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.