This book relates the history of the Crimean Greeks whose settlement in the peninsula started in ancient times as an offshoot of the active growth of Greek city-states. In the 18th century, Catherine the Great transplanted them to the Azov coast. The city of Mariupol, founded especially for newcomers from the Crimea, was the place where for 100 years since their exodus from the Crimean Khanate they enjoyed the privileges granted by the Russian Tsarina. The book further discusses the gradual assimilation of new settlers, the peculiarities of their dialect, Russian-Greek international links, the Crimean and Byzantine imprint on their culture. Includes maps. 18th century documents contained in the supplement.