什麼是殖民地

指古代由希臘（西元前8世紀～西元前6世紀）、亞歷山大大帝（西元前4世紀）和羅馬（西元前4～西元2世紀）在征服地建立的新居民點。希臘的殖民地延伸到義大利、西西里、西班牙和地中海東部（包括埃及）和黑海。亞歷山大更遠至中亞、南亞和埃及。羅馬的殖民地大致涵蓋了前面的地區，還包括了非洲南部、西班牙西部、不列顛北部和德國。建立殖民地的原因有擴展貿易、取得原料、解決政治的不穩定和人口過剩問題、渴望獲得土地和獎賞。雖然常有叛亂髮生，殖民地仍維持對母國的關係和忠誠。西元前177年後羅馬的殖民地，殖民者保有羅馬公民籍，享受應有的一切公民權利。古代的殖民地將希臘化和羅馬文化傳佈到帝國最遠可達的地方。國外殖民可協助當地居民羅馬化，其中若干當地人民被同化並取得羅馬公民籍。

colony

In antiquity, any of the new settlements established in conquered territory by the Greeks (8th-6th century BC), Alexander the Great (4th century BC), and the Romans (4th century BC-2nd century AD). Greek colonies extended to Italy, Sicily, Spain, the eastern Mediterranean (including Egypt), and the Black Sea. Alexander pushed even farther into Central Asia, South Asia, and Egypt. Roman colonization covered much of the same area and regions south to Africa, west to Spain, and north to Britain and Germany. Reasons for colonizing included expansion of trade, acquisition of raw materials, resolution of political unrest or overpopulation, and craving for land and rewards. Colonies retained ties and loyalty to the mother state, though rebelliousness was not uncommon. In Roman colonies after 177 BC, colonists retained Roman citizenship and could exercise full political rights. Ancient colonization spread Hellenic and Roman culture to the far reaches of the empires, often assimilating local populations, some of whom acquired citizenship in the mother state.