Synoecism

[alejandro]

Hi thereI have found the word GÇ£synoecismGÇ¥ quite often in the sources, usually around paragraphs concerned with the foundation of new cities, but I donGÇÖt know its exact meaning. Can anyone help me uncover this GÇ£misteryGÇ¥? =)Thanks!Alejandro

[amyntoros]

Good question Alejandro! I confess I never even noticed the word before, however, I found a brief explanation on the following site:http://sunsite.utk.edu/FINS/News_Column ... tml"Indeed, we now learn of these matters from the lectures of Jacob Burckhardt. . . recently published in a book, "The Greeks and Greek Civilization" (1998). This is what he said:"The feverish vital impulse which created the polis usuallytook the form of synoecism, the bringing together of earlier village communities to settle together in a fortress town, if possible on the coast.... From the early recorded examples
of the historical period, however, we learn of the sacrifices this synoecism might cost: violent resettlements of resisting populations or their extermination."He's talking about mainland Greece here, but I can see how the word could be easily applied to Alexander's conquests.Best regards,Amyntoros

[marcus]

Yes, basically it is "cause to dwell with, unit under one capital city." (Shorter Oxford Dictionary)But it doesn't have to be a "capital" city really - oikitzein (a bad transliteration) means "to colonise", or "found as a colony".ATBMarcus

[Efstathios]

The word is derived from the greek "synoikismοs" (pronounced: syn-e-cesmos,all "e" like in the word "Alcinoe",and "y" like in the word "syntax") which means a settlement of houses.It's a little bigger than a village in some occasions.It is used to define the union of seperate villages or houses. The verb is synoikizw.And "oikizein" means "to build houses" It originally derives from the noun "oikia" which means "house"

[alejandro]

Thanks guys!
Now I understand a few paragraphs that were rather blurry before!
Best,
Alejandro