Raw Materials. Much of the activity that can be described as trade in the Archaic Period (700-480 B.C.E.) consisted in the movement of raw materials, such as marble, metals of various kinds, and finished objects made of gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Archaeological research has established a fairly wide distribution of these commodities, meaning that there existed an extensive maritime network in the Greek world. The transport of marble from various quarries in particular implies the presence of ships capable of carrying heavy cargo. Such vessels made their appearance in the second half of the sixth century, replacing the lighter warships that had been used earlier because of the danger of losing valuable cargoes to pirates.

Travels. The merchantmen were owned by independent shipmasters whose travels took them to Etruria (presentday Tuscany), Cyrenaica...