Pages: 101-115

In the article the thesis that the Greek colonization of the Northern Black Sea region was from the very beginning also the urbanization of the Northern Black Sea region. Having analyzed modern ideas about the essence and content of the notion «Polis» itself, the author, firstly, notes that settlements, founded by Greeks in the Northern Black Sea region could be «Poleis», not being towns. Secondly, the data of archaeology show that all these settlements were initially rural settlements, and only about 70-80 years (general regularity) after the founding part of them turned into towns. On the other hand, on Bosporos there are registered settlements, that are characterized by compact building and defensive constuctions. On these grounds they are often regarded as towns. The author disagrees with this point of view and thinks that on Bosporos about 6 or 7 Poleis centres were towns. The rest of the settlements were in a subordinate relation to them and were not towns.