-
776 BCE
The First Olympic Games
The first Olympic Games are held in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC. The Games started as a religious festival for Zeus. Eventually, footraces and other events were added to make the Games more like the modern Olympic Games today. Today, the Games take place every 4 years in different cities around the world. -
750 BCE
The Illiad and The Odyssey
Homer, the author of these 2 epic poems, begins to write the Illiad, followed by the Odyssey. These poems will eventually be considered as the 2 best works in Greek literature. -
600 BCE
The First Greek Coins
The first Greek coins are created and started to be used. They are made from silver and gold. -
490 BCE
The Persian Wars
The Greeks and the Persians begin to fight. They fight famous battles, such as Marathon and Thermopylae. After several years of fighting, the Greeks rise up in victory and defeat the Persians. -
432 BCE
The Completion of the Parthenon
Under the leadership of Pericles, the Parthenon is completed. It is the highest temple in Greece, built to honor Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. Even though it is a ruin, it is the most famous building from Ancient Greece still standing today. -
431 BCE
The Peloponnesian Wars
The Peloponnesian Wars are between Athens and Sparta. For the first year, Athens is doing well and has not surrendered. Eventually, the tide shifts, and Sparta conquers Athens after it surrenders in 404 BC. -
399 BCE
The Death of Socrates
Famous Athenian philosopher Socrates is arrested. He was accused of corrupting the young men of Athens. After imprisonment, he was put on trial, convicted, and sentenced to death. When it came time, the soldiers made him drink hemlock, a brutal poison. Afterwards, he gradually drifted into death, and was dead days later. -
386 BCE
Plato's New School
Student of Socrates and philosopher, Plato opens his new school, The Academy. It will remain open for more than 900 years before being closed by Roman Emperor Justinian because it didn't teach Christianity. -
332 BCE
Alexander the Great Conquers Egypt: Opens The Library of Alexandria
King of Macedonia, Alexander the Great has already conquered the Persians, He now conquers Egypt, and makes their new capital Alexandria. In this city, he builds the Library of Alexandria. Inside this library, various Egyptian kings add more and more scrolls to its shelves. Soon, there were about 700,000 scrolls in the library. It slowly became a learning center for centuries to come. Sadly, it was destroyed by fires, robberies, and foreign invasions. But, its legacy still lives on today! -
323 BCE
The Hellenistic Period Begins
Alexander the Great resides in his empire's capital, Babylon. Suddenly, he caught a fever and died at the age of 30. After his death, the Hellenistic Period begins. This period lasts for more than 100 years after his death and, eventually, leads to the decline of Ancient Greece, allowing it to be conquered by the rapid-growing Ancient Rome in 146 BC. Now there is no more Ancient Greece. But, everything they found will always be here, from the thousands of years after its end to the end of time.
