Overview
Greek colonisation refers to the expansion of Archaic Greeks, particularly during the 8th–6th centuries BC, across the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The Archaic expansion differed from the Iron Age migrations of the Greek Dark Ages, in that it consisted of organised direction by oikistes away from the originating metropolis rather than the simplistic movement of tribes, which characterised the aforementioned earlier migrations. Many colonies, or apoikiai (Greek: ἀποικία, transl. "home away from home"), that were founded during this period eventually evolved into strong Greek city-states, functioning independently of their metropolis.
Historical Periods
Greek Colonies (-271–-265)
271 BCE – 265 BCE
Area: 73,005 km²
Greek Colonies (-264–-257)
264 BCE – 257 BCE
Area: 69,488 km²
Greek Colonies (-256–-248)
256 BCE – 248 BCE
Area: 68,385 km²
Greek Colonies (-247–-240)
247 BCE – 240 BCE
Area: 81,547 km²
Greek Colonies (-239–-231)
239 BCE – 231 BCE
Area: 80,295 km²
Greek Colonies (-230–-226)
230 BCE – 226 BCE
Area: 81,660 km²