Mediterranean Southwest Europe (729–718 BCE): Greek Colonization…
729 BCE to 718 BCE
Mediterranean Southwest Europe (729–718 BCE):
Greek Colonization Accelerates in Sicily and Southern Italy
Between 729 and 718 BCE, Greek colonization intensifies across Mediterranean Southwest Europe, notably in Sicily and southern Italy, as settlements founded by Chalcidian and Megaran Greeks further embed Greek culture, politics, and trade networks into the region.
Establishment of Catana and Leontini
In 729 BCE, Chalcidian settlers from Naxos establish Catana (modern Catania), strategically located on a fertile plain at the foot of Mount Etna along Sicily’s eastern Ionian coastline. In the same year, these Chalcidians also expel Megarian colonists from Leontini, inland Sicily's only significant Greek settlement, about six miles from the coast, commanding fertile agricultural lands and consolidating control over both sides of the Strait of Messina.
Megara Hyblaea and Expanded Megarian Presence
Around 728 BCE, Megaran Greeks establish the settlement of Megara Hyblaea, located approximately twelve miles north of Syracuse on Sicily’s eastern coast. This commercial colony quickly flourishes due to its advantageous coastal position and agricultural productivity, further strengthening Megarian influence in Sicily.
Foundation and Growth of Rhegion
Chalcidian Greeks from Zankle (Messina) found Rhegion (modern Reggio di Calabria) circa 720 BCE, on the Calabrian shore opposite Sicily. Rhegion becomes a vital port city, strategically controlling trade and communication across the Strait of Messina, acting as a key bridge between Sicily and mainland Italy.
Rise of Sybaris: Wealth and Luxury
Around 720 BCE, Achaeans and Troezenians establish Sybaris near present-day Corigliano on southern Italy’s Gulf of Tarentum. Sybaris rapidly gains fame for its extraordinary wealth, luxurious living, and extensive trade networks, becoming synonymous with opulence and economic prosperity throughout the Greek world.
Legacy of the Era
The period 729–718 BCE witnesses rapid Greek territorial expansion, fostering vibrant commercial activity and cultural integration in Mediterranean Southwest Europe. These settlements form vital links between Sicily, southern Italy, and the broader Greek and Mediterranean worlds, laying foundations for the economic, cultural, and political prominence of Magna Graecia in subsequent centuries.
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Southwest Europe
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