The Great Process Greek colonization due to several groups of reasons. The first of these is the emergence of relative overpopulation in a number of regions of Greece. To the beginning archaic era in Greece, a sharp demographic explosion is evident, a significant increase in population. However, against the background of the weak development of the productive forces, the intensification of agricultural production in those conditions was impossible. And that is what could help feed the growing population. Therefore, some of the inhabitants could no longer feed themselves at home, since there were no new lands available for cultivation in Greece. Hence - the search for such lands in a foreign land and the resettlement of the surplus population to new territories.
Another group of reasons for the Great Greek colonization is the reasons social nature... The impoverished community members-peasants, if they did not want to fall into debt bondage to their wealthy and noble relatives, were forced to leave the plots of land pledged for debts. That's why the only way out for them there could only be a departure to a foreign land. For the cities of archaic Greece, which eventually became large economic centers, and in which trade became one of the leading sectors of the economy, an important reason for colonization was the desire of the merchants of these cities to gain a foothold on the routes to foreign countries. Only in the colonies, closely connected with their metropolises by economic, political, social and cultural ties, did the merchants feel protected.
The socio-economic struggle in the metropolises is another of the reasons for the Great Greek colonization. In the archaic period, during the formation of Greek city-states and the appearance of tyrannical regimes in many of them, political struggle between different population groups, repressive politics tyrants reached a threatening acuteness. Therefore, the defeated group faced a choice - either inevitable death, or flight to the colony, forced emigration.
As the cities of Greece grew as centers of handicraft production, the need to expand the raw material base for the manufacture of handicrafts was strongly felt. This raw material came to Greece from the outside, and in this process the colonies over time also began to play their decisive role. Grafsky V.G. General history law and state. - M., 2000 - p. 43
Finally, one more circumstance should be noted. In archaic times, debt slavery of fellow citizens was legally prohibited in many socio-economically developed regions of Greece. The search for new sources of replenishment of slaves begins already on the barbarian periphery, where the Greek colonies appeared. Colonists often became organizers of new slave markets, acting as intermediaries between "wholesalers", slave traders and representatives of the ruling "elite" of barbarian societies who exchange or sell their fellow tribesmen for foreign lands.
The Archaic era was marked by such an important event in the history of Hellas, as Great Greek colonization, when the Greeks founded many cities and settlements on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Thus, the Greek civilization spread over large areas of southern Europe.
The development of the colonization process was determined by the prerequisites of an economic and political nature. The economic prerequisites should include, first of all, the acute "land hunger" that arose as a result of population growth, when the small size of the choir and low yields could not provide a normal existence for all citizens of the state. As a result, part of the population was forced to seek means of subsistence in a foreign land. An important incentive for the colonization of the neighboring territories by the Greek policies was the desire to gain access to sources of raw materials that were absent in their homeland, and to secure the most important trade routes for Greece. That is why the Greeks founded not only apoikia- full-fledged colonies, immediately becoming independent policies, but also trading trading posts, which were only places of residence of merchants with their goods. As for the political reasons for colonization, an important role was played by the fierce struggle for power in the policies of the archaic era. Often, a group that was defeated in this struggle had only one thing to do - to leave hometown and move to a new place.
It is no coincidence that the centers of the withdrawal of colonies (metropolises) were developed economically and politically, polis, which had a large population, but a small chorus. Among such policies are Corinth, Megara, Chalcis, Eretria, etc. For example, Miletus, according to some sources, founded more than 70 colonies. It would seem that the exception to the general rule was the area of Achaia, a backward agrarian region in the north of the Peloponnese. However, it should be borne in mind that in Achaia, with its rocky soils, "land hunger" was felt especially acutely.
An incomparably smaller role in the Great Greek colonization was played by those policies, the chorus of which was more extensive, and the pace of economic and political development- more delayed (or artificially restrained). So, practically no colonies were founded during the archaic era of Athens, Sparta, the states of Boeotia and Thessaly.
