Migrations and changes during the Dark Age

The time between the fall of the Mycenaean world and the beginning of the 8th century BC is named the Dark Age, since very little is known from these years because not many findings or cultures have been discovered. What it is known for sure, it is that art and handcraft were forgotten, any writing or scientific systems were lost, and people concentrated just in the essential things. Migrations and changes are the main characters of these centuries.

The term Big or Aegean Migrations is used to designated the population movements that started in the 13th century BC and lasted around 300 years finally finding their definitive settlement in the north west of Greece and Dorian areas. Because the Dorian were greater in number, these migrations are known also as Dorian Migrations. The Dorian settled in the Peloponnese, Crete, and the southern islands of the Aegean, and founded four Dorian villages that would be known later as Sparta.

In the 11th century BC arouse the first settlements in the western coast of Minor Asia. In the north were the Aeoler, in the center the Ionian, and in the south the Dorian. This time, because the Ionian were the biggest group, this second series migrations are known as the Ionian Migrations.

In general, establishing a settlement was possible there were there was no excessive power from somebody else. This allowed the groups to concentrate in the construction of the community and not in the defense. Cyprus played then there an important role as a trans-shipment center for trading.