Ancient and modern Greek cities

Ancient Greek cities arose even before our era. They were built by representatives of an ancient civilization, which spread far beyond modern Greece. Where did it go? Where were the cities built and how did they change over time?

Ancient civilization

At present, the Republic of Greece is a state in Europe, located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and on the adjacent islands. It is washed by five seas and covers an area of 131,957 square kilometers.

A small European country is the successor of culture, which influenced the development of science and art throughout Western civilization. In the history of its development, the following periods are distinguished:

• Crito-Mycenaean (III-I millennium BC);
• Homeric (XI-IX centuries BC);
• Archaic (VIII-VI centuries BC);
• Classical (V-IV centuries BC);
• Hellenistic (the second half of the IV - the middle of the 1st century BC).

By the way, Ancient Greece was not a single state with strict borders and capital. And represented a lot of independent cities that fought and competed with each other. Most of the known cultural achievements of this civilization was made in the era of its heyday - the classical period when the policies of the Aegean Sea merged into an alliance led by Athens.

First Greek cities

Three thousand years ago on the island of Crete there was pre-Greek population with a highly developed culture. They already had religious cults, a complex political and economic structure, fresco painting and even a letter. All this will be appropriated by the first tribes of the Greeks - the Achaeans, subduing and assimilating the Minoans.

First they conquered the Balkan Peninsula and the local agricultural tribes. Uniting with the pre-Greek peoples in Crete, the Achaeans gave rise to the Crete-Mycenaean civilization. Here begins the formation of the Greek people.

In the second millennium BC the Mycenaeans already had their own cities (Mycenae, Athens, Tirinfe, Orchomena). Like the Minoans, their centers were chic palaces. But, unlike the previous peaceful culture, the Mykene cities were surrounded by powerful walls. Inside them, as a rule, was another wall, surrounding the palace and the acropolis.

Suddenly appeared barbarian tribes managed to destroy the Mycenaean civilization. There were only a few local residents (Ionians, Aeolians). The invasion of the barbarians-Dorians and related tribes cast the development of culture hundreds of years ago.

Wooden and clay houses are replacing the former two-story palaces, there are no trade relations. At the same time, military operations, piracy and slavery are intensifying. In addition, the population is engaged in farming and cattle breeding, and Greek cities are more like villages.

Great colonization

In the archaic period, society is divided into classes. The level of agriculture, crafts and military power is growing. The city becomes an important economic, religious and political center. In the VIII-VI centuries. BC. E. Shipbuilding is developing, and with it - trade in products and slaves.

Metropolises begin to send colonists to develop new lands. On the shores of the Northern Black Sea coast, the Mediterranean Sea and Asia Minor there are fortified city-states, or policies. So there are Miletus, Colophon, Olbia (Ionians), Smyrna (Aeolians), Halicarnassus, Chersonesus (Dorians). Greek civilization extends from modern Rostov-on-the-way up to Marseilles.

Colonization is basically peaceful. A special person, an oikist, chooses a place for disembarkation, negotiates with local tribes, conducts cleansing rituals, and plans to locate a settlement.

Polis were usually located on the coast, near sources with drinking water. One of the main criteria for choosing a place was the relief. It was supposed to provide natural protection, it is desirable that there are elevations to accommodate the acropolis.

Life in Policies

On the fate of the colonists, simple workers who were dissatisfied with local aristocrats-tyrants, often signed up. In the colonies, the influence of tribal traditions is not so noticeable, which makes it possible to grow not only in the economy but also in culture. Very soon, policies become prosperous states with rich art, architecture and active social and political life.

The standard Greek cities were inhabited from 5 to 10 thousand people. Their territory covered up to 200 square meters. Km. The population of major policies numbered up to two hundred thousand people (Sparta, Lacedaemon). Viticulture, the production of olive oil, gardening and gardening represented the basis of the economy and was realized with the help of commodity exchange or sale. The population consisted mainly of farmers and artisans.

Polis were democratic republics. At the heart of society was civil society. Everyone had a plot of land as a pledge of his duties to the policy. With the loss of the site, he was deprived of civil rights. Full-fledged citizens (male warriors) taking part in politics were up to two thousand. The remaining residents (foreigners, slaves, women and children) did not vote.

Planning policies

The first policies did not have a clear structure and layout. The ancient Greek cities were built in accordance with the terrain. A port or harbor was created on the coast. Policies often had a "two-tier system". On the hill there was an acropolis (the upper city), surrounded by powerful walls.

In the acropolis there were the main temples and monuments. In the lower town there were residential buildings and a market square - the agora. It served as the center of political and public life. Here was located the building of the court, the assembly and the People's Council, deals were made and city decisions were made.

In the classical period, policies acquire a systemic layout, developed by Hippodamum. Residential quarters and streets form a grid with rectangular or square cells. Agora and houses are located strictly within the cells. All objects are grouped around several wide main streets. Centuries later, this plan was taken as a basis for the architects of New York and other cities.

Names of Greek cities

The boundaries of ancient Greece affected the territories of many of the present countries: Bulgaria, Ukraine, Italy and others. Prosperous cities-colonies have long turned into ruins, and their names, for political and social reasons, have changed.

Previous names preserved modern Greek cities. Until now, there are Athens, Corinth, Soloniki, Chalkis in the world. In some countries, they only changed their names a little, for example, the colony of Acragant in Italy became Agrigento, and Geloy - Jelei. In the northern Black Sea region, the modern names of Greek cities have become completely unrecognizable.

Below are listed those ancient Greek cities of the Black Sea region, which changed their names. In brackets - their modern names and location:

• Panticapaeum (Kerch, Crimea);
• Kerkinitida (Evpatoria, Crimea);
• Dioscuria (Sukhumi, Abkhazia);
• Khersones (near Sevastopol, Crimea);
• Olvia (near Ochakov, Nikolaev region, Ukraine);
• Kafa (Theodosius, Crimea).

Cities of Greece today

To date, there are 65 cities in Greece. Many of them were founded even before our era. What are the largest of the modern cities of Greece: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras?

Athens is the capital of Greece, its main economic and cultural center. This is one of the oldest cities in Europe, the first mention of it dates back to the 16th century BC. Modern Athens is known not only for its ancient monuments, but also for its first-class nightclubs and huge shopping centers. Today about 4 million people live in this metropolis.

Thessaloniki is the second most populous city in the country. It is also the oldest city, in which many monuments of the ancient and Byzantine periods were preserved. Known are Thessaloniki and its numerous industrial enterprises: metallurgical, textile, ship repair. And here the second largest brewery in Greece operates.

Patras - the main city of the Peloponnese with a population of about 230 thousand inhabitants. It was founded in the sixth century BC. It was here that Andrew the First-Called, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, died a martyr's death. Modern Patras - an important cultural center of Southern Europe. Every spring here is the famous Patras Carnival.