Colonization proceeded in two main directions - western and northeastern, where the first colonies were withdrawn in the 8th century. BC. In the west, the Greeks were especially attracted to the fertile lands of the Apennine Peninsula and the island of Sicily. Already in the first half of the VIII century. BC. immigrants from Chalkida founded a small settlement on the islet of Pitekussa off the western coast of Italy; soon the colonists moved to the mainland, and there was a Greek polis Kumas. A century passed - and the southern coast of the Italian "boot" and the entire coast of Sicily were literally dotted with new Hellenic cities. Immigrants from Euboea, from Corinth, Megar, Achaia and other Greek city-states took an active part in the colonization of the region. Sometimes several policies carried out a joint colonization expedition. But there were cases of completely different relations - enmity, struggle for territories, leading to wars and pushing the weaker back to less convenient lands.
Ultimately, southern Italy and Sicily were so intensively mastered by the Greeks that already in ancient historiography this whole area received the name Great Greece. The largest and most significant policy in the region was Syracuse, founded approx. 734g. BC. the Corinthians. Syracuse was such a thriving economic and political center, which can be considered the most famous Greek colony. From other cities of Magna Graecia, it should be mentioned: in Sicily - Gelu(colony of the city of Lind in Rhodes), on south coast Italy - Sybaris, Croton(founded by people from Achaia), Tarentum(almost the only colony of Sparta, withdrawn as a result of the internal political struggle in this policy), Regium(colony of Chalcis).
A special role in the colonization of the extreme west of the Mediterranean by the Greeks was played by Fokeya - a policy in Asia Minor Ionia, the birthplace of many excellent sailors. About 600g. BC. the Phoceans founded a colony on the southern coast of what is now France Massilia(modern. Marseille), which became a rich and prosperous city. The Phoceans created a number of their settlements on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
The northeastern direction of Greek colonization attracted the inhabitants of the policies of Balkan Greece by the presence of minerals (deposits of gold and silver in the Northern Aegeid), the fertility of lands (primarily on the Black Sea), and the possibility of establishing profitable trade relations. In this direction, the Greeks mastered the Thracian coast of the Aegean Sea, including the Halkidika peninsula (on this peninsula, the network of Greek settlements was especially dense), and then the Black Sea straits zone, where Megaras showed great activity. In the VI century. BC. Megaryans founded the Thracian (strategically extremely important region) colonies on the opposite shores of the Bosporus Strait Chalcedon and Byzantium(future Constantinople, present-day Istanbul).
The logical completion of the movement of the Greeks to the northeast was the development of the Black Sea coast, which they called Pontus Euxine (i.e. the Hospitable Sea). The first attempts to colonize the Black Sea coast date back to the 8th century. BC. But only from the 7th century. BC, when the Greeks managed to firmly gain a foothold in the Black Sea straits, and also get used to the navigational specifics of the Black Sea basin (the virtual absence of islands, long distances and depths, other climatic conditions), this sea became truly "hospitable" for them. Miletus, who founded most of his colonies in this region, took an especially active part in the colonization of the Pontic shores.
Of the colonies of the southern Black Sea region, the most significant were Sinop and Heraclea of Pontic, Eastern - Dioscuriada and Phasis, Western - Istria and Odessa. Perhaps the largest number of settlements among the Hellenic colonists was in the Northern Black Sea region. At the end of the 7th century. BC. Miletyans settled on the small island of Berezan near the mouth of the Dnieper. Then they made a "leap to the mainland", founding a city Olbia. In the VI century. BC. many settlements of the Greeks (in the overwhelming majority - the Milesian colonies) occupied the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus (the ancient name of the Kerch Strait). The largest center of ancient civilization in this region was Panticapaeum(located on the site of modern Kerch). Towns of smaller size and importance have sprung up nearby: Nymphaeus, Myrmekiy, Theodosia, Phanagoria, Hermonassa and others. Over time, these cities created an association (of a religious, and possibly a military-political nature), headed by Panticapaeum. In the classical era, from this union of policies, the largest state in the Northern Black Sea region was formed - the Bosporus kingdom.
