The Dorians or Dorians are one of the Indo-European peoples of antiquity who contributed to the development of Greek culture, by invading the territory of Hellas.
In addition to them, the Achaeans, Ionians and Aeolians were other ethnic groups responsible for the production of Greek culture. In the “Odyssey”, one of the main works of the Greek writer Homer, they are mentioned as “Doric”.
Abstract
Around 1200 BC, the Dorians inhabited several regions of Greece that, little by little, were conquering, in the regions of Attica, Peloponnese, Island of Crete. The Dorians had their own culture and dialect, although you did not master writing.
With a strong military character, they came to dominate several parts in a violent way, destroying and burning cities of Mycenaean culture by killing several people.
This allowed the miscegenation of peoples and the mixture of cultures of the civilizations that already existed in the region:Achaeans, Ionians and Aeolians.
Many cities were founded by the Dorians which became important urban centers:Argos, Corinth, Megara and Rhodes. However, the warlike manner of the Dorians caused the Greek culture to reach such a setback and for this reason, the period became known as the “Dark Ages” in Greece.
As a result of the Dorian invasion, several people dispersed and fled to other locations. This movement became known as the “First Greek Diaspora”. This made possible the creation of several city-states and a new organization in the social structure that would later be commanded by the Genos (family units).
It is worth remembering that most of the Spartans who lived in Sparta were of Doric origin, which explains the bellicose character of Spartan society. This truculent attack put an end to the pre-Homeric period of Greek history.
Deepen your knowledge of the subject by reading the texts :
- Ancient Greece
- Pre-Homeric Period