Greek Colonization Timeline

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c. 1200 BCE - c. 800 BCE

First wave of Phoenician colonization where largely trading-posts are founded throughout the Mediterranean.
c. 1110 BCE

Traditional founding date for the Phoenician colony of Gades (Cadiz).
c. 1101 BCE

Traditional founding date for the Phoenician colony of Utica by Sidon (or Tyre).
c. 814 BCE

Traditional founding date for the Phoenician colony of Carthage by Tyre.
800 BCE - 500 BCE

Greek colonization of the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
c. 800 BCE - 600 BCE

Second stage of Phoenician colonization where trading-posts become full colonies throughout the Mediterranean.
c. 750 BCE

Phoenicians found the colony of Motya on Sicily.
c. 740 BCE - c. 433 BCE

Greek poleis or city-states establish colonies in Magna Graecia.
c. 740 BCE

Chalcis and Kyme found the colony of Cumae in Magna Graecia.
734 BCE

Chalcis founds the colony of Naxos on Sicily.
733 BCE

Corinth founds the colony of Syracuse in Sicily.
c. 733 BCE

Traditional date when Corinth founds a colony on Corcyra.
c. 720 BCE

Sybaris in Magna Graecia founded by Archaean settlers.
c. 720 BCE

Chalcis founds the colony of Rhegium in Sicily.
720 BCE

Metapontum in Magna Graecia is found by Achaeans.
c. 710 BCE

Croton in Magna Graecia founded by Archaean settlers.
706 BCE

Sparta founds the colony of Tarentum in Magna Graecia.
c. 700 BCE

Settlers from mainland Greece, possibly Samos, settle on Samothrace.
c. 689 BCE

Rhodes and Cretans found Gela in Sicily.
c. 685 BCE

Megara founds the colony of Chalcedon.
675 BCE

Miletos founds the colony of Kyzikos in the Black Sea area.
668 BCE

Megara founds the colony of Byzantium.
c. 631 BCE

Miletos founds the colony of Sinope in the Black Sea area.
630 BCE

Greek colonists from the island of Thera found the city of Cyrene in North Africa.
c. 630 BCE

Selinus is founded by colonists from Megara Hyblaea, Sicily.
c. 630 BCE

Messana founds the colony of Himera on Sicily.
c. 600 BCE

Phocaea founds the colony of Massilia.
c. 600 BCE

Paestum is founded by colonists from Sybaris.
c. 600 BCE

Miletos founds the colony of Pantikapaion in the Black Sea area.
580 BCE - 376 BCE

Carthage and Greece fight for dominance in Sicily.
c. 580 BCE

Agrigento in Sicily is founded by colonists from Gela, Crete and Rhodes.
575 BCE

Massalia founds the colony of Emporion in Spain.
560 BCE

Megara founds the colony of Herakleai Pontike in the Black Sea area.
c. 550 BCE

Miletos founds the colony of Olbia in the Black Sea area.
c. 540 BCE

Phocaea founds Elea in Magna Graecia.
525 BCE

Second wave of emigration of Greeks to Massilia.
500 BCE

Carthage expands into southern Spain.
c. 443 BCE

Thurii in Magna Graecia founded by Athenian settlers.
c. 437 BCE

Athens founds the colony of Amphipolis in northern Macedonia.
433 BCE

Tarentum founds Heraclea in Magna Graecia.
c. 420 BCE

Herakleia founds the colonies of Chersonesos in the Crimea.
415 BCE

Athens launches an expedition against Sicily, the pretext being protection of Segesta.
396 BCE

The Carthaginian city of Lilybaeum is founded on Sicily.
c. 300 BCE - c. 200 BCE

Greek colonists set up an emporion (trade centre) at Salona.
44 BCE

Julius Caesar founds the Roman colony of Corinth.