The History of Chalcis on the Island of Euboea
It is difficult to say when Chalcis gained its first settlers.
It is known, however, that Chalcis sent ships to the Trojan War, i.e. around the 12th century BC, which proves that it was a strong and wealthy state at that time.
Additionally, in the port city of Aulis, located opposite present-day Chalcis, ships gathered before sailing to the Trojan War.
In the 8th century BC, the inhabitants of Chalcis settled in distant areas, including the Chalkidiki Peninsula, southern Italy, and Sicily. They spread their products, such as pottery, metalwork, and purple, throughout the Mediterranean.
Due to the early settlers from Chalcis, the Romans initially called all Greeks "Chalcidians" because they were the first Greeks they encountered.
The expansion of trade around the Mediterranean led to the spread of the Chalcidian alphabet. The Etruscans, who inhabited northern Italy in ancient times, adopted the alphabet as a means of writing.
Over the centuries, the alphabet evolved into the Latin language. Thus, today, several letters of all Latin languages are the same as their ancient Euboean counterparts. These are C, D, F, P, R, S, and X.
It is assumed that the transmission of the Chalcidian alphabet to the West is the most important cultural contribution of ancient Chalcis to world culture.
Practically until the end of the 8th century BC, there were strong powers on the island of Euboea: Chalcis and Eretria.
Around 710 BC, an armed conflict broke out between the two cities, the so-called Lelantine War.
The war lasted about half a century. Both regions emerged from it severely weakened: politically, economically, and morally.
The long, devastating period of war caused other states to develop, while Chalcis and Eretria had to "heal their wounds".
At the end of the 6th century BC, a war with the Athenians broke out, resulting in the expulsion of the wealthy aristocracy from the island. They were replaced by the Cleruchi, settlers from Athens.
When the Delian League was formed, Chalcis joined.
Around the 8th century BC, Chalcis was a large and powerful city. It also had one of the most important marketplaces in all of Greece.
Chalcis was an extensive city with numerous temples, beautiful public buildings, residential residences, theaters, and public gymnasiums.
The city was surrounded by defensive walls with high towers. A fortified wall surrounded the city. A second, larger wall surrounded Kanithos. Another wall with towers extended around the acropolis of Chalcis.
The city had two harbors and a bridge with two towers at each end.
The wars that Chalcis has endured over the centuries have resulted in continued destruction. Furthermore, the fact that the modern city was built on the ruins of an ancient city has meant that archaeological discoveries are scarce, and ongoing archaeological research has failed to reveal the beauty and power of ancient Chalcis.