THEME: Greeks and Scythians EXPLORERS, GEOGRAPHERS, AND HISTORIANS
From natural philosophy to geography and ethnography, the Greeks were curious about the world and its many different inhabitants. They explored sailing routes and coastlines, planting colonies throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, encountering many disparate peoples. Geography and ethnography were developed mostly out of practical needs connected to this exploration: one needed to know the outline of the coast along which one sailed and the locations where one might find safe landing places, and it was useful to know about the culture of the peoples one would meet when arriving there. These considerations also underscored the Greeks’ understanding of the Scythians.
Early explorers
The Greek colonization of the Mediterranean began in the eighth century BC, as trading posts and colonies were founded on the eastern coast of Sicily and in the south of Italy (see AH 38). In this, the Greeks competed with the Phoenicians, who created trading posts and colonies in Spain, western Sicily, Sardinia, and north Africa. In the Black Sea, however, the Greeks were the only outsiders attempting to colonize the area, and from the beginning of their efforts in the seventh century BC they were free from competition. The most important colony in the area was Olbia on the north coast of the Black Sea, founded by the leading Ionian city Miletus.
In addition to founding many colonies, Miletus wasthat contained information about sea routes and the different people one would meet on them, to mention just a few of their accomplishments.
