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The re-emergence of Greek culture has been attributed to many variables, most of which appear to have taken ages and many immigrations to create. The migration to the islands and lands surrounding the Aegean led many migrants and cultures to re-establish themselves in the eastern coasts of the Aegean, and to the boot section of Italy with it's accompanying islands. Specifically, the migrations of the Aeolians and the Ionians, led to the creation of such cities as Lesbos, Miletus, Smyrn, Abydos and Rhodes. Coupled with such recent immigrations, both the Aeolians and the Ionians set up many long lasting communities, which led to a population boom, and further, to the greater proliferation of their people and traditions. In addition to the proliferation of traditions, Athens, and many other cities took to the fore in breaking free from the old monarchy government of prior ages. The change in government was mostly due to the leading families of Athens joining together to elect an individual, or archon (chief of state) for one year. The result was the gradual acceptance of an aristocratic republic.
Ultimately, the result of the Greek immigrations was a plume of independent Greek cities throughout the Aegean. Whether these immigrations were peaceful or not, the general mood of the Greeks was that they were seeking, "A home away from home," or what the Greeks called apoikia. However, trade played a great part in such immigrations, as did (obviously) the Dorian invasions. Thenceforth, from 700 BC onward the Greeks began to create a trading empire throughout the regions of the Mediterranean, holding specific dominion over the coasts of the Aegean Sea. This radical shift in power within the Aegean was ultimately aided by the fall of other empires throughout the area, such as the diminishing kingdoms of Egypt and the Hittite Empire, which had all but been destroyed by the time of the rise of Greece. In addition, many of the other menaces which were to plague the Greeks in the future were not yet formed. In particular, the Roman Empire was still heavily under Etruscan rule, and the Persians were still in the formative stages of their own cities. What is certain of the Greeks is that they occupied an unusual place in history where, coupled with relative peace and a healthy trade, they began to take the shape of what is known now as Classical Greece and to dominate the Aegean Sea.
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