Synoecism

Ancient Greek Synoecism
συνοίκια,[1] συνοικισμός,[2] and others
Formation of or significant changes to an ancient Greek polis
Western gate of Nicopolis, an example of a new polis created by the synoecism of a number of others, which were left abandoned; i.e., Augustus relocated the populations of the surrounding poleis into a new central polis called "Victory City" to commemorate the naval battle of Actium in 31 BC. The reasons were undoubtedly economic, as the new polis brought great prosperity into the area.[3]
Western gate of Nicopolis, an example of a new polis created by the synoecism of a number of others, which were left abandoned; i.e., Augustus relocated the populations of the surrounding poleis into a new central polis called "Victory City" to commemorate the naval battle of Actium in 31 BC. The reasons were undoubtedly economic, as the new polis brought great prosperity into the area.[3]
Etymology: "same house"
Communities participating in the synoecism of Nikopolis and the boundaries of the territory
Communities participating in the synoecism of Nikopolis and the boundaries of the territory
Government
 • TypeEstablishes or modifies a Republic, or commonwealth. which has home rule, even though possibly politically dependent on another body to some degree.
This article is about the federation of ancient Greek communities into a polis. For the union of poleis into a league, see Sympoliteia. For other uses, see Synoecism (disambiguation).

Synoecism or synecism (/sɪˈniːsɪzəm/ si-NEE-siz-əm; Ancient Greek: συνοικισμóς, sunoikismos, Ancient Greek: [syːnɔi̯kismós]), also spelled synoikism (/sɪˈnɔɪkɪzəm/ si-NOY-kiz-əm), was originally the amalgamation of villages in Ancient Greece into poleis, or city-states. Etymologically, the word means "dwelling together (syn) in the same house (oikos)."[4] Subsequently, any act of civic union between polities of any size was described by the word synoikismos, in addition to the Latinized synoecism. Synoecism is opposed to Greek dioecism (διοικισμóς, dioikismos), the creation of independent communities within the territory of a polis.

Synoecism is the result of a few major factors, mainly an increase in population density of adjacent settlements, with an incorporation proposed for economic, political or ideological advantages, such as the synoecism of the communities of Attica into Athens, or by imposition of a ruling power, such as the synoecism of Messenia into the newly built city of Messene. Additionally, synoecism may be the result of less active forces which often take the form of shared cultural elements such as religion or language.

Although there were differences between synoecism in ancient Greece and ancient Rome, the same general concept is deduced from the history of both civilizations. Before political union, the future (combined) population of the polity constituted smaller settlements that were not obligated to each other, or at least not by the contract that was later to institute their political union. A settlement or group of settlements might be constituents of another polity from which they would be annexed or transferred.

  1. ^ Liddell; Scott. "συνοίκια". A Greek-English Lexicon. Perseus Digital Library.
  2. ^ Liddell; Scott. "συνοικισμός". A Greek-English Lexicon. Perseus Digital Library.
  3. ^ Weis, A. (1976). "Nikopolis (Palioprevesa) Epeiros, Greece". The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Perseus Digital Library. The identifications of polis and synoecism come from Strabo 7.7.6.
  4. ^ Muscato, Christopher. "What was Synoecism in Ancient Athens?". study.com. Retrieved 2021-12-04.