• Sources on the history of ancient Greece
  • Sources on the history of Crete and Achaean Greece, II millennium BC. e.
  • Sources on the history of archaic and classical Greece
    • Sources on the history of archaic and classical Greece - page 2
    • Sources on the history of archaic and classical Greece - page 3
    • Sources on the history of archaic and classical Greece - page 4
  • Sources on the history of Greece in the Hellenistic period
    • Sources on the history of Greece in the Hellenistic period - page 2
• Historiography of the history of Ancient Greece
  • The study of the history of ancient Greece in the XIX - early XX century.
    • The study of the history of ancient Greece in the XIX - early XX century. - page 2
  • Russian historiography of the 19th - early 20th centuries.
  • Foreign historiography of Ancient Greece of the XX century.
    • Foreign historiography of Ancient Greece of the XX century. - page 2
    • Foreign historiography of Ancient Greece of the XX century. - page 3
  • Foreign historiography of the 90s
    • Foreign historiography of the 90s - page 2
  • Domestic historiography of antiquity (1917-1990)
    • Domestic historiography of antiquity (1917-1990) - page 2
    • Domestic historiography of antiquity (1917-1990) - page 3
  • Domestic historiography of the 90s
• Civilization of Minoan Crete
  • Prerequisites for the formation of the state in Crete
  • First state formations
  • Creation of a united common Cretan state
    • Creation of a united common Cretan state - page 2
  • Religious views. royal power
  • Socio-economic relations
  • Cretan maritime power and its decline
• Achaean Greece in the 2nd millennium BC. e. Mycenaean civilization
  • Greece in the early Helladic period (until the end of the 3rd millennium BC).
  • Invasion of the Greek Achaeans. The formation of the first states
  • Formation of the Mycenaean civilization
    • Formation of the Mycenaean civilization - page 2
  • Socio-economic structure
  • Organization of public administration
  • Relationships of the Achaean kingdoms
    • Relations between the Achaean kingdoms - page 2
  • The decline of the Mycenaean civilization
  • Section Conclusion
• Homeric (prepolis) period. The decomposition of tribal relations and the creation of the preconditions for the polis system. XI-IX centuries BC e.
  • Features of the development of Homeric society
  • Socio-economic relations. Slavery
    • Socio-economic relations. Slavery - page 2
  • Tribal institutions and the Homeric policy
  • Property and social stratification
    • Property and social stratification - page 2
• Socio-economic development of Greece.
  • The state of the Greek economy
    • The state of the Greek economy - page 2
  • • The social structure of Greek society - page 2
  • Early or older tyranny
  • Great Greek colonization
    • Great Greek colonization - page 2
  • The birth of a new Greek culture
    • The birth of a new Greek culture - page 2
    • The birth of a new Greek culture - page 3
• Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e.
  • General conditions for development
  • Northern Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e.
    • Northern Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. - page 2
    • Northern Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. - page 3
  • Southern Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. Early Sparta
    • Southern Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. Early Sparta - page 2
    • Southern Peloponnese in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. Early Sparta - page 3
• Formation of the polis system in Attica
  • Athens in the VIII-VII centuries. BC e.
  • Solon's reforms. Shaping the foundations of Athenian democracy
    • Solon's reforms. Shaping the foundations of Athenian democracy - page 2