The great Greek colonization, for obvious reasons, almost did not spread to the east and south. Developed states (Phoenician cities, Egypt) have long existed in the Eastern Mediterranean, which were by no means interested in the appearance of settlements of "aliens" on their lands. Business did not go further than the formation of Greek trading posts on the territory of these kingdoms. In particular, in Egypt, in the Nile delta, in the 7th century. BC. a colony arose Navcratis, but this is not a traditional Greek city. Navcratis was founded by several policies and was inhabited mainly by merchants, while being subordinated to the authority of the pharaoh. In other words, it was rather a large trading post than a colony in the proper sense of the word. Only in one area on the African coast, which later received the name Cyrenaica (the territory of modern. Libya), from the 7th century. BC. colonies began to appear, the largest of which was Cyrene, which quickly became a thriving city.
Sicily. Temple of Concord in Akragant (V century BC). The photo
All Greek policies were very responsible for the withdrawal of colonies. Before the departure of the colonists, they tried to find out the place of the proposed settlement, learn about the presence of fertile land, take care of convenient harbors, and, if possible, determine the degree of friendliness of the local residents. Very often, the city authorities turned for advice to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, whose priests became real experts in this kind of matter. Then lists of those wishing to go to the colony were drawn up, the head of the expedition was appointed - oikist(upon arrival at the place, he usually became the head of a new city). Finally, taking with them the sacred fire from their native altars, the future colonists set off on ships on their ships.
Arriving at the place, the settlers first of all proceeded to the arrangement of the Greek polis they founded: they erected defensive walls, temples of the gods and public buildings, divided the surrounding territory into clears ( land). Since its inception, each colony has been a completely independent polis. As a rule, all colonies maintained close ties with the metropolis - economic, religious, and sometimes political (for example, Corinth sent its delegates to the colonies founded by him).
One of critical issues, which always stood before the colonists, was a system of relationships with the local tribal world. After all, almost each of the newly founded Greek cities turned out to be surrounded by settlements of a people who previously lived in this territory, who, as a rule, were at a lower level of development (in Sicily, these were Siculs, in the Northern Black Sea region - Scythians, etc.). Relations with Aboriginal people could develop in different ways. Unclouded friendly contacts based on mutually beneficial economic cooperation were established relatively rarely. More often, the surrounding tribes showed hostility, which led either to frequent wars, exhausting both sides, or to a state of armed neutrality, which forced the colonists to live in constant vigilance. It happened that one of the sides managed to gain the upper hand in the struggle. In the event of the victory of the colonists locals fell into political and economic dependence on the Greeks. Founded in the middle of the VI century. BC. Heracles of Pontic, the Greeks from Megar immediately entered into a stubborn struggle for land with local population- mariandines. The more united and better armed Greek colonists won the victory. The land of the Mariandins was turned into the property of the Heraclean polis, and the locals themselves were enslaved, although they received some guarantees: the founders of Heraclea committed themselves not to sell them abroad. Such was the fate of the Killiri tribes in Syracuse.
But the Greek colony could also become dependent on the local ruler. So, in the V century. BC. Olbia was under the protectorate of the Scythian kings.
It is difficult to overestimate the consequences of the Great Greek colonization, which began in the archaic era and continued, although not on the same scale, in the classical era. During the course of colonization, the Greeks settled and developed vast territories. The Greeks approached the choice of a place for a colony very rationally, taking into account all possible positive and negative factors, therefore, in most cases, new settlements quickly became prosperous cities. Maintaining active ties with the "old" Greek lands, the colonies themselves began to influence the development of their metropolises.
Colonies were typical city-states, and therefore life in them fell under the same laws. social development that of the policies of Balkan Greece. In particular, they faced the same economic, social and political problems: "land hunger", the struggle of various groups for power, etc. It is not surprising that many of the colonies eventually become metropolises themselves, establishing their own colonies. So, Gela in Sicily founded Acragant - the city, which soon was not inferior to her in size and importance. Several colonies were bred by Heraclea of Pontus, of which the most famous emerged in the second half of the 6th century. BC. Chersonesos Tauride(on the territory of modern. Sevastopol).
