magna graecia

English - English

Definition of magna graecia in English English dictionary

(Latin; "Great Greece") Group of ancient Greek cities along the coast of southern Italy. Euboeans founded the first colonies, including Cumae, 750 BC, and subsequently Spartans settled at Tarentum (Taranto); Achaeans at Metapontum, Sybaris, and Croton; Locrians at Locri Epizephyrii; and Chalcidians at Rhegium (Reggio di Calabria). It was a busy commercial centre as well as the seat of the Pythagorean and Eleatic systems of philosophy. After the 5th century BC, most of the cities declined in importance

Hyphenation

Mag·na graecia