  • The tyranny of Peisistratus and the Peisistratids in Athens (560-510 BC)
  • Legislation of Cleisthenes. Organization of polis democracy
• • Greek polis as a socio-political organism
    • Greek polis as a socio-political organism - page 2
    • Greek polis as a socio-political organism - page 3
• Greco-Persian Wars
  • Causes of the Greco-Persian Wars. Their periodization
  • Rebellion of Miletus and the Greek cities of Asia Minor
  • The first Persian invasions of Balkan Greece (492-490 BC)
    • The first Persian invasions of Balkan Greece (492-490 BC) - page 2
  • Campaign of Xerxes
    • Campaign of Xerxes - page 2
    • Campaign of Xerxes - page 3
  • Organization of the Delian Symmachy (First Athenian Maritime Union)
  • Growing tension between Athens and Sparta. Military expedition of Athens to Egypt and the end of the Greco-Persian wars
    • Growing tension between Athens and Sparta. The military expedition of Athens to Egypt and the end of the Greco-Persian wars - page 2
• Economy of Greece in V-IV centuries. BC e.
  • General features of the Greek economy
  • Position in agriculture
  • crafts
    • Crafts - page 2
    • Crafts - page 3
  • Trade
• The social structure of Greek society
  • The social structure of Greek society
  • Characteristics of classical slavery
    • Characteristics of classic bondage - page 2
    • Characteristics of classic bondage - page 3
  • ruling class
  • Position of free small producers
    • The position of free small producers - page 2
  • Layer of declassed elements
• Athenian democracy and Spartan oligarchy as political systems
  • General features. The concept of Athenian citizenship
  • National Assembly in Athens
  • Council of 500 and the Areopagus
  • Elected officials
  • Jury trial - Helium
  • Social policy of Athenian democracy
• Government of Sparta
  • General features. People's Assembly (apella)
  • Gerussia and the College of Ephors
  • Institute of royal power. Military positions
  • The system of state education of the Spartans
• The internal political situation of Greece in the second half of the 5th century. BC e.
  • Characteristics of the Peloponnesian Union
  • First Athenian Maritime Union
    • First Athenian Maritime Union - page 2
    • First Athenian Maritime Union - page 3
  • The foreign policy of the Athenian maritime union in the 40-30s BC. e.
    • The foreign policy of the Athenian maritime union in the 40-30s BC. e. - page 2
• Peloponnesian War. 431-404 BC e.
  • Causes of the war
  • Archidamov's War 431-421 BC e.
    • Archidamov's War 431-421 BC e. - page 2
    • Archidamov's War 431-421 BC e. - page 3
  • The second period of the Peloponnesian War (415-404 BC)
    • The second period of the Peloponnesian War (415-404 BC) - page 2
    • The second period of the Peloponnesian War (415-404 BC) - page 3
• Greece in the first half of the 4th century BC e. Greek polis crisis
  • Socio-economic status
    • Socio-economic status - page 2
    • Socio-economic status - page 3
    • Socio-economic status - page 4
  • The increase in social tension in Greece IV century. BC e.
    • The increase in social tension in Greece IV century. BC e. - page 2
    • The increase in social tension in Greece IV century. BC e. - page 3
    • The increase in social tension in Greece IV century. BC e. - page 4
• Military and political situation in Greece. The crisis of the polis system of relations
  • Hegemony of Sparta in Greece (404-379 BC)
    • Hegemony of Sparta in Greece (404-379 BC) - page 2
    • Hegemony of Sparta in Greece (404-379 BC) - page 3
  • Second Athenian Maritime Union. Rise and hegemony of Thebes. (379-355 BC)
    • Second Athenian Maritime Union. Rise and hegemony of Thebes. (379-355 BC) - page 2
    • Second Athenian Maritime Union. Rise and hegemony of Thebes. (379-355 BC) - page 3
    • Second Athenian Maritime Union. Rise and hegemony of Thebes. (379-355 BC) - page 4

