(Latin; " Great Greece ")
Group of ancient Greek cities along the coast of southern Italy.
Euboeans founded the first colonies, including Cumae , 0441; 750 BC, and subsequently Spartans settled at Tarentum ( Taranto ); Achaeans at Metapontum, Sybaris , and Croton; Locrians at Locri Epizephyrii ; and Chalcidians at Rhegium ( Reggio di Calabria ). It was a busy commercial centre as well as the seat of the Pythagorean and Eleatic systems of philosophy. After the 5th century BC, most of the cities declined in importance.