Features of the Greek colonization process in the Bosporus in the 7th-6th centuries BC

The subject of study is the apoikiae of the Greeks on the Bosporus, which emerged during the archaic period. The article examines the process of resettlement of the Hellenes, predominantly Ionians, to the Bosporus in the context of their settlement in the Northern Black Sea region and, more broadly, the phenomenon of great Greek colonization as such. The author thoroughly analyzes the general and regional reasons for the colonization process, the influence of the trade and craft sector of the polis economy on it, as well as the forms of relationships between the metropolises and apoikiai in different parts of the Greek oikoumenē. Particular attention is paid to the model of adaptation of the settlers to local conditions — the choice of safe locations with access to agricultural and mineral resources and interaction with the indigenous population. The functional purpose of the first settlements in the Northern Black Sea region is discussed separately, as is the relationship between apoikiai and emporia on the Bosporus. The methodology of the study is based on the analysis of archaeological data regarding the time of settlement emergence and interpretations of their nature, as well as a comparison with colonization processes in different areas of the Mediterranean, thoroughly studied by foreign historians. The novelty of the research lies in identifying the features of the Bosporus colonization process in light of archaeological discoveries in recent years. The author presented a cohesive picture of the settlement of Greeks in the northern part of the Black Sea during the archaic period, which allowed for the identification of a fundamental distinction between the model and intensity of Bosporus development compared to other areas of the Northern Black Sea. The key factors for the greatest attractiveness of the Bosporus for Ionian settlers in the first half of the 6th century BC were the presence of a large area of fertile lands, convenient harbors, fishery resources, and the insignificance of the indigenous population. A significant contribution of the author to the study of the topic is the determination of the sequence of settlement in the Bosporus lands, explained by the varying attractiveness of individual plots for settlers, as well as the identification of a group of fortified apoikiai, the analogues of which exist in the central and western parts of the Mediterranean.

Greek colonization, Northern Black Sea region, Cimmerian Bosporus, apoikia, emporium, Pantikapaion, Olbia, trade, stenochoria, Miletus