Great Greek colonization

The process of socio-economic, political and cultural development of Greek society in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. gave rise to such an interesting phenomenon in ancient Greek history as the Great Colonization, i.e., the eviction of Greeks from the cities of the Aegean basin to numerous colonies (in Greek "apoikias") located along the coast of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. In total, several hundred colonies were bred with a total population of 1.5-2 million people.

What were the reasons for this powerful colonization movement? There are several main ones. The intensification of the Greek economy, the development of crafts and trade in emerging policies required an expansion of the field of activity: new lands were needed for citizens losing their allotments, sources of raw materials were needed, markets for the products of craft workshops - and all this could be found in colonies based in convenient and rich areas of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, in the surrounding territories occupied by local tribes.

Another important reason for the withdrawal of the colonies was the process of class formation and social differentiation of Greek society, which took place in the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. The poor who lost their land, fell into the tenacious clutches of usurers, relatives enslaved by the nobility, and representatives of various struggling groups who were defeated in the social struggle, were looking for good luck and prosperity in a foreign land, in the newly founded colonies.

The aristocracy did not interfere with such a resettlement, because dissatisfied elements, dangerous for the domination of the nobility, political opponents left for the colony. At the same time, it was beneficial for the ruling circles of metropolitan cities to have their own colonies, with which mutually beneficial ties were established, from where they received valuable raw materials, where they could sell the products of estates and craft workshops, with the help of which the metropolises expanded their political influence.

The removal of a large population in the colony would not have been possible without a general increase in the Greek population. Greece VIII-VI centuries. BC e. experienced a kind of demographic explosion caused by a number of reasons that have not yet been fully explored, but, undoubtedly, one of the main ones was the rapid development of the Greek economy, which creates surplus products that require marketing, a sufficient amount of raw materials, labor, providing a certain material wealth.

In the Great Greek colonization, three different directions can be distinguished. The most powerful was the western direction. The first colony founded by the Greeks in the West was the settlement on the island of Pitecussa and the city of Cuma (in Campania), which were brought out around the middle of the 8th century. BC e. Cities were soon founded, which then turned into the largest and most prosperous Western Greek policies: Syracuse (733 BC), Zancla (730 BC), later renamed Messana, Rhegium (720 BC e.), Tarentum (706 BC), Sybaris, Croton, Gela, Selinunte, Akragant, etc. Sicily and southern Italy were so densely dotted with a network of Greek colonies and settlements, the Greek colonists mastered these territories so thoroughly, that Southern Italy and Sicily came to be called by the characteristic term "Greater Greece".

Massalia was founded on the southern coast of France (c. 600 BC), which later became a populous policy, through which Greek goods were sent along the Rodanu River to the interior of Gaul, up to modern Paris. A large colony of Emporion was founded on the Spanish coast.

The city of Corinth, one of the largest trade and craft centers of Balkan Greece, was especially active in the western colonization, which is characterized by the early formation of the polis system and the new economy.

The colonization movement in the northeast direction was also distinguished by great power. Here Miletus, also one of the largest and richest Greek cities, played a leading role. According to legend, Miletus brought up to 100 different settlements and colonies. The cities of Cyzicus (756 BC), Chalcedon (685 BC), Byzantium (667 BC) became large Greek colonies of Propontis.

The cities of Sinope (756 BC) and Heraclea Pontica (560 BC) were the most powerful on the southern coast of the Black Sea. The most significant Greek colonies in the Western Black Sea region were considered Istria (657 BC), Apollonia Pontus, Odessa, Tomy, Kallatia. In the VI century. BC e. the colonization wave reached the Northern Black Sea region. The oldest Greek settlement was founded on the island of Berezan at the turn of the 7th-6th centuries. BC e., but soon the Berezan settlement became part of the larger colony of Olbia, founded in the first half of the 6th century. BC e. at the mouth of the Dnieper-Bug estuary.

A number of Greek colonies arose in ancient Taurica (modern Crimea). In the VI century. BC e. about a dozen different settlements and towns appeared on both sides of the Kerch Strait, the largest of them were Panticapaeum (the turn of the 7th-6th centuries BC) on the site of modern Kerch and Phanagoria (547 BC) on the Asian side of the Kerch Strait. At the beginning of the 5th century BC e. the Greek colonies of the Kerch Strait united under the rule of the strong city of Panticapaeum, and this association became known as the Bosporus State (or Bosporus).

