Ancient Greece

-The first Olympic Games takes place.-

776 BCE

At their heart, the Games were a religious festival and a good excuse for Greeks from all over the Mediterranean basin to gather for a riotous barbecue. On the middle day of the festival a vast number of cows were slaughtered in honor of Zeus, King of the Greek Gods – once he had been given a small taste, the rest was for the people.

-Homer composes the Odyssey.-

750 BCE

Homer is the legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are the central works of ancient Greek literature. The Iliad is set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek kingdoms.

-Democracy begins in Athens.-

550 BCE

Athenian democracy developed around the sixth century BC in the Greek city-state (known as a polis) of Athens, comprising the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica, is one of ancient Greek democracy, and is often described as the first known democracy in the world. Other Greek cities set up democracies, most following the Athenian model, but none are as well documented as Athens'.

- Battle of Marathon - The Greeks defeat Persian invaders.

490 BCE

It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. The battle was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate Greece. The Greek army decisively defeated the more numerous Persians, marking a turning point in the Greeco-Persian Wars.

Battle of Salamis - The Greeks defeat Persian invaders.

480 BCE

Battle of Salamis Battle of Salamis, battle in the Greece-Persian Wars in which a Greek fleet defeated much larger Persian naval forces in the straits at Salamis, between the island of Salamis and the Athenian port-city of Piraeus.

-Athens takes control of an empire.-

450 BCE

This rise occurred in large part due to its prominent location and control of key trading routes and leadership in the wars against Persia. While other Greek cities held more powerful armies, such as Sparta, it was Athens' leadership that proved attractive and helped pave the way for its influence.

-Greek plays are performed in Athens-

440 BCE

he city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political, and military power during this period, was its center, where it was institutionalized as part of a festival called the Dionysian, which honored the god Dionysus. Tragedy (late 500 BC), comedy (490 BC), and the satyr play were the three dramatic genres to emerge there. Athens exported the festival to its numerous colonies.

the Parthenon is finished in Greece

432 BCE

The Parthenon was finally finished in 432 BC and was to show the world the dominance and power of Athens. The vast majority of the money used in the construction came from the Delian League funds. The Delian League was a treaty between the Greek states in league against the Persian Empire.

war between Athens and Sparta

Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

The prolonged and complex war proved detrimental for either sides. But with the financial aid from Persia, Sparta won the battle by devastating the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami in 405 BC.

-War between Athens and Sparta-

Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

The prolonged and complex war proved detrimental for either sides. But with the financial aid from Persia, Sparta won the battle by devastating the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami in 405 BC.

-Alexander the Great conquers all-

336 BCE

Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedon, became the greatest conqueror of the ancient world in a short twelve years, Alexander consolidated control over his native Balkans in Europe, invaded and conquered the mighty Persian Empire, subjugated the tribes of Central Asia and Afghanistan, and invaded India.

-Greece is conquered by Rome-

146 BCE

In 146 BC, the Romans finally defeated and destroyed their main rival in the Mediterranean, Carthage, and spent the following months in tormenting the Greeks, aiming for a final battle that would also strengthen their hold in this area.

- Greece is conquered by Rome.-

146 BCE

In 146 BC, the Romans finally defeated and destroyed their main rival in the Mediterranean, Carthage, and spent the following months in provoking the Greeks, aiming for a final battle that would also strengthen their hold in this area.