Ruins of Tauric Chersonesos. The photo
In history Ancient Greece this is a special phenomenon, given the level economic development and sailing capabilities. Colonization or the establishment of Greek settlements far from its territory was mainly carried out with the help of ships. This is due to the fact that Greece was washed by the seas, had convenient access to the sea, and the ships were already sailing, not only having the coast in sight, but also making long transitions, guided by the stars. The geography of colonization is striking in its distances: from the Atlantic to the Caucasus. Despite its purely practical purpose, colonization in the works of ancient Greek authors also appeared in the romantic style, as described in the journey of Odysseus.
Causes of ancient Greek colonization
The Great Migration falls on the period from the 8th to the 4th century BC - in history this period is called Archaic. Historians identify several reasons that contributed to the emergence of the need to search for new places of settlement. The first is called economic, since by this time an increase in the number of population was noted, and in the conditions of Greece (mountainous terrain), despite the favorable climate, the land could not feed everyone. With those instruments of labor that were known at that time, increase the intensity of cultivation of products Agriculture, it was practically impossible. The use of slave labor exacerbated the situation, and also held back the development of agricultural production, because at that time it was the main one. The Greek population began to experience a shortage of food, to withdraw from their homes in search of richer places to live.
The second reason is called social. By that time, the prevailing legal system allowed them to enslave free citizens for debts, which pushed them to pay off their land plots as debt and seek happiness far from their homes. Trade with other countries and their colonies became a profitable business, where part of the population rushed. By exploring new lands, they could improve their lives and had the opportunity to get rich, while having a constant connection with their homeland.
The third reason is called - the socio - economic struggle between various groups of the population in the establishment of tyranny in some policies, accompanied by repression of the authorities. The losing side was simply forced to flee the country, or die. The colony became a refuge for such groups.
The fourth reason is associated with the growth of handicraft production and the lack of raw materials in Greece itself. The Greek colonies soon began to play a leading role in supplying the metropolis with the necessary raw materials.
The fifth reason follows from the previous ones, since with the growth of production, additional labor was required, which was no longer enough on the spot. The colonists raided the surrounding lands, captured the inhabitants, turned them into slaves and sold them in the slave markets.
Consequences of Greek colonization
I must say that the colonization itself was carried out under the supervision of the authorities. She equipped ships and gave permission for citizens to leave. For purposeful resettlement, exploration expeditions were organized, records were kept, and the leaders of the colonies were appointed. Geographical position Greece determined the direction of resettlement and the organization of settlements. First of all, the development of the islands of the Aegean Sea, Asia Minor began, and through the straits they entered the Black Sea and reached the mouth of the Don, then westward towards Italy through the Ionian and Adriatic Seas and, right up to the Atlantic coast. Later, Greek settlers appeared in the Middle East and Egypt on the African coast. It is enough to name the most famous colonies to represent the scope of colonization: Regia and Tarentum in Italy, Olbia, Chersonesus and Byzantium on the Black Sea, Navcratis in Egypt.
Thanks to such a wide and numerous outflow of the population from Greece, many problems in Greece itself were removed. The Greek economy was given a new impetus. The policies and, accordingly, their citizens were getting richer. The number of sales markets and sources of raw materials increased significantly, and an additional influx of slaves was ensured. In Greece and in the colonies, a layer of economically independent people appeared. The way of life has changed, the mobility of the population has increased, thereby weakening family ties. Due to the manifestation of their own entrepreneurship, it became possible to move up the social ladder.
The significance of the great Greek colonization.
We named economic, social and socio - economic reasons as reasons. The departure of a significant part of the population of Greece outside its borders contributed to the receipt of land by the settlers to provide food for themselves and additionally for the population of the country. Has been significantly reduced social tension... The development of new lands gave impetus to economic growth in shipbuilding, the emergence of new crafts, the development of additional trade ties. Trade rose, for traditional Greek goods were exported from Greece, and those were imported that were not in it and that it badly needed.
