Ancient Greek Colonies were settlements established by the Ancient Greeks in various parts of the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Aeolia was a region in the northwest of Asia Minor, located on the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was colonized by the Greeks in the 8th century BC and became an important trading center. Ionia was a region in the central part of western Anatolia, located on the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was colonized by the Greeks in the 11th century BC and became an important cultural center. STOA was a region in the south of the Peloponnese, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was colonized by the Greeks in the 8th century BC and became an important trading center.