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In the archaic era (VIII-VI centuries BC), the phenomenon of Greek colonization was widely developed. The decisive factor was the socio-economic development of policies. The strengthening of the power of the polis aristocracy was accompanied by the concentration of land in its hands with the simultaneous dispossession of free citizens from land. The limited resources of each city-state and the constant growth of the population, in an environment where land ownership was the dominant trend in society, led to the need for emigration. Thus, the main contingent of colonization became small and medium landowners who lost their allotments.

The early Greek colonies were in the nature of agricultural settlements that had close ties only with the metropolis. However, as the colonies developed, they became commercial and artisan, economically gaining more and more independence. The colonies, expanding the boundaries of the Hellenic world, contributed to the strengthening of ties with other peoples, the intensification of maritime trade and navigation, the growth of commodity production both in the metropolises and in the colonies themselves.

As a rule, the colonies were located on the sea coast and were small. Basically, they were politically independent and were free policies, relations with the metropolis were limited to a union of independent states.

Greek colonization of the VIII-VI centuries. BC e. developed simultaneously in many directions, increasing new and strengthening old ties with other peoples, from Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea) to the Pillars of Hercules (Strait of Gibraltar).

First, the islands on the coasts of the Ionian and southern Adriatic Seas were colonized, then the intensive development of southern Italy began (Spartan Tarept, Kim Kum, etc.). According to legend, in 735 Naxos was founded by the Chalcidians, the first colony in Sicily. During the VIII and VI centuries. BC e. the colonization of Sicily and southern Italy assumed such a wide scope that already in the 6th century. these territories became known as Magna Graecia. It was here that a particularly cruel expansion was observed, accompanied by military conflicts, both with the local population and among the colonies themselves. Phocian Massalia became a major center for further colonization in the western direction.

The most significant southern colonies were Naucratis in the Nile Delta and Cyrene in Libya. The union of policies, headed by Cyrene ("five-city") covered the whole region - Cyrenaica - and became the largest exporter of grain to Greek cities.

The southern coast of the Black Sea, the shores of the Hellespont (Dardanelles) and Prochontida (Sea of ​​Marmara) were settled mainly by Asia Minor cities already from the 8th century. BC e.

As the colonies developed, the same social processes took place in them as in the native Greek cities, leading to new rounds of colonization.

During the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. the dominant process in the colonies was the formation of the state structure. The trade and handicraft strata demanded that the laws in force be written down in the face of an intensified struggle with large landowners; as in the metropolises, political upheavals took place in the new policies. Tyranny, which became a characteristic phenomenon for the cities of Magna Graecia, by the 5th century BC. reached an impressive scale: this is how large state formations arose (Syracuse).

Economic and political mechanism of the colony was based on a legally formalized system of agriculture, since, despite the widespread development of navigation and trade, the Greek world remained the world of agricultural policies throughout the archaic period. Thus, the broad masses of peasants and artisans were interested in the development of new lands.

Great Greek colonization

From the middle of the 8th century BC. Greeks begin to settle along all the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. On the ships, people loaded their pets, supplies and set off. According to scientists, the Greeks then founded several hundred cities across the sea. These migrations are now called the great Greek colonization, and the new cities are called colonies. It is called Great because of the huge scope of colonization. It continued for about 300 years.

Greek colonization had three main directions. The most significant was the western direction - towards the island of Sicily, southern Italy, southern France and even Spain. To the south, the Greeks sailed to the northern shores of Africa. But here they met the resistance of the Egyptian pharaohs. Therefore, only the city of Navcratis was founded on the territory of Egypt. To the northeast, the path went towards the straits that connected the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea, and further to its shores. 1. Reasons for colonization.

The founding of new cities was due to various reasons. For example, in one state, living conditions were very good, and therefore, after a while, the population increased so much that it could no longer feed itself on the available land. In another policy, a fierce struggle began between citizens. Then the people's assembly decided to evict part of the population so that others could live in peace. Or those defeated in the struggle left their native policy. There were other reasons for colonization.

