Ancient Greece

Darius I Invades Greece

492 BCE

The first Persian invasion of Greece, during the Persian Wars, began in 492 BC, and ended with the decisive Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE.

Greeks Defeat Persians at Marathon

490 BCE

It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes.

Battle of Salamis

480 BCE

The Battle of Salamis was a naval battle between the Greek city-states and Persia, fought in September, 480 BC in the straits between Piraeus and Salamis, a small island in the Saronic Gulf near Athens, Greece.

Battle of Thermopylae

480 BCE

Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE.

Athens Invades Megara

431 BCE

rare example of an Athenian victory on land over a force that contained Spartan troops.

Death of Pericles

429 BCE

In 429 Pericles’ two legitimate sons died of the plague. A few months later, Pericles himself succumbed. the golden age slid away.

Thirty Years Peace Between Argos and Sparta Begins

415 BCE

By the 450's it was clear that the international politics of Greek city-states was dominated by Athens and Sparta.

End of the Peloponnesian War

404 BCE

Slowly the Athenians began to starve, as the Spartans stopped their food ships from getting through. By 404 BC, with many Athenians already dead of starvation, the Athenians surrendered unconditionally