Of course, in order to pave new paths, to explore new places, to establish ties with the metropolis, people were required to be able to carry out all this. The improvement of a person as a person was placed at the forefront. Such sciences as astronomy, agronomy, geology, medicine and others have become necessary in life. The spirit of competition has become a way of life for the Greeks. This was especially evident in sports, which contributed to the improvement of a person both physically and spiritually. Olympic Games were born on this very basis. Numerous myths glorified the heroic deeds. The Greeks brought their achievements in craft and navigation to new lands. The cultural achievements of the Greeks were reflected in the locations of the colonies. Many lands and peoples were described, and nautical charts were compiled and refined. According to the descriptions of Greek travelers, we have an idea of the history of our country in antiquity.
The process of socio-economic, political and cultural development Greek society VIII-VI centuries. BC NS. gave birth to this interesting phenomenon v ancient greek history, how Great colonization, ie, the expulsion of Greeks from the cities of the Aegean basin to the numerous colonies (in Greek "apoikia"), located along the coast of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. In total, several hundred colonies were withdrawn from the general population 1.5-2 million people.
What were the reasons for this powerful colonization movement? There are several main ones. The intensification of the Greek economy, the development of crafts and trade in the emerging policies required an expansion of the field of activity: new lands were needed for citizens losing their plots, sources of raw materials, markets for the products of handicraft workshops were needed - and all this could be found in colonies founded in convenient and the rich areas of the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, in the surrounding territories occupied by local tribes.
Another important reason for the withdrawal of colonies was the process of class formation and social differentiation of Greek society, which took place in the VIII-VI centuries. BC NS. The poor who lost their land, fell into the tenacious clutches of usurers, enslaved by the nobility, relatives who were defeated in social struggle representatives of various fighting groups were looking for luck and prosperity in a foreign land, in the newly founded colonies. The aristocracy did not interfere with such a resettlement, because dissatisfied elements, dangerous for the rule of the nobility, and political opponents, left for the colony. At the same time, it was beneficial for the ruling circles of the metropolitan cities to have their own colonies, with which mutually beneficial ties were established, from where they received valuable raw materials, where it was possible to sell the products of estates and craft workshops, with the help of which the metropolises expanded their political influence.
The removal of the large population into the colony would have been impossible without a general increase in the number of the Greek population. Greece VIII-VI centuries. BC NS. experienced a kind of population explosion caused by a number of reasons not yet fully explored, but, undoubtedly, one of the main ones was the rapid development of the Greek economy, creating surplus products requiring marketing, a sufficient amount of raw materials, work force providing a certain material wealth.
Three different directions can be distinguished in the Great Greek colonization. The most powerful was the western direction... The first colony founded by the Greeks in the West was the settlement on the island of Pitekussa and the city of Kuma (in Campania), which were bred around the middle of the 8th century. BC NS. Soon cities were founded, which later turned into the largest and most prosperous Western Greek city-states: Syracuse (733 BC), Zancla (730 BC), later renamed Messana, Rhegium (720 BC). BC), Tarentum (706 BC. that Southern Italy and Sicily began to be called the characteristic term "Greater Greece".
On the southern coast of France, Massalia was founded (c. 600 BC), which later became a populous polis, through which Greek goods were sent along the Rodanou River to interior areas Gaul all the way to modern Paris. A large colony Emporion was founded on the Spanish coast.
The city of Corinth, one of the largest trade and handicraft centers in Balkan Greece, was especially active in western colonization. early formation polis system and new economy.
