The Greek expansion in the Adriatic sea: insularity and cultural contact in the territory organization of the polis in central Dalmatia during the classical and hellenistic periods

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9141.rh.2025.227312

Keywords:

Greek colonization, Dalmatia, insularity, cultural contact, Illyrians

Abstract

This article presents the results of my post-doctoral research on the use and territorial occupation of the polis established on the coast of Central Dalmatia, Croatia, between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Through the analysis and interpretation of archaeological and/or literary evidence on the occupation of the territory by the polis and local non-Greek populations, I investigated how the hinterland of the polis of Pharos, Issa, Tragyrion, Lumbarda and Epetion was characterised. Mapping this documentation led to the definition of areas of influence of the Greek city in relation to local populations and the process of territorialisation of the polis in island spaces (smaller than 400km2) also occupied by non-Greeks. Different levels of regional cultural interaction between both populations (inside and outside the polis context) are also analysed.

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Author Biography

  • Lilian de Angelo Laky, Universidade de São Paulo. Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia

    Pós-doutora pelo Programa de Pós-graduação em História Social, Departamento de História, da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade de São Paulo – FFLCH/USP e pesquisadora colaboradora do Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia da USP, São Paulo, Brasil.

References

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Published

2025-03-12

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LAKY, Lilian de Angelo. The Greek expansion in the Adriatic sea: insularity and cultural contact in the territory organization of the polis in central Dalmatia during the classical and hellenistic periods. Revista de História, São Paulo, n. 184, p. 1–42, 2025. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2316-9141.rh.2025.227312. Disponível em: https://revistas.usp.br/revhistoria/article/view/227312. Acesso em: 2 mar. 2026.