Greek colonies were founded in places convenient for life, with fertile lands. As a rule, they were located on the seashore, where there were good harbors. Cities were built where the Greeks had already been before on trade business.

Arriving at the place, the settlers divided the land into equal sections both inside the city and around it, in the fields and meadows. They surrounded the city with walls, erected temples to the gods, built dwellings.

The new cities were completely independent of the city from which the colonists sailed (this city was called the metropolis - the mother city). The most famous of the metropolises was Miletus in Asia Minor. Natives of Miletus founded several dozen colonies.

2. Results of colonization.

The great Greek colonization had a huge impact on the development of the entire ancient Greek world. She expanded the knowledge of the Greeks. They met with many peoples new to them, learned about their customs, religion, culture.

Colonization contributed to the development of economy and trade, as well as navigation. The colonists needed many things that they could not initially produce themselves and were forced to buy in Greece. Products of blacksmiths and other artisans, olive oil, and wine were brought from Hellas to the colonies. Grain, slaves, metals were brought from the colony in exchange. New cities grew and grew rich.

3. Colonies on the northern shores of the Black Sea.

The Greeks founded many colonies on the northern shores of the Black Sea, on the territory of modern Russia and Ukraine. The most powerful state that arose here is the Bosporan kingdom. The Bosporan kingdom owned vast fertile lands and was rich in grain.

On the outskirts of Sevastopol are the ruins of the Greek city of Khersones. Now here is a reserve, and you can walk along the ancient streets excavated by archaeologists and see the remains of various buildings. Another Greek city was Olbia (which means "Happy"). This city was visited by the "father of history" Herodotus during his travels. He collected information about the Scythians here.

4. Scythians. The Scythians were the closest neighbors of the Greeks in the Northern Black Sea region. According to Herodotus, “the Scythians do not sow or plow anything at all”, “the Scythians have neither cities nor fortifications, and they carry their dwellings with them. ". Despite the primitive life of the Scythians, they managed to create a powerful state. The Scythians obeyed many peoples who lived in their neighborhood. In 512 B.C. e. the Scythians even repulsed the campaign of the powerful army of the Persian king Darius I.

5. Mounds of the Scythians. If you find yourself in the steppes that stretch along the northern shores of the Black Sea, you will definitely see one or more burial mounds. The mound was called a hill, poured over the grave. Archaeologists have unearthed some of the burial mounds of the Scythian kings.

In the graves of the kings, the remains of people and horses were found, which were killed and buried with the king. Here lay various things that accompanied the king to the afterlife. Among them are many magnificent items made of gold and silver. These are jewelry, jugs, bowls, combs and other items. They were made by Greek craftsmen, but they tried to make the Scythians like their products, so they decorated these items with images that were close and understandable to the Scythians. For example, one vase depicts scenes from Scythian legends.

6. Greeks and barbarians. As a result of colonization, the Greeks met many peoples that they did not know before. The Greeks saw that these peoples differed from them in language, customs, culture. Thanks to this, the Greeks began to realize themselves as a single people - the Hellenes. All other peoples they called barbarians. The word "barbarian" originated as an onomatopoeia. When the Greeks wanted to imitate non-Hellenic speech, they muttered "var-var". The Greeks considered the inhabitants of Babylonia, Persia and Egypt as barbarians - countries with a centuries-old history and culture. For them, backward tribes were also barbarians: Thracians, Illyrians, Scythians.

At first, the word "barbarian" meant sorry "foreigner", "not Hellenes". But gradually the attitude of the Greeks towards foreigners is changing. The Hellenes began to think that they were superior to the barbarians in everything. Therefore, they considered all people living according to their customs to be backward people, born for slavery.

