Ionia
Ionia was a narrow strip of land on the central part of coastal western Asia Minor, from Phocaea in the north near the mouth of the Hermus River, to Miletus in the south near the mouth of the Meander River, and included the islands of Chios and Samos. It was bounded by Aeolis to the north, Lydia to the east and Doris to the south.
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest Greek island (842 km2), some five miles (7 km) off the west coast of Asia Minor and separated from the mainland by the Chios Strait. Little is known about its prehistoric population. It was colonised by Ionians from Euboea in the ninth century BC. In archaic times Chios controlled the neighbouring islets of Oinousses and Psara. Chios fought against Erythrae on the Asiatic mainland (where the Chians had land) and against Samos (Is) to the south. On the fall of Lydia in 546 BC Chios was not incorporated into the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC), as the Persians had no navy, but apparently came to terms. Chios joined the Ionian revolt in 499 BC, contributing a hundred ships to the naval Battle at Lade in 494 BC, for which it was punished with destruction and enslavement. After the Persian wars, Chios encouraged the Athenians to set up the Delian League.
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