Ancient Greece

Bronze Age

Period: 3000 BCE to 1200 BCE

Bronze is invented, which is 90% copper and 10% tin. It is the metal of choice for about 2,000 years.

Minoan Period

Period: 2000 BCE to 1250 BCE

Seven to eight early identical palaces are scattered around the island of Crete, with the palace at Knossos being significantly larger. Notably, there are no fortifications or defences surrounding the palaces. Minoan architecture includes plumbing and glazed window panes. Following a major earthquake in 1700 BCE, palaces were rebuilt.

Invasion of Crete by Myceneans

1450 BCE

Minoan Crete is invaded by Myceneans from the Greek Mainland. This leads to the Postpalatial period, ending in 1200 BCE when the Myceneans are defeated, possible by the sea peoples.

Citadel at Mycenae renovated

1250 BCE

The Lion Gate is built, shaft graves are brought within the fortification wall, a water tunnel is dug, and the Tholos tombs are built.

Greek Dark Age

Period: 1200 BCE to 800 BCE

An unknown catalyst, close to the time of the Trojan War, ended the Mycenaean civilization and Bronze Age. Writing is lost, and does not return until 800 BCE.

Olympic Games are founded

776 BCE

The Olympic games are held every four years and honor Olympian Zeus. The earliest sports are running and wrestling, with chariot races and single horse races added in the seventh century B.C. The games are held at Olympia for the next 293 Olympics.

Adoption of Phoenician Alphabet

750 BCE

Greece has adopted the Phoenician Alphabet by 750 BCE, used by Homer and Hesiod.

Homer composes the Iliad and the Odyssey

750 BCE

Homer is frequently considered the first poet of Greece.

Greek Colonization

Period: 750 BCE to 600 BCE

Greece exported its excess population by developing colonies from the Black Sea to Southern Italy and even Spain. This resulted in growing trade, prosperity, and foreign influences. Colonies would have an exclusive trade relationship with their mother city in Greece, which also allowed for natural resources to be sent to the mother city.

Tyrants begin ruling city-states (Poleis)

710 BCE

Following the invention of the Polis, the Greek city-state, local kings were fairly powerful. Oligarchies were in each Polis by 700 BCE, followed by tyrants. Pheidon of Argos was the first tyrant, an aristocrat who seized power without the legal right.

Coins invented

700 BCE

Prior to 700 BCE, Greece functioned on the barter system. Coins were invented in Lydia and made from electrum, a mixture of silver and gold. Each polis tended to have its own set of coins with their patron god or goddess on one side, and the emblem of the city on the other.

Kylon attempts to seize power over Athens

632 BCE

This aristocrat and previous Olympic victor wanted to becme a tyrant.

Draco institutes legal reforms

621 BCE

This is the first time that Athenian laws are put into writing. The penalties are famous for their severity.

Solon comes into power

594 BCE

Solon, an Athenian lawgiver given carte blanche to initiate reforms to help Athenian society, repeals all of the Draconian laws except those dealing with homicide. He cancels all debts, abolishes slavery, introduces Attic coinage, gives citizenship to immigrant craftsmen, alters weights and measures system, limits exports to olive oil, and reforms the class system.

Ionia is captured

546 BCE

Persia has conquered all the way to Turkey, including the Greek cities on the west coast.

Reforms of Cleisthenes

508 BCE

Cleisthenes is credited for inventing democracy in Athens. He introduces isonomia, equality under the law regardless of wealth. All free men are able to serve on juries or hold office, and Athens now rotates holding of offices.

Ionian Rebellion

Period: 499 BCE to 494 BCE

Ionians wanted to overthrow Persian rule. They received help from Athens (20 ships) and none from Spartans. The rebellion ended in 494 in defeat for Greeks.

Battle of Marathon: First major invasion of Persian War

490 BCE

Persians sailed across from Turkey and Cyprus, landing on the beach at Marathon. They invaded with about 25,000 troops and 6,000 ships. The Greeks, mainly Athenians, mounted a defence with only about 10,000 men. The Persians were defeated and sailed back to Asia when they found Athens fortified as well.

Ostracism

488 BCE

This practice, established in Athens by Cleisthenes but not applied until 20 years later, is an example of the demos--nobody is a private person. Once per year, everyone voted by writing the name of a person they thought was getting too powerful on a little piece of property. There had to be a minimum of 6,000 votes, and this person was sent into exile for 10 years. When the exiled person returned, he was reinstated and regained all property and profits.

Delian League is founded

477 BCE

In 477 BCE and annually, each of the member states gives ships, men, or money to be used under the control of Athens

Athenian Empire begins

454 BCE

This time shows relative peace, prosperity, and building. Pericles; a son of a nobleman, soldier, orator, and general; is in charge of this mostly naval empire.

Parthenon is designed and built

Period: 449 BCE to 432 BCE

Pericles has building projects started with money from the Delian League's treasury including the Acropolis as we know it today. The Parthenon, the temple of Athena Parthenos on the Akropolis at Athens, is designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates.

Peace treaty between Athens and Sparta

446 BCE

This peace treaty, negotiated by Pericles, lasts 30 years from 445 BCE to 415 BCE. Athens controls the sea, and Sparta controls the land.

Peloponnesian War

Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

This war was between the two leading city-states in ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta.

Thirty Tyrants

404 BCE

A pro-Spartan government is formed in Athens, and overthrown the next year.

Tauromenium founded

403 BCE

This theater, founded by Dionysius of Syracuse, is the second largest in Sicily