In ancient Greece, a citizen settler or colonist who received an allotment of land and maintained connection to the homeland, especially during Athenian colonial expansion.
From Greek 'klērouchos,' from 'kleros' meaning 'lot' or 'land portion' plus 'ochein' meaning 'to hold'—literally one who holds a lot of land assigned by the state.
Athenian cleruchs were like military colonists—they would settle newly conquered territory, maintain Athenian control, and send resources back home, an ancient version of imperialism that modern empires would later copy.
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