Greeks in Moldova
Encyclopedia
There is a historical Greek community in Moldova
of about 3,000 members. Thirty Greek companies are active in Moldova. Total invested Greek capital amounts to $5.3 million (October 2003). Recently the headquarters of the Greek revolutionary organization Filiki Etaireia were discovered in Moldova.
(see Colonies in antiquity
and Pontic Greeks
), beginning in the 7th century BC. Starting with the Milesian
colony at Istros
, the process reached its height after Tomis
was founded in the 5th century BC. Although forever subject to the Dacian
interference and easily disrupted by changes in the politics of neighbour tribal chieftains, the colonies prospered until being briefly submitted in various forms by King Burebista
(late 1st century BC). Immediately after, and for the following centuries, they were stripped of their privileges by their new Roman
masters, and followed the Empire into its crises.
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
of about 3,000 members. Thirty Greek companies are active in Moldova. Total invested Greek capital amounts to $5.3 million (October 2003). Recently the headquarters of the Greek revolutionary organization Filiki Etaireia were discovered in Moldova.
History
The Greek presence in what is now Moldova dates back as far as the apoikiai (colonies) and emporia (trade stations) founded in and around DobrujaDobruja
Dobruja is a historical region shared by Bulgaria and Romania, located between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, including the Danube Delta, Romanian coast and the northernmost part of the Bulgarian coast...
(see Colonies in antiquity
Colonies in antiquity
Colonies in antiquity were city-states founded from a mother-city—its "metropolis"—, not from a territory-at-large. Bonds between a colony and its metropolis remained often close, and took specific forms...
and Pontic Greeks
Pontic Greeks
The Pontians are an ethnic group traditionally living in the Pontus region, the shores of Turkey's Black Sea...
), beginning in the 7th century BC. Starting with the Milesian
Miletus
Miletus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia , near the mouth of the Maeander River in ancient Caria...
colony at Istros
Histria (Sinoe)
Ancient Histria or Istros , was a Greek colony or polis on the Black Sea coast, established by Milesian settlers to trade with the native Getae. It became the first Greek town on the present day Romanian territory. Scymnus of Chios , the Greek geographer and poet, dated it to 630 BC...
, the process reached its height after Tomis
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
was founded in the 5th century BC. Although forever subject to the Dacian
Dacians
The Dacians were an Indo-European people, very close or part of the Thracians. Dacians were the ancient inhabitants of Dacia...
interference and easily disrupted by changes in the politics of neighbour tribal chieftains, the colonies prospered until being briefly submitted in various forms by King Burebista
Burebista
Burebista was a king of the Getae and Dacians, who unified for the first time their tribes and ruled them between 82 BC and 44 BC. He led plunder and conquest raids across Central and Southeastern Europe, subjugating most of the neighbouring tribes...
(late 1st century BC). Immediately after, and for the following centuries, they were stripped of their privileges by their new Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
masters, and followed the Empire into its crises.