Greek History

By maung.aye
  • 2000 BCE

    First Settlers

    First Settlers
    Wandering tribes begin to settle in Greece which is one of the most influential civilizations on western culture and thought.
  • 1600 BCE

    Mycenaean Greece

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

    Trojan War begins

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

    Trojan War ends

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

    Dorian Invaders

    Dorian Invaders
    Mycenaean Greece was invaded by Dorian tribesmen from the north. The Dorians had iron weapons which they use to good effect to defeat and conquer the Mycenaeans.
  • 850 BCE

    Alphabet

    Alphabet
    The Greek alphabet was developed from the Phoenician alphabet. Their alphabet is still used today.
  • 800 BCE

    Homer

    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. These are still study today as example of Greek culture.
  • 776 BCE

    First Olympic Games

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

    First Messenian War

    First Messenian War
    This was a disagreement between the Messenians and the Spartans that led to war. This is an example of Spartan dominance.
  • 650 BCE

    Rise of the Tyrants

    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. This shows a change in government .
  • 621 BCE

    Draco’s Code of Law

    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. This shows a change in government.
  • 600 BCE

    Money

    Money
    The first Greek coins appeared. This makes trading easier.
  • 508 BCE

    Democracy

    Democracy
    Democracy began in Athens.
  • 495 BCE

    Pythagoras

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

    First Persian War

    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

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

    Second Persian War

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

    Battle of Thermopylae

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

    Battle of Salamis

    Battle of Salamis
    The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Salamis.
  • 431 BCE

    Peloponnesian Wars

    Peloponnesian Wars
    The Peloponnesian wars between Athens and Sparta.
  • 404 BCE

    Peloponnesian Wars

    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
    Democracy was restored to Athens.
  • 399 BCE

    Socrates

    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

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

    Philip II

    Philip II
    Philip II became King of Macedon.
  • 347 BCE

    Plato

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

    Catapult

    Catapult
    The Catapult was invented at Syracruse.
  • 338 BCE

    Battle of Chaeronea

    Battle of Chaeronea
    Philip II, King of Macedon conquered Greece.
  • 338 BCE

    League of Corinth

    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

    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

    The Lyceum
    Aristotle founded the Lyceum in Athens.
  • 333 BCE

    Persia

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

    Egypt

    Egypt
    Alexander conquered Egypt and made Alexandria the capital of his newly gained land.