Final answer:
The term 'relative newcomers' refers to groups that arrived in the Mediterranean region after it had already seen the establishment and development of ancient societies such as the Phoenicians and Greeks who laid the early cultural and economic foundations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "relative newcomers" in the context of the Mediterranean region refers to groups or cultures that arrived in an area that was already populated by earlier societies. When we consider the history of the Mediterranean, we see that it was a hotspot of ancient commerce and cultural interaction dating back approximately 3,500 years. Civilizations like the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, and later the Vandals and Arabs have all made significant impacts on the region over the millennia. The label of 'newcomer' might be applied to any group that settled in the area during later periods in history, after the early foundations of Mediterranean culture had already been laid by these ancient civilizations.
History of Mediterranean Settlement
For example, the Phoenicians were notable for their early trade networks and began founding colonies throughout the Mediterranean by the end of the tenth century BCE, with Carthage arising around 814 BCE. The Greeks followed in the eighth century by establishing their own colonies, which were crucial for trade and spreading their culture. The result of these ancient settlements was a rich tapestry of human societies and a long-term process of cultural commingling, reabsorption, and acculturation. Thus, any groups that arrived after these deeply entrenched societies could be considered as relative newcomers, as they would be entering a region with well-established cultural, economic, and political systems.