Intermediaries in the trade of Scythian bread and other goods produced in the lands of the Skolots were the Greek city-colonies - slave-owning states on the Black Sea coast. The most famous colonies were:

Olbia- an ancient city on the right bank of the Dnieper-Bug estuary, south of modern Nikolaev. Founded by people from Miletus

in the first quarter of the 6th c. BC. The name in Greek means "happy, rich." The population during the heyday of this colony reached 15 thousand people. It was destroyed during the invasion of the Huns in the 70s. 4th century AD;

• Chersonese Tauride- an ancient city, located in the southwestern part of the Crimea, on the territory of modern Sevastopol. The name in Greek meant "peninsula". In Russian chronicles it was called Korsun. Chersonesos was founded in 529–528 BC by immigrants from Heraclea Pontica, a city located on the Asia Minor coast of the Black Sea. slaves, cattle, bread, leather, furs, honey, wax.In turn, jewelry made of precious metals, weapons, painted black-glazed dishes, olive oil, marble were delivered from Greece;
• Kalos Limen, ancient city in the north-west of Crimea. It was founded by the Ionian Greeks in the 4th century. BC. on the site of the modern village of Chernomorskoe. The name in Greek means "beautiful harbor". The Scythians repeatedly took control of this port, trying to keep the grain trade under control. Destroyed by the Sarmatians in the 1st century. AD;
• Nikonius- an ancient city on the eastern bank of the Dniester estuary. It was located on the territory of the modern village of Roksolany, Odessa region. Originated in the second half of the 6th century. BC. At the turn of III-II centuries. BC. underwent destruction, which is associated with the Macedonian commander Zopiron. Completely destroyed during the Great Migration of Nations;
• Thira- an ancient city on the right bank of the Dniester estuary, founded on the site of the modern city of Belgorod-Dniester. The first settlements arose on this site as early as the 7th-6th centuries. BC, but city fortifications were erected here only in the 5th century. BC.;
• Panticapaeum- an ancient city founded on the site of the current Kerch by immigrants from Miletus at the end of the 7th century. BC. Name translated from Iranian ( Rapi-Kara) meant "fish way". In its heyday, it occupied about 100 hectares. The acropolis was located on a mountain that is called Mithridates today. Panticapaeum became the capital of the Kingdom of Bosnor, which included the nearest policies. After the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate, this city was part of the Russian Tmutarakan principality under the name Korchev;
• Feodosia- an ancient city on the southeastern coast of Crimea. Founded by immigrants from Miletus in the VI century. BC. From 355 BC was part of the Bosporan kingdom. Destroyed by the Huns in the 4th c. AD Soon it was restored and controlled by the Alans who settled in the vicinity, who gave the city a new name Ardabda (Seven Gods). For a long time, under the name of Kaffa, it belonged to the Genoese;
• Nymphaeum- an ancient city in the Crimea, located on the western shore of the Kerch Strait, 17 km south of the current Kerch. The name, translated from Greek, meant "sanctuary of the nymphs". It was founded in the 570-560s. BC. Destroyed by the Goths in the III century. AD;
• kimmerik- an ancient city in the Crimea on the western slope of Mount Opuk, about 50 km southwest of Kerch. Founded by immigrants from Miletus in the 5th century. BC. Destroyed by the Goths in the III century. AD;
• Kerkinitida- an ancient city that existed from the beginning of the 5th century. BC. until the end of the 2nd century. BC. in the west of the Crimean peninsula on the site of the current Evpatoria. The inhabitants of Kerkinitida were engaged in fishing, winemaking, and growing crops. In the middle of the II century. BC. the city was captured by the Scythians, who used it as their trading port;
• Tanais- an ancient city (III century BC - V century AD) at the mouth of the Don, founded in the III century. BC. Greeks - immigrants from the Bosporus kingdom. It was located 30 km west of the current Rostov-on-Don.

