The Ionians were one of the early Greek tribes. Other tribes included Dorians and Achaians. They were later known collectively as Hellenes.
The Ionians took control of abandoned territories taken from the Mycenaens by the Dorians in the Dorian invasion. They were helped in the building of Athens by the Aeolians. They became the most advanced ancient Greeks and built the largest cities. Many of the Athenians were thought to be the smartest people on Earth by the Romans in their invasion of Macedonian Greece. They (Athenians) introduced democracy around 400 BC. See Roman invasion of Greece
Ionians are mainly associated with Ionia, which is the western coast of Anatolia, although the best-known Ionians were the Athenians.
See also