On the origin of the Western Greek Poleis.

In the light of the debate on colonisation or so-called colonisation, the question is if by this term the process is under attack. In southern Italy, the relationship between the Greeks and local populations is the main issue. The hermeneutic path developed in Magna Graecia in the last century is summarised. There is no doubt that, at first, the point of view that assigns to the Greeks a civilising function towards an indigenous world thought as a unit has prevailed. The archaeological finds put that model in crisis, without denying the main role of the Greek apoikoi.