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− | + | '''Foreigners in Southern Gallia''' | |
The coast of modern-day [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provence Provence] has some of the earliest known sites of human habitation in Europe, dating back to pre-human hominids around 1 million BC. There is evidence of continued habitation, and repeated migration of other peoples, sometimes displacing the natives. Between the 10th and 4th centuries BC, the dominant peoples were the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligures Ligures]. They are of uncertain origins, possibly descendants of the indigenous neolithic people, but ancient commentators were certain they were not Keltoi. They were not literate, but had their own Indo-European language. They were a warlike and mobile people, and invaded Italy from time to time. | The coast of modern-day [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provence Provence] has some of the earliest known sites of human habitation in Europe, dating back to pre-human hominids around 1 million BC. There is evidence of continued habitation, and repeated migration of other peoples, sometimes displacing the natives. Between the 10th and 4th centuries BC, the dominant peoples were the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligures Ligures]. They are of uncertain origins, possibly descendants of the indigenous neolithic people, but ancient commentators were certain they were not Keltoi. They were not literate, but had their own Indo-European language. They were a warlike and mobile people, and invaded Italy from time to time. | ||
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− | + | '''Massalia's Early History''' | |
In around 600BC, Greeks from the Ionian city of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phocaea Phokaia] founded a trading port on the southern coast of Gallia. The precise circumstances and date of Massalia's founding is a mystery, but a legend persists. Protis, while exploring for a new trading outpost or emporion for Phocaea, discovered the Mediterranean cove of the Lakydon. Protis was invited inland to a banquet held by the chief of the local Ligurian tribe for suitors seeking the hand of his daughter Gyptis in marriage. At the end of the banquet, Gyptis presented the ceremonial cup of wine to Protis, indicating her unequivocal choice. Following their marriage, they moved to the hill just to the north of the Lacydon; and from this settlement grew Massalia. | In around 600BC, Greeks from the Ionian city of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phocaea Phokaia] founded a trading port on the southern coast of Gallia. The precise circumstances and date of Massalia's founding is a mystery, but a legend persists. Protis, while exploring for a new trading outpost or emporion for Phocaea, discovered the Mediterranean cove of the Lakydon. Protis was invited inland to a banquet held by the chief of the local Ligurian tribe for suitors seeking the hand of his daughter Gyptis in marriage. At the end of the banquet, Gyptis presented the ceremonial cup of wine to Protis, indicating her unequivocal choice. Following their marriage, they moved to the hill just to the north of the Lacydon; and from this settlement grew Massalia. | ||
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− | + | '''Massalia in 300BC''' | |
− | Massalia is one of the largest trading ports in the bowl of the world, with a population of some 6,000 and a stone wall encircling its fifty hectares of land. It is situated on a hill overlooking the cove of Lakydon which is fed by a freshwater stream and protected by two rocky promontories. It has a large temple of the | + | Massalia is one of the largest trading ports in the bowl of the world, with a population of some 6,000 and a stone wall encircling its fifty hectares of land. It is situated on a hill overlooking the cove of Lakydon which is fed by a freshwater stream and protected by two rocky promontories. It has a large temple of the cult of Apollo of Delphi on a hilltop overlooking the port, and a temple of the cult of Artemis of Ephesus at the other end of the city. |
− | + | ''Society'' | |
− | + | Like many expatriots, Massilioi like to think of themselves as authentic Greeks, trying to preserve their identity to the exclusion of local Keltic influences. It is for this reason that only those of Greek ancestry can be recognised as citizens, with the sizable local Kelto-Hellenic population excluded from citizenship. As in any other Greek polis, only free Greek males may participate directly in political life, in return for military service. Theoretically, every member of the council (or their sons in the case of older men) is liable to be called up to fight should the city be threatened. However, the reality is that Massilioi prefer to let others do their fighting for them, co-opting the local tribes, and when all else fails seeking assistance from the Roman Republic. | |
− | + | Ultimately, Massalia is an affluent city prospering through trade, and its aristocrats and other worthy men are more interested in profit than anything else. | |
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− | + | ''Government'' | |
− | + | Initially, the Massilian constitution was a narrow aristocratic regime. However, an attempt was soon made to reduce the power of the great families by insisting that, if a man belong to the Council his son could not, and if an elder brother belonged to the Council his younger brother could not be a member. Such specifics probably lapsed, but the tendency led to the evolution of the aristocratic system to a more plutocratic oligarchic system. This government is headed by the Council of Six Hundred. To be a member councilors has to be able to prove they were of citizen decent for at least three generations or, alternatively, has to possess children. The list is revised from time to time. The Council elects an executive council of fifteen— oi timoukoi—from the main body. The timouchoi are led by three presidents. An unusual feature of the Massilian government is that a criminal condemned to death is maintained at public expense for one year, after which the criminal is executed as a pharmakos or purification of the city. | |
− | + | ''Economy'' | |
