Greek Colonization

Greek colonization, much like the colonization of Africa and Asia by European powers in the early twentieth century, was an act of achieving land, recourses, and influence, and thus, power. The eventual expansion of the Greek Empire was unique, however, in that it was one of the first major exercises of colonization ever noted in the history of civilization.

A number of things, but most notably, the shortages in the existing territories (both land and recourses), the desire for new trade routes, and the re-emergence of the written language facilitated the Greek expansion. Prior to the widespread colonization by the Greeks, existing cities were growing by population and exhausting the land around them. Traditional plots of land reserved for Greek citizens were becoming smaller, and in some cases, non-existent.

It was clear to those in leadership positions that overcrowding was becoming a rampant problem for the Greek cities, and in order to facilitate it, more land was needed. The need for land, however, is not necessarily the primary reason for the Greek expansion. As previously noted, economic reasons were prevalent, also.

In his book, The Greeks Overseas, Boardman notes that, "...geography and commonsense combine to suggest that trade normally preceded the flag and that in the case of some of the earliest colonies trade rather than land was the dominant factor in choosing a site (162). Most of Boardman's proof comes in the nature of the locations of the Greek colonies. He notes that they were located in positions conducive to trade (both by sea and land) (Boardman, 162).

The new colonies often were located at defensible positions, such as steep cliffs, peninsulas, and offshore islands (Boardman 162). Cities were also located in positions to take advantage of newfound trade routes, such as the Straits of Messina (Boardman 163). This body of water facilitated the trade of many highly desirable recourses, like iron, copper, and other valuable metals (Boardman 163). Further proof that colonization was based primarily upon economic, rather than "expansion" needs, was the relative disregard for farmland in the new colonies.

The steep cliffs, peninsulas, and offshore islands in which they were developed were not conducive to agriculture, and consequently, growth. Boardman does not downplay the importance of food supply for the colonists, but he suggests that cultivatable land was usually a second priority (163). The colonization by the Greeks was a suprisingly fast and successful endeavor. The trend perpetuated as more colonies were formed, which in turn, gave way to the further acquisition of land. The original Greek cities were barely self-sufficient, and thus, expected "sister" colonies to follow suit.

In his book, Early Greece, Murray writes, "Land was an important consideration in all colonies, even those which had other motives as well, for the new city had to be self-sufficient" (111). He continues by saying that without self-sufficiency, a colony could not survive (Murray 111). He also contends that the discovery of new lands was directly related to the increase in Greek population, and the further colonization by "colonial" cities (Murray 111). Another important consideration in the colonization by the Greeks is the re-emergence of written language.

Communication was of paramount importance for the colonies to communicate with other Greek cities. This is one of the main reasons why the influence, and most importantly the power, remained somewhat centralized. Written communication facilitated unification among the Greek colonies that ethnic backgrounds and traditions could not. It also provided them with common spiritual trends. In his book, Greece in the Making, Osborne contends, "Writing enables communication between individuals separated by space or time.

It has obvious advantages for record-keeping and for marking the claims of an absent owner, no less advantage in communications with powers unseen, whether they be Olympian gods or the powers invoked in curse tablets (109). While the need.