The structure and historical development of the states of the Ionian Sea,
their influence on the north-western region of Greece and the Western
Peloponnese, not to mention the naval traffic between the Ionian Sea and
the Adriatic and the Central and Eastern Mediterranean, mean that the
Ionian islands are fundamental when it comes to understanding not only
the Greek world in general, but also the Ancient Mediterranean Region as
a whole. Thus, first of all, the northernmost islands, Corcyra and Leucas,
were chosen as the location for colonial settlements by Greeks of other
origins (Euboeans, Corinthians). One consequence of these developments
was the emergence of the polis of Corcyra, which, in turn, would become
an important colonising power in the neighbouring territories along the
Epirote coast, as well as the Greek and non-Greek regions that lay to the
north of this area (Chaonia, Illyria). Similarly, Leucas, another Corinthian
colony, would become one of the main points of attraction in relation to
Acarnania. The southern islands of the archipelago would, in principle,
retain their autonomy, resisting any foreign colonial settlement. Whilst
Ithaca and Zacynthus constituted a single state each on their respective
islands, no fewer than four different states emerged on Cephallenia, the
tetrapolis, and this not only meant that the connections between the poleis
on the different islands were important, but that the connections between
cities that shared the same island and identity were important, even though
they may not have always followed the same policies. In short, and in spite
of the differences between the various poleis, the importance of the shared
historical development of the islands of the Ionian Sea cannot be ignored or
underestimated. Suffice it to mention the essential role that all the islands
played with regard to the links that were established between the Eastern
Mediterranean, the Central Mediterranean and the West.
Maritime traffic and the strength of the island poleis would influence the
development of the settlements in North-western Greece in terms of the
processes, whereby ethnicities and states were defined, not to mention the
progressive consolidation of certain continental elites and the emergence
of their own Hellenic identity. In this respect, it is possible that the island…