The colonization movement in northeast direction... Here the leading role was played by Miletus, also one of the largest and richest Greek cities. According to legend, Miletus bred up to 100 different settlements and colonies. The major Greek colonies of the Propontis were the cities of Cyzicus (756 BC), Chalcedon (685 BC), Byzantium (667 BC). The cities of Sinop (756 BC) and Heraclea of Pontus (560 BC) were the most powerful in south bank The Black Sea. The most significant Greek colonies in the Western Black Sea region were Istria (657 BC), Apollonia Pontic, Odessa, Toma, Callatia. In the VI century. BC NS. colonization wave has reached Northern Black Sea region... The oldest Greek settlement was founded on the island of Berezan at the turn of the 7th-6th centuries. BC BC, but soon the Berezan settlement became part of the larger colony of Olbia, founded in the first half of the 6th century. BC NS. at the mouth of the Dnieper - Bug estuary. A number of Greek colonies arose in ancient Tavrika (modern Crimea). In the VI century. BC NS. about a dozen different settlements and towns appeared on both sides of the Kerch Strait, the largest of them were Panticapaeum (the turn of the 7th-6th centuries BC) on the site of modern Kerch and Phanagoria (547 BC) on the Asian side of the Kerch Strait. At the beginning of the 5th century. BC NS. the Greek colonies of the Kerch Strait united under the rule of the powerful city of Panticapaeum, and this union became known as the Bosporus state (or Bosporus). Among other Greek colonies of the Northern Black Sea region, Tyra (modern Belgorod - Dnestrovsky) at the mouth of the Dniester River, Feodosia in Eastern Crimea (modern Feodosia), Chersonesos (modern Sevastopol), Gorgippia (modern Anapa) played a significant role.
The largest Greek colonies on the Caucasian coast were the cities of Pitiunt (modern Pitsunda), Dioscuriada (modern Sukhumi), Fasis (modern Poti).
Greek colonization in southeast and southbound , that is, on the Phoenician coast, the coastal regions of Egypt and Libya. In these areas, the Greek colonists met strong resistance from the Phoenician merchants and the powerful Assyrian, New Babylonian kings and Egyptian pharaohs behind them. That is why only a few settlements were founded here, which, moreover, played the role of trading posts subordinated to local rulers. These are the settlements of Al - Mina in Syria, Sukas in Phenicia, Navcratis and Daphne in Egypt. Only Cyrene, founded in 630 BC. NS. in a fertile area a few kilometers from the sea, little accessible to both the Egyptian pharaohs and the Phoenician or Carthaginian sailors, became a prosperous Greek city-state that established close contacts with the cities of Balkan Greece.
The Greek colonies were withdrawn into areas convenient enough to live in, equipped with drinking water, with fertile lands, located, as a rule, on the sea coast and having good harbors in places fortified by nature. Before withdrawing the settlement, preliminary reconnaissance of the area was carried out. Quite often, a settlement or city was founded on the sites of ancient shipyards or temporary trading posts.
As soon as the place of the future colony was established, a record of those wishing to leave for a new settlement was announced in the metropolitan city, and the city authorities appointed a special official, the so-called oikista. Oikist officially led the party of colonists, he had to finally determine the place of the future settlement and the surrounding rural area, conduct religious rites in honor of the founding of the city, the line of the city walls, if they were planned, to determine the place of the main temple, central square- agora, port area, residential areas. Citizens were enrolled in the composition of the colonists of this city, as a rule, impoverished people, the younger sons of families who do not have the right to inherit the paternal plot, defeated in a political struggle, adventurers, but residents of other cities, one way or another connected with this policy - the metropolis, could also join the party of colonists. So, for example, the active colonization activity of Miletus can only be explained by the fact that the colonists included many not only Milesian citizens, but also residents of other Greek cities who considered it beneficial to participate in the founding of Milesian colonies.
The first colonies were not crowded. The colonization parties, as a rule, numbered several hundred people. The colonists had to enter into certain relations with local tribes, Usually (but not always) such relations were peaceful: there were too few colonists to pursue an aggressive policy, and the leaders of local tribes were interested in contacts with more civilized Greeks who brought them guilt, olive oil, luxuries. There were also cases of hostile relations between colonists and local tribes, for example, in southern Italy and in the northern Black Sea region. The first settlers who found themselves in a foreign land maintained close ties with the metropolis and relied on its comprehensive support and assistance. However, despite these close ties and close kinship (in addition, the closest relatives and friends remained in the metropolis), the colony was founded as an independent polis.
