Greek History

By Quintin
  • 2000 BCE

    First Settlers

    Wandering tribes began to settle in Greece
  • 1600 BCE

    Mycenaean Greece

    Bronze Age Greece was inhabited by the Mycenaean people. They took their name from the capital city of their land, Mycenae.
  • 1194 BCE

    Trojan War

    The Trojan war between the Greeks and the Trojans (inhabitants of Troy) began
  • 1184 BCE

    Trojan War

    The Trojan war ended when the Greeks used a wooden horse to invade and overrun the Trojan city of Troy
  • 1100 BCE

    Dorian Invaders

    Dorians had iron weapons which they use to good effect to defeat and conquer the Mycenaeans.
  • 850 BCE

    Alphabet

    The Greek alphabet was developed from the Phoenician alphabet.
  • 800 BCE

    Homer

    Homer composed his poems – the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Iliad is an epic poem set in the Trojan War while the Odyssey tells the story of the adventures of Odysseus on his return from the Trojan war.
  • 776 BCE

    First Olympic Games

    First recorded Olympic games. The games were held at Olympia. There was one event – the men’s 200m sprint.
  • 743 BCE

    First Messenian War

    This was a disagreement between the Messenians and the Spartans that led to war
  • 724 BCE

    First Messenian War

    The first Messenian war ended in victory for the Spartans
  • 650 BCE

    Rise of the Tyrants

    The rule of aristocratic leaders was challenged by lesser aristocrats or wealthy tradesmen who wanted to overthrow the monopoly of the aristocrats. Known as tyrants they seized power from the aristocracy and took over rule in their stead.
  • 621 BCE

    Draco’s Code of Law

    The laws of Athens had previously been a set of oral laws. Draco introduced a new set of harsher laws which were written down for all to read. For many crimes the punishment was death.
  • 600 BCE

    Money

    The first Greek coins appeared
  • 495 BCE

    Pythagoras

    The philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras, died in Metapontum.
  • 490 BCE

    First Persian War

    The First Persian war began when Persia sent an invasion force into Athens in retaliation for its participation in a Greek raid on Persia.
  • 490 BCE

    Battle of Marathon

    The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon
  • 480 BCE

    Second Persian War

    The Second Persian war began when Persia’s King Xerxes led an invasion force into Greece.
  • 480 BCE

    Battle of Thermopylae

    The Persians defeated the Greeks in the Battle off Thermopylae
  • 480 BCE

    Battle of Salamis

    The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Salamis
  • 432 BCE

    Parthenon completed

    The Parthenon was completed. The temple was built in Athens to house a statue of Goddess Athena so that she could watch over the city.
  • 431 BCE

    Peloponnesian Wars

    The Peloponnesian wars between Athens and Sparta.
  • 404 BCE

    Peloponnesian Wars

    Athens lost the Peloponnesian Wars. The Athenian democratic government was removed and replaced by a ruling body of 30 tyrants.
  • 403 BCE

    Democracy

    Democracy was restored to Athens.
  • 399 BCE

    Socrates

    The philosopher Socrates, founder of philosophy, was charged with impiety (being disrespectful to the Gods) he was found guilty and executed.
  • 380 BCE

    Academy

    The philosopher Plato, student of Socrates, founded the Academy in Athens.
  • 359 BCE

    Philip II

    Philip II became King of Macedon
  • 347 BCE

    Plato

    The philosopher, Plato, student of Socrates, founder of The Academy and author of The Republic died in Athens.
  • 339 BCE

    Catapult

    The Catapult was invented at Syracruse
  • 338 BCE

    Battle of Chaeronea

    Philip II, King of Macedon conquered Greece
  • 338 BCE

    League of Corinth

    The League of Corinth, a federation of Greek states, was founded by Philip II to boost support against Persia.
  • 336 BCE

    Alexander the Great

    Philip II, King of Macedon was assassinated – his son Alexander became King of Macedon. He was later known as Alexander the Great
  • 335 BCE

    The Lyceum

    Aristotle founded the Lyceum in Athens.
  • 333 BCE

    Persia

    Alexander conquered the Persians and declared himself King of Persia.
  • 331 BCE

    Egypt

    Alexander conquered Egypt and made Alexandria the capital of his newly gained land
  • 323 BCE

    Alexander the Great

    Alexander the Great died. His son had not yet been born so his conquered lands were divided between his top generals.
  • 322 BCE

    Aristotle

    Aristotle, philosopher, mathematician, student of Plato, tutor of Alexander died in Euboea.
  • 265 BCE

    Euclid

    Euclid, the inventor of geometry, died.
  • 212 BCE

    Archimedes

    The mathematician and engineer, Archimedes, was assassinated in Syracuse.
  • 146 BCE

    Roman Empire

    The Romans defeated the Greeks at the Battle of Corinth and Greece became part of the Roman Empire