The Greeks gradually spread themselves in settlements along the northern
coast of the Ægean Sea and the Propontis, in Macedonia and Thrace, so
that the whole Ægean became encircled with Greek colonies, and its
islands were covered with them. The tide of emigration flowed westward
also in great strength.
The coasts of Southern Italy were occupied by Dorians, Achæans, and
Ionians in settlements which grew to such importance that the region
took the name of Magna Græcia, or Greater Greece. The cities of
Tarentum, Croton and Sybaris became famous for their wealth, the latter
giving rise to the proverbial name for a luxurious liver.
On the southwestern coast of Italy was Rhegium, and farther north came
Pæstum, Cumæ, and Neapolis (Naples). In Sicily flourishing Greek
settlements abounded, the chief being Messana, Syracuse, Leontini,
Catana, Gela, Selinus, and Agrigentum. Farther west still a colony from
Phocæa, in Asia Minor, founded the city of Massilia, now Marseilles. On
the southern coast of the Mediterranean, westwards from Egypt, the Greek
colony of Cyrene became the chief town of a flourishing district called
Cyrenaica.
The establishment of the later of these colonies brings us down well
within authentic historical times, and the whole period of Greek
colonization extends from about 1100 to 600 B. C., the colonies being,
in many cases, offshoots of colonies previously established and risen to
wealth and over-population. In all these movements and settlements, the
enterprise and ability of the Greeks made them great commercial rivals
to, and successors of, the Phœnicians.