Historical Evolution from the Graeco-Roman Period to the Early Twentieth Century

Abstract

Greek civilisation exercised a peculiarly strong influence throughout the Balkans even into recent times. In political geographical terms Greek power was briefly expressed in the empire of Alexander the Macedonian, which extended from southern Albania across the Danube to beyond the confluence of the Olt, but after Alexander’s death in 323 bc this empire rapidly disintegrated. ‘Classical Macedonia’ of this period has been invoked to claim exaggerated limits for Macedonian national dreams in modern times. The Macedonian Greeks nevertheless contributed to the colonisation and urbanisation of the Balkans—in 342 bc they founded Philippolis (Plovdiv), while thriving Greek colonies existed along the Adriatic and Black Sea coasts from the seventh century bc, trading with the interior. In the third century bc Celtic tribes from the north destroyed much Macedonian work, though they founded Singudunum (Belgrade) and probably Naisos (Niš).