Not all Black Sea policies focused on trade with Scythia. Some of the Greek colonies were in contact with the peoples of the Caucasus. Local wine, fruits, ship timber, hemp, flax, wax, resin, golden sand were exported from this territory. These colonies included:

• Phanagoria- an ancient city on the Taman Peninsula. It was located on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus (Kerch Strait) on the Taman Peninsula, 25 km northeast of Germonassa. The second capital of the Bosporan kingdom after Panticopoeia. It was founded by the Teos on the island of the now defunct Korokondamita archipelago around 543, having received the name of one of their leaders - Phanagoras. At the beginning of the X century. residents left the city due to rising sea levels and the entry of the channels of the Kuban River. Thanks to this, the neighboring city of Tmutarakan, the former Germonassa, began to grow rapidly;
• Hermonassa- an ancient city on the Taman Peninsula, the second most important on the eastern shore of the Kerch Strait after Phanagoria. Appeared no later than the end of the VI century. BC. presumably on the site of the modern village of Taman, Krasnodar Territory. The Byzantines called Hermonassa Tamatarha, the Khazars - Samkerts, after the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate in the 10th century. the city was named Tmutarakan and became the capital of the Tmutarakan principality;
• Caps- an ancient city on the Taman Peninsula, founded on the eastern shore of the Kerch Strait by immigrants from Miletus. The name in Greek means "gardens". Its origin dates back to the 580-570s. BC. After the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate, the settlement that remained on this site became part of the Russian Tmutarakan principality;
• Torik- an ancient city on the Black Sea coast, on the site of the present Gelendzhik. After the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate, the settlement that remained on this site became part of the Russian Tmutarakan principality;
• Gorgippia is an ancient city on the Black Sea coast that existed in the 4th century BC. BC. - III century. AD After the defeat of the Khazar Khaganate, the settlement that remained on this site became part of the Russian Tmutarakan principality;
• Pitiunt- an ancient city on the site of the modern village of Pitsunda on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus near the city of Gagra;
• Phasis- an ancient city founded in the VI century. BC. natives of Miletus on the coast of Colchis (Georgia), was located near the present city of Poti;
• Dioscurias (Dioscuria)- an ancient city on the site of modern Sukhumi on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Founded in the VI century. BC. people from Miletus. Most of the ancient city is currently under water.

The cities of the Northern Black Sea region largely copied the structure and way of life of the Greek world, the cradle of European civilization. Antique slavery, in contrast to slavery in Eastern despotisms and the patriarchal slavery of peoples who were at the stage of decomposition of the primitive communal system, was based on a high level of development of commodity production. Active maritime trade stimulated the specialization of production. There were large land latifundia that produced grain, wine, oil. Crafts have developed significantly. As a result of wars, the number of slaves multiplied, which all free citizens had the right to own. In ancient states, they played a big role in the government of the country. Almost all the city-states of the Black Sea region were slave-owning republics.

Majestic temples, residential and public buildings rose behind the fortress walls. Through convenient harbors, Greek ships carried grain, wine, oil, produced by the labor of slaves or bought from neighboring tribes, in amphorae from the Black Sea region. Slaves were also exported. Half of the bread that the Athenians ate was brought from Panticapaeum.

In the 5th century BC. Panticapaeum became the center of a large slave-owning power - the Bosporan kingdom (V century BC - IV century AD). It waged continuous wars with neighboring nomadic peoples. In 107 BC in the Bosporus there was an uprising of artisans, peasants, and also slaves led by Savmak. He was proclaimed king of the Bosporus. With the help of the troops of Mithridates, king of Pontus (a state in Asia Minor), the uprising was crushed, and Savmak was executed. The uprising of Savmak is the first known major uprising of the masses on the territory of our country.

In the first centuries of our era, the slave-owning city-states of the Black Sea became dependent on Rome. By the 3rd century AD the crisis of the slave system was clearly manifested, and in the 4th-5th centuries. the slave-owning powers that existed then in the Mediterranean fell under the onslaught of the tribes of the Goths and the Huns. Slave labor in the transition to iron tools became unprofitable. The invasion of barbarian tribes completed the fall of the slave-owning civilization.