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Period: 3000 BCE to 1100 BCE
Minoan Civilization
This civilization thrives on the island of Crete. They create palaces, amazing artwork, and a unique writing system that includes 2 different writing scripts. -
2000 BCE
Greek Gods/Goddesses
The Greeks gods and goddesses are started to be worshipped in the Mediterranean area by the Mycenaeans and the Minoans. -
Period: 2000 BCE to 1200 BCE
Palace at Knosses
The palace at Knosses is inhabited by the leaders of the Minoans. -
Period: 2000 BCE to 1700 BCE
1st Palace
The era of the first palace. It was destroyed by an earthquake. -
Period: 1700 BCE to 1450 BCE
2nd Palace
The 2nd palace is rebuilt where the first one was destroyed. It was eventually destroyed by invaders who were most likely the Mycenaeans from the mainland of Greece. -
Period: 1700 BCE to 1200 BCE
Mycenaean Culture
The Mycenaean culture was present and going strong on the Greek Mainland during this time. They are believed to be the earliest-known ancestors of the Greek people today. -
Period: 1450 BCE to 1200 BCE
3rd Palace
The era of the 3rd palace. This palace was destroyed most likely by invaders who came from the west. This third palace has remains of warriors with their bronze swords and other weapons. -
Period: 1400 BCE to 1200 BCE
Mycenaean Trade
Mycenaean trade is flourishing. Pottery from Mycenaean potters has been found in Egypt, Italy, Israel, and Sardinia. -
1300 BCE
Shipwreck at Uluburun
Shipwreck at Uluburun, near Turkey. The ship contained the bodies of many different nationalities and trade items. This shipwreck helped archaeologists learn about the extent of international trade that occurred during this early time in the Mediterranean Sea area. -
1250 BCE
Palace Renovations
Renovations to the palace at Mycenae occur. These renovations include tholos tombs and the Lion Gate. Some believe that Agamemnon (should he be a real person) is buried in these tombs. -
1250 BCE
The Iliad and Odyssey
Approximately – The events described by Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey take place. These stories are handed down for centuries before Homer writes them down. -
Period: 1225 BCE to 1175 BCE
Mycenaean Earthquakes
Archeologists found evidence of massive earthquake damage to buildings in the Mycenaean sites from this time period. -
1200 BCE
Sea People
The invading Sea People started the Dark Ages in Crete that would last for centuries. -
1200 BCE
End of the Mycenaeans
The end of the Mycenaean civilization. Some archaeologists believe the Sea people invaded, while others believe droughts or earthquakes caused the end of the civilization. -
Period: 1200 BCE to 900 BCE
Dark Ages in Greece
The Dark Ages in Greece – could have been as short as 150 years and as long as 300 years. -
1100 BCE
Mycenaean Squatters
For a short period of time, squatters started living in some of the abandoned Mycenaean palaces during this era of the Dark Ages. -
800 BCE
New Greek Language
Greeks begin to write in a new language. This new writing system was brought to Greece by the Phoenicians and helped Greece rise up from the Dark Ages that they were in for hundreds of years. -
Period: 800 BCE to 600 BCE
The Greek Renaissance
The Greek Renaissance occurs. This period includes a new writing system and more building projects. -
Period: 800 BCE to 600 BCE
Time of Greek Writers
Early Greek Poets and Writers are honing their craft. The main writers for this time period were Hesiod, Sappho, and Homer. -
776 BCE
Olympic Games Created
The games, held every 4 years, were created to honor Zeus. The earliest Olympics consisted of wrestling and running events. -
776 BCE
Beginning of Greek History
Considered to be the beginning of Greek history, as this is the date of the first Olympics and this is approximately when Homer and Hesiod started writing. -
750 BCE
Homer's Writings
Ancient author Homer writes the Iliad and the Odyssey. -
750 BCE
Greek Colonies
The Greeks started creating colonies in Italy and Sicily. Some of these colonies would eventually become Greek city-states on their own. These colonies were created to help with agricultural production for their city-states. -
Period: 750 BCE to 600 BCE
Population/Colonizing Increase
A sharp population increase leads to the colonizing of more land by Greek city-states. Most colonies were started by young men who took over the local men, married into the local community, and used local resources to export back to their main city-state. -
743 BCE
Syracuse Established
The colony of Syracuse is established by the Corinthians. Syracuse’s size would one day rival that of Athens. -
700 BCE
Hesiod Writings
The time of Hesiod – Famed for writing Theogony and Works and Days, which was essentially a farmer’s almanac for the time. -
700 BCE
Rise of the Tyrants
The rise of tyrants begins in some Greek city-states. A tyrant was a leader who had sole power in the city-state, without the legal authority to do so. Some Greek tyrants were good, unlike the meaning of the word today. -
650 BCE
Tyrant Cypselus
The tyrant Cypselus and his son Periander of Corinth came to power. -
632 BCE
Kylon Tries to Take Power
Aristocrat and Olympian Kylon tried to take power in Athens and become a tyrant. His group was eventually killed or surrendered. Kylon and his brother were able to escape. -
621 BCE
Athenian Law Code
Athenian lawgiver Draco created the first law code in Athens. His laws had severe punishments if they were broken (death penalty was common). -
Period: 612 BCE to 550 BCE
Life of Sappho
The life of Sappho, famed female poet. These poems are personal in nature and show her affinity for the gods/goddess like Aphrodite. -
600 BCE
Archons Run Athens
By this time, Athens was run by 9 archons who were appointed or elected each year. Most were elected for one year terms (however, some future archons were reelected year after year). -
594 BCE
Solon Takes Over Athens
Solon, leader in Athens, replaces the former law code of the city. His new laws start laying the foundation for democracy to thrive in Athens. -
Period: 594 BCE to 508 BCE
Decline of Democracy in Athens
Democracy in Athens took a backseat thanks to the leader Pisistratus and his sons. -
550 BCE
Syracuse Theater
The Syracuse theater is constructed. It is one of the largest theaters in the Greek civilization. -
525 BCE
Red-figure Pottery
The red-figure pottery style is started in Athens. This is the pottery style that Greece is most known for, with a black background and the foreground being the color of the red clay used to create the pottery. -
508 BCE
Cleisthenes Rules
Cleisthenes, an Athenian statesman, keeps Athens moving towards a democracy by continuing what Solon had started. He creates a democratic constitution in Athens. -
500 BCE
Height of Athens
The height of Athens – The population of the city was approximately 200,000 people. -
488 BCE
First Ostracism
The first ostracism (voting on a broken pot sherd) occurred. Some believe Cleisthenes invented this concept; however, since it first took place 20 years after his rule, some believe otherwise.