Depending on the composition of the colonists, local conditions, relations with the metropolis, the new colony either became a rich agricultural center, or acted mainly as an intermediary in the trade of the metropolis with local tribes.
In the colonies, the burden of old tribal traditions was much weaker, and therefore the economy, social processes, new organs state power, culture developed more freely and faster than in the metropolis. Many Greek colonies, initially small and poor settlements, are turning into prosperous populous, wealthy cities with a developed economy, an active socio-political and cultural life. Fast growth colonies had a stimulating effect on the development of Greek society as a whole, on the establishment of mature forms of the polis system.
Great Greek colonization of the VIII-VI centuries. BC e., caused by the deep processes of social development of Balkan Greece, itself became a powerful factor in the socio-economic and cultural development of the entire Greek world.
The acquaintance of the colonists with new countries, new tribes expanded the cultural horizons of the Greeks. The need to build new cities, to develop new territories gave a powerful impetus to the development of urban planning and architecture, the fine arts. Mutual contacts as with ancient countries oriental culture and with the tribal world of the Mediterranean, they enriched Greek culture with new ideas, new knowledge, and served as a stimulus for the development Greek philosophy and literature.
Causes
The process of the Great Greek colonization is due to several groups of reasons. The first of these is the emergence of relative overpopulation in a number of regions of Greece. By the beginning of the archaic era in Greece, a sharp demographic explosion, a significant increase in population, is obvious. However, against the background of the weak development of the productive forces, the intensification of agricultural production in those conditions was impossible. And that is what could help feed the growing population. Therefore, some of the inhabitants could no longer feed themselves at home, since there were no new lands available for cultivation in Greece. Hence - the search for such lands in a foreign land and the resettlement of the surplus population to new territories.
Another group of reasons for the Great Greek colonization is social reasons. The impoverished community members-peasants, if they did not want to fall into debt bondage to their wealthy and noble relatives, were forced to leave the plots of land pledged for debts. Therefore, the only way out for them could only be a departure to a foreign land. For the cities of archaic Greece, which eventually became large economic centers, and in which trade became one of the leading sectors of the economy, an important reason for colonization was the desire of the merchants of these cities to gain a foothold on the routes to foreign countries. Only in the colonies, closely connected with their metropolises by economic, political, social and cultural ties, did the merchants feel protected.
The socio-economic struggle in the metropolises is another of the reasons for the Great Greek colonization. In the archaic period, during the formation of the Greek city-states and the appearance of tyrannical regimes in many of them, the political struggle between various groups of the population, the repressive policy of tyrants reached a threatening acuteness. Therefore, the defeated group faced a choice - either inevitable death, or flight to the colony, forced emigration.
As the cities of Greece grew as centers of handicraft production, the need to expand the raw material base for the manufacture of handicrafts was strongly felt. This raw material came to Greece from the outside, and in this process the colonies over time also began to play their decisive role.
Finally, one more circumstance should be noted. In archaic times, debt slavery of fellow citizens was legally prohibited in many socio-economically developed regions of Greece. The search for new sources of replenishment of slaves begins already on the barbarian periphery, where the Greek colonies appeared. Colonists often became organizers of new slave markets, acting as intermediaries between "wholesalers", slave traders and representatives of the ruling "elite" of barbarian societies who exchange or sell their fellow tribesmen for foreign lands.
Spread of the Great Greek colonizationThe great Greek colonization is not a chaotic movement of the Greeks to foreign lands in search of happiness and a better life. It was organized and controlled, and the future colonists imagined where they could go, what lands and territories they would occupy, the climatic conditions of these places, etc. For these purposes, the authorities of the metropolis organized exploration expeditions, and also appointed a person responsible for founding a new colony and organizing the departure of a party of immigrants - an oikist of the colony. It was he who, at first, organized the surveying and distribution of agricultural land on new lands, carried out the planning and supervised the construction of settlements for the settlement of the colonists.
