Category: ancient greece

The Greek Colonization of the Ancient Mediterranean,

By the 10th – 9th century BC Greece began to emerge from the dark ages resulting from the Bronze Age Collapse, resulting in the re-founding of city states across the country. The Greek city states quickly became prosperous, with a bountiful blossoming of culture, art, trade, agriculture, and a quickly growing population. By the 8th century many Greek city states began to look upon the horizon for new opportunities. Thus began a mass colonization effort by the Greeks to set up colonies across the Mediterranean.  Between the 8th and 5th century BC the Greeks founded around 500 colonies, settling in remote lands in the Balkans, Turkey, the Black Sea regions, Egypt, Libya, Italy, Southern France, and as far away as Spain. Many of these new cities would become so prosperous and wealthy that they would rival or surpass that of their founding city.  Most colonies would eventually become independent of the home country.  

Greek colonization rivaled and surpassed that of the Phoenicians, resulting in the “Hellenization” of the Mediterranean as Greek culture would influence the people and lands around them long before the conquests of Alexander the Great.  By then 40% of Greeks lived outside of Greece.  In Southern Italy Greek culture was so strong that the Romans and Etruscans referred to it as “Magna Graetia” or “Great Greece”. Speaking of the Romans, Roman culture would be heavily influenced by Greek culture as a result of Greek colonization of Italy. By the time of the Roman Empire, Greek was a second language spoken by many Romans.  As far away as Spain Greek was being spoken.  The Roman carving below (yes I know it is a penis grow up) was uncovered in Spain and dates to the 2nd century, but features Greek inscriptions.


Corinthian style bronze helmet, Ancient Greece, circa 600 BC.

from Pax Romana Auctions

Greek Chalcidean helmet, circa 400 BC.

from Pax Romana Auctions

The Kukri DID NOT come from the Falcata or Kopis

They are separated by more than a thousand years, with no connecting points. 

Chalcidean type bronze helmet, Ancient Greece, 4th century BC.

from Hermann Historica

Greek Chalcidean type bronze helmet, circa 500 BC.

from The Curator’s Eye

Gold decorated Mycenaean dagger, 15th century BC.

On display at the National Archeological Museum, Athens

Ancient Greeks vs. Han China, The War of the Heavenly Horses

By the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC the Macedonian Empire stretched from Greece in the West all the way to Northern India in the East. One of the most remote cities named after Alexander was Alexandria Eschate, literally meaning Alexandria the Farthest, located in what is today the southwestern end of the Ferghana Valley in Tajikstan. The city was founded by Greek colonists and former Macedonian soldiers retired from Alexander’s army, who were granted land as a reward from their service. Nearly two hundred years later Alexandria Eschate was a thriving Greco-Bactrian city when it was visited by the Chinese explorer Zhang Qian in 130 BC. Zhang Quang returned to the Han Emperor with reports of incredibly fast, strong, and rugged horses which were bred by the Dayuan (Greater Ionians aka Greeks) living in the Ferghana Valley. The Chinese greatly desired the horses to help fend off the Xiongnu, a confederation of nomadic horse tribes who lived in the northern steppes of what is now Mongolia. Like most nomadic horse tribes throughout history, they were a major pain in the butt for their neighbors at best, and dangerous enemies at worst. The Chinese were looking to acquire Ferghana horses to help level the playing field against the Xiongnu.

At first the Chinese and Dayuan traded a limited number of horses, however the Greeks refused to trade more. When an incident occurred that led to the death of a Chinese ambassador, China declared war on the Dayuan. The Han Emperor sent an army of 30,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry to conquer Alexandria Eschate led by the general Li Guangli in 104 BC. Unfortunately for the Chinese, the operation would be extremely difficult as they had to cross through the rugged and barren Taklaman Desert in what is now the Xinjian Uyghur Autonomous Region. 

While traveling through the region, Li Guangli demanded local towns, city states, and tribes provide his army with food and provisions. Most refused resulting in petty conflicts. By the time the Chinese army had arrived at Alexander Eschate half of it’s men had died of starvation, exhaustion, disease, and exposure. The remained were not fit for combat, forcing Li Guangli to retreat for home. Few returned alive.

In 102 BC the Emperor gave Li Guangli an army twice the size, this time better equipped with pack animals and supplies for the journey. Again the army traveled through the Taklaman Desert, however this time it was large enough to quell most opposition, and the local factions willingly supplied the army with food in order to avoid war. Regardless by the time the army arrived at Alexandria Eschate, half of the men had died from the harsh conditions. The army laid siege to Alexandria Eschate. After 40 days the Chinese were able to break through the city’s outer wall and cut off it’s water supply. The Dayuan surrendered and presented the head of their king to Li Guangli on a platter. A puppet ruler was appointed in his stead, and the army returned with a tribute of 3,000 horses which were used for breeding.

Li Guangli’s army returned to China with around 10,000 men, around 1/6th of its original size. The Furghana Valley and Taklaman Desert become territory of the Han Empire as a result of the expedition. 

The short war between Han China and the Furghana Valley Greeks is one of the first documented instances of contact between China and a European culture. It was also signal a beginning of the important historical trade network known as the Silk Road.

Greek bronze helmet of the Cretan type, 650-620 BC.

A replica of Mycenaean bronze armor, circa 1,500 BC. Based upon the original set on display at the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio.

from Hellenic Armors