Ionian Greeks: Who Were They, Where Did They Live, And Much More!

Ionians are referred to as a segment comprising of Greeks, who brought about the 'classical awakening' in ancient history.

They are the ones who discovered the district on Anatolia's western coast, which is popularly known as Turkey today. The Greek Ionian dialect has been considered to have similarities with the Attic and was widely used in Ionia and Aegean islands.

Ionia is an ancient city present in the central region of western Anatolia. Mostly surrounded by Aeolis on the north and Caria in the south, a range of islands is also present.

The city consists of a 25 m (40.2 km) coastal strip from Phocaea to Miletus, with a north-south distance of 100 m (161 km). The flat river valleys, Hermus, Cayster, and Maeander, are around 5000-6000 ft (1524-1829 m) on the Aegean coast.

Greek settlements were originally small and scattered. This dimension changed when 12 cities; Clazomenai, Phocaea, Erythrae, Teos, Lebedus, Ephesus, Priene, Colophon, Myus, Miletus on the territorial junctures, and Chios and Samos as isles were established. Panionion is the main religion that is supported by these regions.

The seventh century dealt with the demand for a new population, which progressed with a range of conflicts due to the penetration of Lydia inside the city. However, after several fights, it came under the rule of Croesus, following which the rule of the Persian kingdom was never properly opposed by Ionians.

The Ionian Revolt can be considered pretty unsuccessful and was an opening segment to the Greco-Persian Wars.

Ancient Ionia And The Origins Of Scientific Thinking

700 B.C. witnessed a rise in advanced science and culture due to the Ionian empire. The east of Greece consisted of Ionian poets and philosophers whose works are still being used. Poets such as Homer, and scientists such as Pythagoras and Thales of Miletus, were from Ionia.

The late 500s marked the Persian rule on the Ionian city. There was severe hostility between the Persians and Ionians for around five years.

Ionia was controlled by several rulers, which included the Persian empire as well as the renowned Alexander the Great. King Attalus III presented Romans with the city in 133 B.C., which turned Ionia into a province of Asia Minor. Ephesus, Miletus, Samos, and Smyrna were various Ionian cities that played key roles in the Roman kingdom.

480 B.C. marked the victory of the city over Persia in the Battle of Salamis. They finally gained their independence, after which the Delian League was created by Athens. Due to Athenian control, Spartans could properly influence Ionians, especially during the last stages of the famous Peloponnesian War.

Ionians were independent during the period of 334-301 under the rule of Alexander The Great, who proposed a democratic system of governance. In 133 B.C., it finally came under the Roman province in Asia Minor.

They were also referred to as the 'metropolis.' The metropolises in Greece experienced victory and prosperity in every possible way, starting from art and architecture to their political decisions.

The Beginning Of The Ionian Revolt

The world of history received a new introduction as the Ionian community migrated from Attica to western Anatolia, mainland Greece. Their main medium of transport was the Aegean Sea, as it was cheap and viable.

Due to such an expansion, conflicts arose in the region, laying out an origin to a strong kingdom. Ionia was the city where the Greco-Persian Wars had been fought.

Revolt between the Greco-Italian-Sicilian trading route and Oriental Indo-Persian Phoenecian colonies was witnessed simultaneously. This marks the beginning of the popularity of Ionians residing in Asia Minor.

The Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC) can be marked as a long siege between Persia and the Greek world, bringing about a turn in Greek history. Difficulties were faced by Greeks due to the tyrannical methods of the Persian king.

Histiaeus of Miletus was detained at the land of Susa. Aristagoras, his son-in-law, had joined the Persians in the expedition to Naxos. A constitutional government was established by him at Miletus.

In such a situation of chaos and conflict, Aristagoras sailed in a fleet of ships to find help in other Greek cities. Spartans rejected their offer as their land troops were limited. However, Athenians rose to the occasion and went along with Aristagoras.

498 B.C. observed Ionia capture Sardis with a successful uprising of Greek cities such as Bosporus, Caria, and Cyprus. This stage inspired a sense of revolt in Greece.

