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A brief timeline of greek history
ANCIENT TIMES
3000 b.C.
Bronze Age The first walled settlements in the Mediterranean
2000 b.C.
Formation and evolution of the Minoan, Cycladic and Mycenaean Civilization
2000-1500 b.C.
Minoan civilization reaches its peak, its central power in Knossos
1650 b.C.
Formation of the Minoan "Linear A" Phaistos Disc
1600 b.C.
The Mycenaean Civilization flourishes in the Greek mainland
1500 b.C.
Formation of the Mycenaean "Linear B" Eruption of the Santorini volcano
1450 b.C.
First destruction of Minoan Crete
1100 b.C.
Collapse of the Mycenaean Civilization "Dorian invasion" Second destruction of the Minoan Crete Formation of the Phoenician Alphabet Foundation of Sparta Beginning of the Iron Age in the Aegean
900 b.C.
Beginning of the Geometric Period
800 b.C.
Beginning of the Archaic Period Monarchies are replaced by aristocratic regimes
776 b.C.
The First Olympic Games
750 b.C.
Foundation of Greek colonies in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea The art of music flourishes Stone monument architecture Literature: Homer (Iliad - Odyssey) and Hesiod (Theogony, Works and Days)
743-724
1st Messenian War
683 b.C.
Aristocratic law in Athens
650 b.C.
Rise of Tyranny Lycurgos’ reforms in Sparta Lyric poetry
640 b.C.
2nd Messenian War
624 b.C.
Codification of the Athenian legislation by Draco
594 b.C.
Solon’s reforms in Athens
585 b.C.
Development of Philosophy and Sciences Thales and Anaximandros
561 b.C.
Peisistratus tyranny in Athens
546 b.C.
Persians establish rule over the Greek speaking cities in Ionia (Asia Minor)
507 b.C.
Cleisthenes’ reforms in Athens
499-494 b.C.
Outbreak of Ionian Revolt
494 b.C.
Destruction of Miletus by the Persians
490 b.C.
Beginning of the Persian Wars Persian invasion and their defeat in the battle of Marathon
480 b.C.
Battle of Thermopylae Capture of Athens by the Persians and destruction of the Acropolis Naval battles of Artemisium and Salamis Battle of Himera
479 b.C.
Defeat of Persians at Plataea End of Persian Wars Beginning of Classical Period
478 b.C.
Formation of the 1st Delian League
469 b.C.
Birth of Socrates in Athens
465 b.C.
Expedition of Athens at the Thracian Peninsula Apostasy and defeat of Thasos
462 b.C.
Democratic reforms in Athens
460 b.C.
Birth of Hippocrates in Kos The sculptors Pheidias and Polycletus begin their work
450 b.C.
Golden Age of Athens
448 b.C.
Athenian domination Construction of Parthenon begins
445 b.C.
Declaration of a 30 year peace between Athens and Sparta
443-429 b.C.
Pericles dominates the Athenian political scene
433 b.C.
Completion of the temple of Parthenon
431 b.C.
Beginning of the Peloponnesian War
430 b.C.
Plague in Athens
429 b.C.
Death of Pericles
427 b.C.
1st Sicilian Expedition
411 b.C.
Oligarchic insurgency in Athens
404 b.C.
Domination of Sparta Athens under the rule of the Thirty Tyrants
399 b.C.
Socrates is sentenced to death
395 b.C.
Corinthian war
359 b.C.
Accession of Philip II to the throne οf Macedonia
352 b.C.
Construction of the Greek Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
343 b.C.
Aristotle begins to tutor Alexander in the Macedonian royal court
338 b.C.
Philip II defeats Athens and Macedonia becomes the leading power among Greek city states
336 b.C.
Assassination of Philip II Accession of Alexander to the throne of Macedonia
336-323 b.C.
Greeks, under Alexander’s leadership, invade Asia
333 b.C.
Alexander the Great defeats Persians at the Battle of Issos
332 b.C.
Foundation of the city of Alexandria in Egypt
331 b.C.
Alexander conquers the Persian Empire and part of India
326 b.C.
Alexander crosses the Indus river
323 b.C.
Death of Alexander in Babylon His empire is partitioned among his successors – Hellenistic Kingdoms
