After a long period known for historians as “Greek Dark Ages”, the Archaic period starts from year 800 BC. During this period polies are born, independent city-states governed by a minority formed by noblemen, the so-called “aristoi” (“the best”), leading them was a king.
This form of government is called “oligarchy”, meaning, “a few’s government”. The aristoi owned most parts of the cultivable land, free peasants were uncommon. Craftworks and commerce was of litte importance.
Colonization
During the Archaic period (8th and 6th centuries BC.) something marked Greece’s history, Mediterran Sea
colonization.
Economic crisis was not the cause for this phenomenon, population did not stop growing, and land was not enough to feed them. Many Greeks had to
emigrate and found their own cities or
colonies. These were independent with respect to their old
polies, even though they always kept important economic, cultural and political relationships with them.
Marine scene
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Expansion took place in two different places:
West: Ionioan Sean, South of Italy, South of France and North of Africa (currently Libia).
East: around the Black Sea and the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea (currently Turkey).
Colonization expanded Greek culture further away from its borders, coming in contact with other cultures, e.g. Egiptians, Phoenicians and Etruscans.
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