Magna Graecia (Megalē Hellas) refers to the coastal areas of southern Italy which were colonized by various ancient Greek city-states from the 8th to 5th centuries BCE. Sicily, although also a region of 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.
More about: Magna GraeciaServer Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$3926 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
c. 740 BCE - c. 433 BCEGreek poleis or city-states establish colonies in Magna Graecia.
-
c. 740 BCEChalcis and Kyme found the colony of Cumae in Magna Graecia.
-
720 BCEMetapontum in Magna Graecia is found by Achaeans.
-
c. 720 BCESybaris in Magna Graecia founded by Archaean settlers.
-
c. 710 BCECroton in Magna Graecia founded by Archaean settlers.
-
706 BCESparta founds the colony of Tarentum in Magna Graecia.
-
c. 580 BCEAgrigento in Sicily is founded by colonists from Gela, Crete and Rhodes.
-
570 BCE - 530 BCEThe Doric Temple of Hera is built at Metapontum, Magna Graecia.
-
c. 540 BCEPhocaea founds Elea in Magna Graecia.
-
491 BCE - 478 BCEReign of Gelon, tyrant of Gela on Sicily.
-
490 BCETarentum wins victories against the Messapians and Peucetians in Magna Graecia.
-
c. 489 BCE - c. 473 BCEThe tyrant Theron rules Agrigento.
-
480 BCETarentum wins victories against the Messapians and Peucetians in Magna Graecia.
-
480 BCEAgrigento defeats Carthage at the battle of Himera.
-
c. 480 BCEThe huge temple of Zeus is built at Agrigento.
-
c. 475 BCEThe Messapians inflict a heavy defeat on Tarentum in Magna Graecia.
-
450 BCE - 430 BCEThe Temple of Concordia is built at Agrigento.
-
c. 443 BCEThurii in Magna Graecia founded by Athenian settlers.
-
440 BCEBrundisium and Thurii form an alliance in southern Italy.
-
433 BCEThe colony of Heraclea in Magna Graecia is founded by Tarentum.
-
433 BCETarentum founds Heraclea in Magna Graecia.
-
406 BCEAgrigento is attacked and destroyed by Carthage.
-
338 BCETimoleon agrees a peace treaty with Carthage over their control of Sicily.
-
282 BCEGela, on Sicily, is destroyed by Phintias, the tyrant of Agrigento.
-
270 BCERome occupies Tarentum in Magna Graecia.
-
262 BCERome besieges and sacks Agrigento on Sicily in one of the first actions of the First Punic War.
-
210 BCERome attacks Agrigento.
-
209 BCETarentum comes under Roman control during the Second Punic War.
-
89 BCEAll poleis or city-states in Magna Graecia come under Roman control.
-
c. 470 CE - c. 385 CELife of the philosopher Philolaus, active in Magna Graecia.
