Magna Graecia

  • In Latin, Magna Graecia meant ‘Greater Greece’, and was the Roman name for the Greek cities located in the coastal areas of Southern Italia on the Gulf of Taranto and Sicily.
  • They were created during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE, along with many other Greek cities dotted around the Mediterranean, but which did not form part of Magna Graecia.

Capital City

  • Its capital city was Syracuse in Sicily.
  • Magna Graecia included the cities of Cumae and Naples, (Neapolis), Taranto, (Tarentum), Croton and Sybaris in Apulia and Calabria.

Acquisition by Rome

The Roman Economy

  • The Romans had large Latifundia in Magna Graecia.
  • These huge estates produced Olive Oil, wine and grain, or Livestock (sheep and cattle).

The Greek Temples

  • There are many Greek Temples in Magna Graecia and Sicily, still standing today, from this period of Greek occupation.
  • The closest Greek Temples to Rome were at Paestum near Naples dating from 550-450 BCE.
  • A fine example are the seven temples in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily.

The Roman Grand Tour

  • The Roman Grand Tour started from Rome, and usually lasted for 2 years, but could last for up to five years.
  • The first visit was to Naples, originally part of Magna Graecia, and the Greek Temples of Paestum, before continuing on to Greece.

Other Greek Colonies by 550 BCE

  • Spain:
    • Emporion
  • Gaul:
  • Corsica:
    • Alalia
  • Sardinia:
  • Illyria:
    • Lissus
    • Epidamnus
    • Apollonia
  • Cyrenaica Eastern Libya: ‘The Pentapolis’
    • Cyrene
    • Arsinoe
    • Barci
    • Balagrae
    • Eusperides
  • Egypt:
  • Cyprus
  • Syria
    • Al Mina, a Trading Post known possibly as Potamoi Karon.
  • Black Sea:
    • There were Greek cities along the entire coastline including Chersonesos on the Crimean Peninsular.
  • Turkey:
    • Greek cities were also founded along all three coastlines of Turkey.

 

Syracuse

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