There are three directions in the history of the Great Greek colonization. The first direction is west. As a result of the movement of Greek settlers to the west, the coast of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas to the northwest of Greece, regions of southern Italy, the island of Sicily, southern Gaul, the eastern coast of Spain and other areas were developed. The second direction of the colonization movement of the Greeks is the northeastern one, thanks to which the Greeks mastered the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, the regions of the straits, the shores of the Black Sea. Finally, as a result of the southern and southeastern directions of colonization, Greek colonies were founded on the southern coast of Asia Minor and on the Mediterranean coast. north africa(Egypt). The main, leading were the first two directions of the Great Greek colonization.
During almost three centuries of the Archaic era, the Greeks managed to master a significant part of the coast Mediterranean Sea, all of the Black Sea region, part of the Azov region. They managed to settle in the area of Gibraltar in the west, and in the northeast they reached the mouth of the Tanais River (modern Don). On the territory of Egypt, in Navcratis, a Greek colony was founded. Quarters of Greek traders have been discovered in ancient Syrian cities. As a rule, all the territories colonized by the Greeks and occupied by colonies were adjacent to the sea coast or were near it. This allowed the great philosopher Plato to figuratively compare the Greek colonies scattered along the shores of the seas from the Caucasus to Gibraltar with frogs scattered around the pond, which should be understood as the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
In the colonization of southern Italy in the VIII - VII centuries. BC. natives of many regions of Greece took part. So, the inhabitants of Messenia, conquered by Sparta, moved to the city of Regia, founded by the Chalkidians on the shores of the Strait of Messina. The Spartans themselves soon founded their colony Tarentum here. Inhabitants of another region - Pelottonnesa founded Sybaris and Croton on the same coast, which soon became flourishing cities. On the east coast of Sicily, the Corinthians established their colony of Syracuse, which soon became the largest Greek city west of Greece. Interestingly, it was not uncommon for Greek colonies to establish their own colonies. An example would be the colonists of Naxos, who came from Chalkis, who founded the colonies of Naxos near Katana and Leontina. Colonization of southern Italy and Sicily by the end of the 6th century BC took on such a stormy character that the name "Greater Greece" was soon established for these areas.
Thanks to the Great Greek colonization in Greece, the economic, political and social problems... The policy economy has entered a new quality level and Greek trade became truly international. Many Greek colonies became developed economic centers, often much ahead of their metropolises.
Role of the Great Greek ColonizationWhat did colonization give Greece? First of all, it caused a massive outflow of the population leaving their homeland due to lack of land or frequent internal strife. As a result, the number of dissatisfied people among the free population of Greece was decreasing, and this to some extent relieved social tension.
Colonization opened up tremendous opportunities for trade, which accelerated the development of shipbuilding and all the various crafts associated with it. The colonies quickly grew rich cities: Chalkis, Corinth, Megara, Miletus, Eretria and many others. Strong trade ties were established between them and the metropolis. The colonies supplied what the Balkan Peninsula was so poor for - grain, timber, metals and food. In turn, goods were brought from the metropolis for which Greece was famous: handicrafts, wine, olive oil.
The problems facing the colonists demanded special qualities from a person. The struggle against the sea element, the difficulties of developing new, unknown lands - in these situations, the decisive role was played by people who are brave, proactive, capable, who know their business. Therefore, it is not surprising that the cult of personality and the principle of competition between people came to the fore in the life of ancient Greek society. It is no coincidence that it was in Greece that sports competitions first appeared - the Olympic Games. These were grandiose festivities to the glory of the divine perfection of man, beautiful in body and soul. Statues were erected in honor of the winners, and in their hometowns they were revered as heroes. The ideal of a perfect person who possesses physical strength and nobility, reflected in numerous myths about heroes, demigods, half-humans (myths about Hercules, Prometheus, etc.)
In the second half of the 4th century. BC. thanks to the campaigns (334-324 BC) of Alexander the Great, a gigantic empire arose, which covered the Small, Front, partly the Middle and Central Asia to the lower reaches of the Indus, as well as Egypt.
So, the special geographical conditions of Greece had a great influence on the course historical development civilization, on the formation of a peculiar type of personality.