These civilizations had chances to defeat the Persian army, and the sea was supposed to play a vital role in protecting Cyprus. Persians, understanding that, attacked Salamis via territorial and sea routes.

Regardless of the Ionian win, Cyprian Greeks were held under the Persian king. The Persian army also gained control over Bosporus and Hellenspot. While aiming to gain control over Miletus, an Egyptian fleet along with the Ionian army reached near islands of the region, bringing about an end to the revolt.

The revolt brought about an important juncture in ancient history because:

• Persians were controlled by postponing their power until the army of Greece regained its abilities.
• The power of the Greeks scared Persians and weakened their strengths, especially sea troops.
• Ionian revolt failed in certain aspects because Ionian cities created a council of deputies, which lacked a commander-in-chief.

Persian Control And Revolt

After the Ionian Revolt, 492 BCE witnessed the first Persian invasion of Greece. A campaign was conducted through Macedonia and Thrace, where both of them were forcefully conquered by the Persian empire.

Persian chief Mardonious, while leading the campaign, was brutally injured and was brought back to Asia Minor. A fleet of 1200 ships was lost to a heavy storm. Darius was bound to revert his troops to Greek cities after the win of the Persians.

Sparta was their next aim, and Athens was facing signs of turmoil. The Battle of Marathon, however, provided signs to the Greek world that regardless of the defeats, the next battles could be won.

 Another ray of hope for the Greek community came with the second invasion of Greece in 480 B.C. Xerxes, in 480 B.C., sent inland troops and sea troops to Hellespont. After the victory in Thrace, this fleet was once more ready to conquer.

The Greek fleet was nevertheless ready to block Cape Artemision. This made Xerxes place his troops in Attica and burn Athens. However, Athenians selected the sea, which saved many lives and also helped win the battle against the Persians.

History Of The Name

According to Greek mythology, the name was invented after the son of Xuthus, Ion, who lived in north Aigialeia. The foundational myth is from the Classical period. The name had first appeared in one of the works of Homer.

The Ionian community was a group of people who had inhabited western Asia Minor a thousand centuries ago. Their main objective behind the migration was to flee from Dorians, living in the northwest of Greece.

There have been sources that refer to the city of Athens to be the birthplace of this segment.

However, Herodotus, the renowned historian, denied this and proposed a new Greek identity for the Ionian city. Athenians had supported several dimensions for the rise of the city, but Ionia had grown out to create its recognition.

Before 1200 B.C., the area was bordered by the Hittite empire, which was referred to as Asia in Greece. The name of the city came into being after the disintegration of the Achaean kingdoms by Dorians. This was the main reason why the migration of these people had taken place.

The Ionian School Of Philosophy

All Ionian cities launched the Greek civic developmental systems during the seventh and eighth centuries. 700 B.C. viewed Miletus and Phocaea as colonizers who were active mostly in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean zones of France and Spain. Miletus itself had 90 cities under its rule. Ionia had experienced great merits via their trading and manufacturing zones.

700 B.C. was all about how colonization changed the dynamics of Ionia. But simultaneously, it marked the upheaval of culture, bringing about a revolution in Greek philosophy.

Starting with the renowned poet Homer, a series of his epics and poems are still used in the present scopes of history, philosophy, and literature. 'The Illiad' by Homer is considered one of the major creations found in the field of English literature.

Ionians have laid the foundations of histography and philosophy. The language Attic Ionic was considered as the epitome of writing such as the 'New Testament.' Remarkable works of art, sculptures, and architecture have been noticed in the Ionian empire.

500 B.C. was the peak of intellectual explorations by Ionians. Hecateus brought about a different perspective in the Greek school of geography.

Other philosophers such as Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides also enhanced philosophies that are used worldwide even to this date. Their dialect became the main source of learning. The introduction of art and architecture also plays a remarkable role during this period.

Ionian city, in the present day, resides in Turkey. The city has been a receptacle of prosperity and culture, marking Ionians as one of the most enlightened people in the world.