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Trade was Massalia's lifeblood. They exported their own products; local wine, salted pork and fish, aromatic and medicinal plants, coral and cork, salt, olive oil, cups, mixing bowls, to inland markets in Gallia. They were a destination for re-export primarily of grain, amber, tin and slaves. | Trade was Massalia's lifeblood. They exported their own products; local wine, salted pork and fish, aromatic and medicinal plants, coral and cork, salt, olive oil, cups, mixing bowls, to inland markets in Gallia. They were a destination for re-export primarily of grain, amber, tin and slaves. | ||
− | + | ''Foreign Relations'' | |
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Massalia is intimately enmeshed in the regional political makeup of the western Mediterranean. It is not a minor player and is thus subject to the attention of the other major powers in the region, and some minor ones as well. | Massalia is intimately enmeshed in the regional political makeup of the western Mediterranean. It is not a minor player and is thus subject to the attention of the other major powers in the region, and some minor ones as well. | ||
− | ''Kart-Hadast'' - descendants of Phoenician colonists, the | + | ''Kart-Hadast'' - descendants of Phoenician colonists, the Carthaginians are the pre-eminent commercial and maritime power in the western Mediterranean. From their base in north Africa (modern Tunis), they control an empire of markets, ports and naval bases spanning coastal southern and eastern Iberia, the Balearic islands, southern Kurtyn (Corsica), Sardin (Sardinia) and western Sikelia (Sicily). Their naval squadron out of Gader (Cadiz) blockades the Pillars of Herakles, preventing anyone from sailing into the seas beyond and trading directly with Alba (Britain), the source of most tin. Their warships prowl the seas, keeping the sea-lanes safe for their trade vessels and harassing the fleets of other nations should the whim take them. They prefer to employ mercenaries to do their fighting, and leverage their huge wealth (especially in Iberian silver) to achieve their goals. Massalia has clashed with Carthage in the past, though relations are peaceful at present (but will never be cordial as long as the two vie for control of trade in the region). |
They are presently on friendly terms with the Roman Republic, various Tyrrhenoi city-states and have long-standing and well-funded alliances with some of the Keltoi, Ligures and Iberian tribes. Their control of western Sikelia puts them in regular opposition with Syrakousai and the other Greek cities on the island. | They are presently on friendly terms with the Roman Republic, various Tyrrhenoi city-states and have long-standing and well-funded alliances with some of the Keltoi, Ligures and Iberian tribes. Their control of western Sikelia puts them in regular opposition with Syrakousai and the other Greek cities on the island. | ||
− | ''Roman Republic'' - a city-state in central Italia that is growing in power and influence in the region, the Romans are still very much a Latin power, locked in incessant conflict with their Samnite neighbours. While their interests happily coincide with those of Massalia, they are largely consumed with events inside Italia. From time to time, they have responded to requests for aid from Massalia in the form of troops, of whom they have a large pool of citizen-soldier manpower to draw upon. They see themselves very much as the senior partner in relations with Massalia, and can be high-handed and arrogant in their handling of Massalian affairs. | + | ''Roman Republic'' - a city-state in central Italia that is growing in power and influence in the region, the Romans are nontheless still very much a Latin power, locked in incessant conflict with their Samnite neighbours. While their interests happily coincide with those of Massalia, they are largely consumed with events inside Italia. From time to time, they have responded to requests for aid from Massalia in the form of troops, of whom they have a large pool of citizen-soldier manpower to draw upon. They see themselves very much as the senior partner in relations with Massalia, and can be high-handed and arrogant in their handling of Massalian affairs. |
While friendly with the Carthaginians, they are often in conflict with all of their neighbours; Tyrhennoi, Samnites and other Sabellian tribes, Keltoi, the city-states of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia Megale Hellas]. | While friendly with the Carthaginians, they are often in conflict with all of their neighbours; Tyrhennoi, Samnites and other Sabellian tribes, Keltoi, the city-states of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia Megale Hellas]. | ||
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− | ''Syrakousai and Megale Hellas'' - southern Italia and coastal Sikelia were heavily colonised by the city-states of Greece, raising many settlements there which had a shared identity of common "Greek-ness" in the Hellenistic era. They are, however, just as disunited as Greeks from the homelands, each man owing allegiance only to his polis. Syrakousai is the mightiest of them, | + | ''Syrakousai and Megale Hellas'' - southern Italia and coastal Sikelia were heavily colonised by the city-states of Greece, raising many settlements there which had a shared identity of common "Greek-ness" in the Hellenistic era. They are, however, just as disunited as Greeks from the homelands, each man owing allegiance only to his polis. Syrakousai is the mightiest of them, the biggest city in the western Mediterranean, home to some 200,000 souls and a major power in its own right. Ruled by the tyrannos Agathokles and his mercenaries, it has seen the rise and fall of many of his ilk, though political turmoil hasn't reduced the city's economic or military muscle. |
Syrakousai is in almost constant conflict with the Carthaginians, who often meddle in the city's affairs, which has frequently led to open warfare on land and at sea. The Greek city-states of Sikelia are often drawn into these conflicts on one side or the other. The city-states of southern Italia have tense relations with the Roman Republic and the Tyrhennoi. | Syrakousai is in almost constant conflict with the Carthaginians, who often meddle in the city's affairs, which has frequently led to open warfare on land and at sea. The Greek city-states of Sikelia are often drawn into these conflicts on one side or the other. The city-states of southern Italia have tense relations with the Roman Republic and the Tyrhennoi. |