greek timeline

By naejah
  • 3000 BCE

    greek timeline

    3000 B.C.
    The first major civilization in the region begins on the island of Crete. Its people, known as Minoans, live peacefully in big cities, trade with other countries and develop Europe's first system of writing
  • 2016 BCE

    480 B.C.

    480 B.C.
    Greek cities defeat Persians at sea. The city-state of Athens becomes the head of a group of city-states known as the Delian League. It is formed to protect Greece's mainland from overseas invaders
  • 1896 BCE

    1896

    1896
    The first modern Olympic Games are held in Athens to build friendship among different countries. Many of its games, including wrestling and discus-throwing, originated in ancient Greece
  • 1550 BCE

    1550

    1550 B.C.
    The Mycenaean (My-suh-nee-un) culture develops on the Greek mainland. Its people are the first known Greek speakers
  • 1453 BCE

    1453

    1453
    Invaders from Asia known as the Ottoman Turks conquer the Byzantine Empire and take control of Greece. Turkish leaders rule over Greek cities, ports and islands for several centuries afterward. Athens, once wealthy and powerful, becomes a poor farming village.
  • 1400 BCE

    1400

    1400 B.C.
    A volcanic explosion on the island of Santorini creates tidal waves and earthquakes that destroy the Minoan civilization
  • 776 BCE

    776BC

    776 B.C.
    The first Olympic Games are held at Olympia. The winning athletes receive an olive-branch crown, a symbol of honor. The Games begin as part of a religious festival dedicated to Zeus, king of the gods.
  • 413 BCE

    431 B.C

    431 B.C
    Fighting between the city-states, known as the Peloponnesian War, breaks out. It brings famine and devastation to cities, rural areas and islands. Athens eventually loses this war to the heavily armed Spartans
  • 336 BCE

    336-323 B.C.

    336-323 B.C.
    Alexander the Great, son of King Phillip II, expands his father's empire and brings Greek culture to the lands he conquers. Greek becomes a commonly used language among educated people in Asia and other lands
  • 145 BCE

    145 B.C

    145 B.C.
    Romans invade and conquer the Greek Empire. After years of civil wars, Greece's city-states prosper once again under the rule of the Romans, who greatly admire Greek culture
  • 338

    338 B.C.

    338 B.C.
    King Philip II of Macedonia conquers Greece after wars between city-states weaken the country.
  • 546

    546 B.C.

    546 B.C.
    The Persian Empire, a large and powerful Asian kingdom, conquers much of Greece

  • 1821-1832

    1821-1832
    Greeks, tired of living under Turkish rule, defeat the Ottoman Turks in the Greek War of Independence. They accomplish this with help from France, Britain and Russia, as well as successful Greek merchants and traders

  • 1952

    1952
    Greece joins NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), a military alliance of several European countries and the United States

  • 750-500 B.C

    750-500 B.C.
    Independent urban areas called city-states flourish and develop different systems of government. Democracy, or government by popular vote, is first practiced here, and science, culture and fine arts thrive

  • 1912-1913

    1912-1913
    During the Balkan Wars, Greece gains power over Turkish-controlled land, including Crete and southern Macedonia.

  • 1975

    1975
    New constitution of the Republic of Greece is approved. It establishes a president as head of state and a prime minister to run the government

  • 2004

    2004
    The Summer Olympic Games are set to take place in Athens, Greece. They will return to the country that gave birth to the Olympics more than 2,000 years ago and the city that staged the first modern Olympic Games in 1896

  • 2010

    2010
    Greece faces a major debt crisis. To avoid bankruptcy, the Greek government gets $61 billion from the European Union