Greek History

First Settlers

2000 BCE

Wandering tribes begin to settle in Greece. Greece gave birth to the great stone and bronze civilization: The Minoans, the Mycenaeans, and the Cycladic civilization.

Trojan War

1194 BCE

The Trojan war between the Greeks and the Trojans began. This war went on for 10 years. It began when Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, kidnapped Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. When the Trojans refused to return her, the Greeks formed an army. led by Agamemnon, including Achilles, Odysseus, and the two Ajaxes.

Trojan War 2

1184 BCE

The Trojan War ended when the Greeks used a wooden horse to invade and overrun the Trojan City of Troy. The city of Troy fell to invading Greek armies, ending the Trojan War. The Trojan War is a important story in Greek Mythology and literature. The ancient Greek Poet Homer wrote about the final days of the Trojan War in his epic The Iliad.

Alphabet

850 BCE

The Greek alphabet was developed from Phoencian alphabet. Their common language and writing was one of the things that bounded the Greeks together. The Greek alphabet is still used today.

Homer

800 BCE

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.

First Messenian War

743 BCE

This was a disagreement between the Messenians and the Spartans that led to war.The first Messenian war ended in victory for the Spartans.

Rise of the Tyrants

650 BCE

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.

Draco's Code of Law

621 BCE

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.

Money

600 BCE

The first Greek coins appeared. Their money was called Drachma, which was a silver coin of ancient Greece, dating from about the mid-6th century bc, and the former monetary unit of modern Greece. The drachma was one of the world's earliest coins.

Pythagoras

495 BCE

The philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras, died in Metapontum.

First Persian War

490 BCE

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

Battle of Marathon

490 BCE

The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. This was during the first Persian Invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Arttaphernes.

Second Persian War

480 BCE

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

Battle of Salamis

480 BCE

The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Salamis. Was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states under Themistocles and the Persian Empire under King Xerxes in 480 bc, which resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered Greeks.

Battle of Thermopylae

480 BCE

The Persians defeated the Greeks in the Battle off Thermopylae. This was the first war between the Persians and the Greeks. The Greek force was very small but was determined to make a stand against the huge Persian army.

Peloponnesian Wars

431 BCE

The Peloponnesian wars between Athens and Sparta. Athens lost the Peloponnesian Wars. The Athenian democratic government was removed and replaced by a ruling body of 30 tyrants.

Socrates

399 BCE

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

Philip ll

359 BCE

Philip II became King of Macedon.

Plato

347 BCE

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

Battle of Chaeronea

338 BCE

Philip II, King of Macedon conquered Greece

League of Corinth

338 BCE

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

Alexander the Great

336 BCE

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

The Lyceum

335 BCE

Aristotle founded the Lyceum in Athens.

Persia

333 BCE

Alexander conquered the Persians and declared himself King of Persia.

Egypt

331 BCE

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

Alexander the Great

323 BCE

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

Aristotle

322 BCE

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

Euclid

265 BCE

Euclid, the inventor of geometry, died.

Archimedes

212 BCE

The mathematician and engineer, Archimedes, was assassinated in Syracuse.

Roman Empire

146 BCE

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