Ancient Greece Timeline

The first Olympic games takes place

776 BCE

Held in Olympia. Held every 4 years until 393 CE.

Homer composes the Odyssey

750 BCE

It is the second of two epic poems attributed to Homer. The first is "The Iliad".

Democracy begins in Athens

550 BCE

Often described as the first democracy developed in the Greek "polis" of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica.

Battle of Marathon - The Greeks defeat Persian invaders

490 BCE

Fought by Athenians, aided by Plataea against Persian forces commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. Fought on the Marathon plain of north eastern Attica.

Battle of Salamis - The Greeks defeat Persian invaders

480 BCE

Navel battle fought between a alliance of Greek city-states under Themistocles and the Persian empire under King Xerxes. After losing the battle of Thermopylae and coming to a draw with the navel battle of Artemision, they were able to defeat the Persians.

Athens takes control of an empire

450 BCE

Under Athenian Pericles, the Athenians moved the treasury to Athens. The city also consolidated and took monetary resources, increasing its wealth and power. The empire was effectively under Athens' leadership.

Greek plays are performed in Athens

440 BCE

First plays were performed in Athens the arts and culture capital. Held the shadow of the Acropolis in the Theatre of Dionysus. They gain much popularity amongst Greeks. Drama was classified by different genres: comedy; tragedy; and satire.

Parthenon is finished in Athens

432 BCE

The Parthenon was commissioned by Athenian statesman Pericles in 447 BCE completed in 432 BCE. A Greek marble temple, it served as the city treasury, then later becoming the treasury for the Athenian Empire. It was dedicated to the Greek goddess, Athena Parthenon.

War starts between Athens & Sparta

431 BCE

Sparta and Athens were the two most powerful cities in the Greek Empire.Sparta feared of the growing power and influence of the Athenian Empire. The Peloponnesian war began after the Persian Wars ended in 449 BCE. There was much controversy and frictions which led them on the path to war against each other. It was believed that Athens' ambitions caused increasing instability in Greece.

Sparta defeats Athens

404 BCE

After battling for 27 years Sparta defeats Athens.At Mantinea, Sparta defeated Argos, Athens and their Peloponnesian allies, and returned them to the Peloponnesian League. During the war, Athens always won at sea, but Sparta was always strongest on land, and this is where the ultimate battle was won, thus ending the war..

Alexander the Great conquers all

336 BCE

Alexander was an ancient Macedonian ruler who is arguably considered one of the greatest conquerors of all time. He is often referred to as “the Great“ for his extraordinary military, strategic and leadership skills.
In only 13 years as king, he conquered the Persian Empire that covered 2 million square miles that stretched from Greece, through the Middle East, to Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Alexander the Great dies

323 BCE

The Macedonian king died in early June 323 BC while suffering a high fever that had lasted ten days in Babylon. His death left the Greek Empire open to invasion.

Greece is conquered by the Roman Empire

146 BCE

After numerous battles, the Romans progressively took control of various parts of Greece. Many consider the particular defeat for Macedonia was key to the crumble of control by the Greeks. The Romans finally defeated the Greek at the Battle of Corinth in 146 BC.