--- title: Magna Graecia author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2025-04-03 --- # Magna Graecia _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Magna Graecia (*Megalē Hellas*) refers to the coastal areas of southern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/) which were colonized by various ancient [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states from the 8th to 5th centuries BCE. [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/), although also a region of [Greek colonization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Colonization/), is not usually included in this area. However, later writers such as Strabo did include Sicily as the term came to signify the entire Greek world. The original Magna Graecia region extends from the Euboean colony of Cumae (probably the earliest and founded c. 740 BCE) to the Spartan colony of [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) (founded c. 706 BCE). The last of the Greek colonies to be founded was Heraclea in 433 BCE. ### Greek [Colonization](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/colonization/) Greek colonists, following in the footsteps of the [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/) Mycenaeans, selected Magna Graecia as a suitable site for colonies due to the fertility of the land and, at the meeting point of the Greek, [Etruscan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Etruscan_Civilization/), and Phoenician worlds, its advantageous geographical position for [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/). That the colonies in southern Italy became a fully integrated part of the Greek world is evidenced in the presence of votive offerings from Magna Graecia at the great religious sanctuaries of [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/) and [Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/). Indeed, the ceasefire (*ekecheiria*) which was enforced during the [Olympic Games](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympic_Games/) was also respected in the colonies, and the list of victors at Olympia includes many a name from Magna Graecia. However, the region was not a single harmonious entity, for just as on mainland [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/), small city-states or *[poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/)* (quite independent from their founding mother-city) both competed and cooperated with neighbouring [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) to form a constantly shifting political network of rivalries and alliances. The region was also subject to greater political instability precisely because it was at the crossroads of several civilizations, and its wealth in natural resources meant that territory was often enviously regarded, particularly by the tyrants of Sicily. These Greek cities were also unstable internally due to their cosmopolitan mix of races - locals, colonists, mercenaries, residents from neighbouring areas etc. ### Key City-States Amongst the most important *poleis* of Magna Graecia (with founding city and date) were: - **Cumae** (Euboea, c. 740 BCE) the earliest Greek colony on the Italian mainland and founder of new cities such as Neapolis, which from 421 BCE became the most important city in Campania. - **Sybaris** (Achaean/Troezen, c. 720 BCE) which had a reputation for luxury based on its rich [agriculture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Agriculture/) and was itself the founder of Poseidonia ([Paestum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Paestum/)). - **Croton** (Achaean, c. 710 BCE) where [Pythagoras](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pythagoras/) founded a religious community in 530 BCE. - **Tarentum** ([Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/), 706 BCE) blessed with the best harbour on the coast of south Italy, the presence of Tarentine coins and goods across southern Italy are testimony to the city's prosperity and trade network. - **Elea** (Phocaea, c. 540 BCE) famous for its Eleatic school of [philosophy](https://www.worldhistory.org/philosophy/). - **Thurii** ([Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/), c. 443 BCE) the place of the historian [Herodotus](https://www.worldhistory.org/herodotus/)' retirement. - **Heraclea** (Tarentum, 433 BCE) seat of the Italiote League from 387 BCE. The late 5th century BCE saw increasing conflict with the indigenous population, particularly the Oscan tribes based in the Apennine Mountains. These peoples increasingly pushed into the fertile plains and so came eventually to overrun the *poleis* through mass immigration. However, in a reverse effect, the political and cultural model of the *poleis* also loosened the original cultural and political bonds of these indigenous populations so that they became in a certain sense 'Greek' - the [polis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) system, [Greek architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Architecture/), art, [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/), and even language were all readily adopted. In the following centuries the area came in increasing contact with [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/), and by 89 BCE all of the surviving cities of Magna Graecia came fully under [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) control. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/) - [Kinzl, K.H. (ed). *A Companion to the Classical Greek World.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1444334123/) - [Morkot, R. *The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece.* Penguin Books, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140513353/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 740 BCE**: Chalcis and Kyme found the colony of Cumae in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **c. 740 BCE - c. 433 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) or [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states establish colonies in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **720 BCE**: [Metapontum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Metapontum/) in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) is found by Achaeans. - **c. 720 BCE**: Sybaris in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) founded by Archaean settlers. - **c. 710 BCE**: Croton in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) founded by Archaean settlers. - **706 BCE**: [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) founds the colony of [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **c. 580 BCE**: [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/) in [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/) is founded by colonists from [Gela](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gela/), [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/) and [Rhodes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rhodes/). - **570 BCE - 530 BCE**: The Doric [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of [Hera](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hera/) is built at [Metapontum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Metapontum/), [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **c. 540 BCE**: Phocaea founds Elea in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **491 BCE - 478 BCE**: Reign of Gelon, tyrant of [Gela](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gela/) on [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/). - **490 BCE**: [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) wins victories against the Messapians and Peucetians in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **c. 489 BCE - c. 473 BCE**: The tyrant Theron rules [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/). - **480 BCE**: [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) wins victories against the Messapians and Peucetians in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **480 BCE**: [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/) defeats [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) at the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Himera. - **c. 480 BCE**: The huge [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) is built at [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/). - **c. 475 BCE**: The Messapians inflict a heavy defeat on [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **450 BCE - 430 BCE**: The [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of Concordia is built at [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/). - **c. 443 BCE**: Thurii in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) founded by Athenian settlers. - **440 BCE**: [Brundisium](https://www.worldhistory.org/Brundisium/) and Thurii form an alliance in southern [Italy](https://www.worldhistory.org/italy/). - **433 BCE**: The colony of Heraclea in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) is founded by [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/). - **433 BCE**: [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) founds Heraclea in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **406 BCE**: [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/) is attacked and destroyed by [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/). - **338 BCE**: [Timoleon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Timoleon/) agrees a peace treaty with [Carthage](https://www.worldhistory.org/carthage/) over their control of [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/). - **282 BCE**: [Gela](https://www.worldhistory.org/Gela/), on [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/), is destroyed by Phintias, the tyrant of [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/). - **270 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) occupies [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). - **262 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) besieges and sacks [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/) on [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/) in one of the first actions of the [First Punic War](https://www.worldhistory.org/First_Punic_War/). - **210 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) attacks [Agrigento](https://www.worldhistory.org/agrigento/). - **209 BCE**: [Tarentum](https://www.worldhistory.org/tarentum/) comes under [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) control during the [Second Punic War](https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Punic_War/). - **89 BCE**: All [poleis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Polis/) or [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/)-states in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) come under [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) control. - **c. 470 CE - c. 385 CE**: Life of the philosopher [Philolaus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Philolaus/), active in [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2013, May 24). Magna Graecia. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna\_Graecia/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Magna Graecia." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 24, 2013. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna\_Graecia/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Magna Graecia." *World History Encyclopedia*, 24 May 2013, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna\_Graecia/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 24 May 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). 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