Massalia

Massalia was a state in France and the Low Countries (Europe) that lasted from c. 600 to 49 BCE, about 551 years. Its people spoke Greek languages (Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, modern Greek).

Founded by Greeks from Phocaea around 600 BCE, it traded wine and pottery up the Rhone into Gaul. It sided with Pompey and fell to Caesar in 49 BCE.

See Massalia on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 600 to 49 BCE
Duration: 551 years
Type: State
Region: France and the Low Countries, Europe
Language family: Greek
Capital: Massalia (Marseille)

Events in Europe during its time

508 BCE Athenian democracy
480 BCE Battle of Salamis
334 BCE Alexander invades Persia
218 BCE Hannibal crosses the Alps

Neighbours in Europe

Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE
Athens 508 to 322 BCE
Empire of Alexander the Great 336 to 323 BCE
Sparta c. 900 to 192 BCE
Roman Hispania 218 BCE to 472 CE
Etruscan civilization c. 720 to 90 BCE
Roman Gaul 50 BCE to 486 CE
Kingdom of Macedon c. 700 to 168 BCE
Syracuse c. 734 to 212 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia
Ptolemaic Kingdom 305 to 30 BCE, North and West Africa
Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
Western Han 202 BCE to 9 CE, East Asia
Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE, South Asia
Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE, Middle East
Qin dynasty 221 to 206 BCE, East Asia

Questions

When did Massalia exist?

c. 600 to 49 BCE, about 551 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Massalia?

France and the Low Countries, in Europe. Its capital was Massalia (Marseille).

What language did Massalia speak?

Greek. This family includes Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, modern Greek.