ANHS1600 Lecture 9: Lecture 9
15 May 2018
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Lecture – Colonization - 9 05/03/2016
Interesting Notes:
Not one guy who creates the whole colonization as the Greeks perceived it (it is important for
Historians to note that it wasn’t just the oikistes).
Realise that the ktizein is a really ritualised process for the Greeks. Commemoration ultimately
matters a lot when it comes to ktizein. There is always a little bit of difference in the ktizein which is
important to note.
The map of where they live is settlements and resettlements conquering all across many places.
We as historians need to take the sources and look at sources very literally (i.e. sources say they
happened in the past, they happened).
- Beginning of Classical Period → It is important to look at themes in these periods but also themes
that are bridges between the periods. Colonization bridges the archaic and classical period, but also
others throughout.
- It is a tool of historical explanation → Move from just describing what colonization is to laying out
a structure that is laced throughout the Archaic to the Greco Roman period.
- Describing Colonization: Example: Moment of Crisis: You are a part of city A, and there is a
problem – i.e. drought, not enough food, over population, etc. In certain areas if they were
overpopulated they could send away people (this was a real solution). With the problem, you would
then go and consult Apollo in Delphi (he is the god of settlement and a lot of other things). All these
little cities are very localised and they do things on their own. They can be international by
participating at festivals at Delos or Delphi, and when they go to these centres to seek advice their
problems become panhellenic. They receive advice and then can go back to their cities. Travelling is
a big part of this (going from the city to Delphi → Requires a priest who is dressed, money to travel,
etc.).
Then there is the act of ktizein (making a foundation) → Colonization is a problem so they will
move to another place and settle there. This is perceived as an act. The Greeks talk about it in the
term of there is one “oikistes” who is the founder (oikos – house) they conceptualise this as “taking
one household and moving it to another place and making it another household”. This is basically
going from city A to city B.
Then there is the process of ktizein → Oikistes takes care of establishing the customs and
procedures needed for city B to become city B. It needs its own laws, festivals, buildings, political
institutions, etc. The oikistes is responsible for the organisation of Colonization.
Then the matter of kitzein → There is a fact of having a colony, but how do you make it matter?
Internally, you make it matter by as soon the oikistes is dead, that person gets a hero code. That
person is elevated from a human sphere to somewhere between god and human. The hero gets a
burial usually within the city halls and even in the agora (marketplace) whereas everybody else gets
buried outside. Other means of commemoration often include: games established for the hero
(highlights that they try to make the city count).
Some scholars (one in particular) doubts that there is this specific order of colonization revolving
around the ktizein.
Document Summary
Not one guy who creates the whole colonization as the greeks perceived it (it is important for. Historians to note that it wasn"t just the oikistes). Realise that the ktizein is a really ritualised process for the greeks. Commemoration ultimately matters a lot when it comes to ktizein. There is always a little bit of difference in the ktizein which is important to note. The map of where they live is settlements and resettlements conquering all across many places. Beginning of classical period it is important to look at themes in these periods but also themes that are bridges between the periods. Colonization bridges the archaic and classical period, but also others throughout. It is a tool of historical explanation move from just describing what colonization is to laying out a structure that is laced throughout the archaic to the greco roman period.
