira and Lefkas, and then others crossed over to southern Italy and others crossed over to southern Italy and Sicily.Sicily.

Over a period of 150 Over a period of 150 years, men and women years, men and women from Korinth from Korinth established 15 new established 15 new communities located all communities located all around the around the Mediterranean basin. Mediterranean basin. Once these people Once these people migrated they became migrated they became attached to their new attached to their new community and lost community and lost their membership in their membership in their old one.their old one.

Tying the colony to its Tying the colony to its “mother-community” were “mother-community” were bonds of kinship between bonds of kinship between families and common families and common religious cults. At religious cults. At Korinth’s colonies, the Korinth’s colonies, the worship of Apollo was key.worship of Apollo was key.

1.1. Land Hunger: as the population boom of the 8thc continued, Land Hunger: as the population boom of the 8thc continued, there developed a there developed a relativerelative shortage of land. The developing elite shortage of land. The developing elite group consumed more and more of the available good land. group consumed more and more of the available good land. The Greek practice of inheritance by equal division of property The Greek practice of inheritance by equal division of property also accelerated the land shortage. The relatively scarce good also accelerated the land shortage. The relatively scarce good arable land available in most areas of Greece meant that arable land available in most areas of Greece meant that internal colonization was not really viable– accept at Athens, as internal colonization was not really viable– accept at Athens, as you will see. The solution: send people abroad to live. Not you will see. The solution: send people abroad to live. Not surprisingly, then, the first thing that happened at the new surprisingly, then, the first thing that happened at the new settlement was the equal division of land among the settlers. settlement was the equal division of land among the settlers. REMEMBER::: possession of land was required to be a citizen REMEMBER::: possession of land was required to be a citizen of the community. If a family lost its land, it lost its citizenship. of the community. If a family lost its land, it lost its citizenship.

2.2. A Safety Valve: in many communities, like Korinth, there A Safety Valve: in many communities, like Korinth, there were social tensions both between the aristocracy and the were social tensions both between the aristocracy and the masses, and between members of the elite, especially masses, and between members of the elite, especially between young aristocrats eager for power. The solution: between young aristocrats eager for power. The solution: hive off the most troublesome of the young aristocrats. At hive off the most troublesome of the young aristocrats. At Korinth, for example, almost every settlement expedition Korinth, for example, almost every settlement expedition was headed by a younger member of the Bakkhiad clan (the was headed by a younger member of the Bakkhiad clan (the clan that emerged as the dominant power among the clan that emerged as the dominant power among the Korinthian aristocracy).Korinthian aristocracy).

3.3. Trauma Colonies: some colonies were set up after a natural Trauma Colonies: some colonies were set up after a natural disaster, like a drought, in order to save the home disaster, like a drought, in order to save the home community. The Theran settlement of Cyrene in Libya was community. The Theran settlement of Cyrene in Libya was this type of colony. See, Document 3.1 (page 92), in your this type of colony. See, Document 3.1 (page 92), in your text.text.

4.4. Copy-catting: there developed a competition between Copy-catting: there developed a competition between communities over colonization.communities over colonization.

1.1. At home, colonization helped to defuse, at least monetarily, the At home, colonization helped to defuse, at least monetarily, the rising social tensions between the elite and the remainder of rising social tensions between the elite and the remainder of the community.the community.

2.2. The spread of Greek agricultural communities into a number The spread of Greek agricultural communities into a number of widely diverse environments facilitated the exchange of of widely diverse environments facilitated the exchange of foodstuffs that lower the risk of famine and disaster. foodstuffs that lower the risk of famine and disaster. Population could continue to grow. Greek trade and Population could continue to grow. Greek trade and commerce flourished.commerce flourished.

3.3. Colonization accelerated the development of distinctive Greek Colonization accelerated the development of distinctive Greek identity by juxtaposing Greeks from various regions with non-identity by juxtaposing Greeks from various regions with non-Greeks. Ties of language, culture & religion became manifest.Greeks. Ties of language, culture & religion became manifest.

4.4. Colonization transformed slavery. Non-Greeks came to Colonization transformed slavery. Non-Greeks came to supplant Greeks as slaves.supplant Greeks as slaves.

5.5. Greek culture became a Mediterranean culture.Greek culture became a Mediterranean culture.

Greek colonization persisted during the fifth century. The Athenian Empire in particular was active founding colonies along the northern Aegean and Black Sea. The older colonies in the west sent out their own colonists and Greek settlement spread N and W.

Under the dynamic leadership of first Phillip II and then his son Alexander the Great, Greek settlements began to be founded in the interior of the Balkans, especially in what are now the states of Bulgaria, Albania, FYROM, Serbia and Rumania.