VIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – IVᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Cyrenaica, North Africa
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The establishment and expansion of Greek settlements in Cyrenaica from the seventh century BC. Beginning with colonists from Thera, the process produced Cyrene and a network of related cities, transformed local political geography, and developed an agricultural economy linked to wider Mediterranean trade.
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Le récit
Around 639 BC, the island state of Thera sent a small group of colonists toward North Africa after a prolonged drought. The settlers first occupied the offshore island of Platea, then moved to Aziris on the mainland. In the most probable account, they founded Cyrene in 631 BC after being guided through the region by a Cretan purple-fisher.
Cyrene became the centre of a wider Greek settlement network. Apollonia served as its port, while Ptolemais and Taucheira were established farther west; Barce was founded inland by dissidents from Cyrene around the middle of the sixth century BC, and Euhesperides was established on the coast, probably in the early sixth century. These cities were later grouped as the Pentapolis.
Greek settlement was driven primarily by the search for agricultural land rather than by commerce with indigenous communities. Cyrenaica’s plateau supported cereals, tree crops, and livestock, while surplus production enabled exports of grain, wool, and ox-hides. Conflict with Libyan peoples and Phoenician powers limited further expansion, especially westward toward Tripolitania.
VIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C. – IVᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Cyrenaica, North Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The establishment and expansion of Greek settlements in Cyrenaica from the seventh century BC. Beginning with colonists from Thera, the process produced Cyrene and a network of related cities, transformed local political geography, and developed an agricultural economy linked to wider Mediterranean trade.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Around 639 BC, the island state of Thera sent a small group of colonists toward North Africa after a prolonged drought. The settlers first occupied the offshore island of Platea, then moved to Aziris on the mainland. In the most probable account, they founded Cyrene in 631 BC after being guided through the region by a Cretan purple-fisher.
Cyrene became the centre of a wider Greek settlement network. Apollonia served as its port, while Ptolemais and Taucheira were established farther west; Barce was founded inland by dissidents from Cyrene around the middle of the sixth century BC, and Euhesperides was established on the coast, probably in the early sixth century. These cities were later grouped as the Pentapolis.
Greek settlement was driven primarily by the search for agricultural land rather than by commerce with indigenous communities. Cyrenaica’s plateau supported cereals, tree crops, and livestock, while surplus production enabled exports of grain, wool, and ox-hides. Conflict with Libyan peoples and Phoenician powers limited further expansion, especially westward toward Tripolitania.