THE BOSPORAN KINGDOM

The Bosporan Kingdom was on the extreme north-eastern rim of the classical Greek, and later of the Hellenistic world. In the 4th century the Bosporan state comprised some 5,000 sq. km. of territory and a population of approximately 100,000-120,000 citizens and subjects. Greeks probably first sailed into the Black Sea in the second half of the 8th century BCE. The Greeks of the North Black Sea cities were subject to the demands of an acknowledged major power. Satyrus' rule over the Bosporan state lasted until 389/8 BCE, when his son, Leucon, succeeded him and ruled for forty years. After Leucon, two of his sons, Spartocus II and Paerisades I, ruled jointly for five years. After the death of Spartocus, Paerisades ruled alone for thirty-three years. During the 4th c.BCE, the Bosporan rulers were seen as barbarians; however, their status as kings was acknowledged by the new Hellenistic social context in the beginning of the 3rd c.BCE. 

After the death of Perissad I, a struggle broke out between his sons. Ancient sources describe the political connections of the Spartacides with Athens, Delphi, Delos, Miletus and Egypt. The last of the Spartacides, Perissad V, was forced to give up his throne to the ruler of the Pontian kingdom, Mithridates VI, in 108 BCE. Mithridates became a so powerful, that he posed a threat even to Rome. 
The basis of the Bosporan commerce was the export of grain.Also, Bosporus exported salted and dried fish, cattle, skins, furs and slaves to Greece. In exchange for all these goods, the states of Greece sent wine, olive oil, metal products, expensive fabrics, precious metals, and artifacts to Bosporus. Part of these imported goods was kept in Bosporan cities, whereas other parts were taken by the Bosporan traders to the mainland, in order to be purchased by the noblemen of the local tribes. 

After the accession of the Bosporus to Pontus, trade relations began to develop actively with the cities of this state, primarily with Sinopa.