Ancient Greece

Archaic Period

Date	Event/Development	Details and Significance
c. 800 BCE	Beginning of the Archaic Period	Marks the end of the Greek Dark Ages Revival of culture, arts, and written language
c. 800-750 BCE	Emergence of the Greek alphabet	Adapted from Phoenician script Facilitates spread of literacy and record-keeping
c. 800-700 BCE	Composition of Homeric epics	The Iliad and The Odyssey attributed to Homer Major influence on Greek culture and literature
776 BCE	First recorded Olympic Games	Held in Olympia Becomes a pan-Hellenic institution
c. 750-550 BCE	Greek colonization movement	Establishment of colonies throughout Mediterranean and Black Sea Spread of Greek culture and trade networks
c. 700 BCE	Rise of the hoplite warfare	Introduction of phalanx formation Democratization of military service
c. 670 BCE	Invention of coinage in Lydia	Quickly adopted by Greek city-states Facilitates trade and economic growth
c. 660-560 BCE	Age of Tyrants	Rise of individual rulers in many Greek city-states Often supported by the emerging middle class
c. 650-600 BCE	Second Messenian War	Sparta conquers Messenia Leads to development of Spartan militaristic society
621 BCE	Draco's law code in Athens	First written law code of Athens Known for its harshness
594 BCE	Reforms of Solon in Athens	Cancellation of debts and freeing of debt-slaves Laying foundations for Athenian democracy
c. 585 BCE	Thales of Miletus active	Considered the first Greek philosopher Beginnings of scientific thought
546 BCE	Croesus of Lydia defeated by Cyrus of Persia	Lydian kingdom falls to Persia Begins Persian encroachment on Greek world
534-510 BCE	Tyranny of Peisistratos and his sons in Athens	Period of cultural and economic growth in Athens Establishment of major religious festivals
525 BCE	Persians conquer Egypt	Further expansion of Persian Empire Increases Persian threat to Greek world
508 BCE	Cleisthenes' democratic reforms in Athens	Establishment of demokratia (rule by the people) Introduction of ostracism
499-493 BCE	Ionian Revolt	Greek cities in Asia Minor rebel against Persian rule Athens and Eretria support the revolt
492 BCE	First Persian invasion of Greece	Led by Mardonius Invasion fails due to a storm destroying the Persian fleet
490 BCE	Battle of Marathon	Athenians defeat Persian force Ends first Persian invasion attempt
483-480 BCE	Athenian naval expansion	Themistocles convinces Athens to build a large navy Funded by silver discovered in Laurion mines
480 BCE	Second Persian invasion of Greece	Led by Xerxes I Marks the end of the Archaic Period and beginning of Classical Period

Classical Period

Date	Event/Development	Details and Significance
480 BCE	Battle of Thermopylae	Persian forces led by Xerxes I defeat Greek alliance Famous last stand of 300 Spartans and allies Buys time for Greek city-states to prepare defenses
480 BCE	Battle of Salamis	Greek fleet led by Themistocles defeats larger Persian fleet Crucial turning point in Second Persian invasion
479 BCE	Battles of Plataea and Mycale	Greek victory at Plataea ends Persian invasion of mainland Greece Battle of Mycale frees Ionian cities from Persian control
478-477 BCE	Formation of Delian League	Alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens Originally formed for defense against Persia Gradually transforms into Athenian empire
472 BCE	Aeschylus' "The Persians" performed	Earliest surviving Greek tragedy Depicts Persian reaction to defeat at Salamis
470-460 BCE	"Severe Style" in Greek sculpture	Transition from Archaic to Classical style Examples: Kritios Boy, Charioteer of Delphi
466 BCE	Battle of Eurymedon	Athenian-led forces defeat Persians in Anatolia Strengthens Athens' position in Delian League
462-461 BCE	Reforms of Ephialtes	Reduces power of aristocratic Areopagus council in Athens Strengthens democratic elements of government
461-429 BCE	Age of Pericles	Height of Athenian democracy and cultural achievement Major building projects including the Parthenon Advances in philosophy, drama, and arts
458 BCE	Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy performed	Only surviving complete Greek tragic trilogy Explores themes of justice and civilization
454 BCE	Transfer of Delian League treasury	Moved from Delos to Athens Symbolizes Athens' transition from alliance leader to empire
451 BCE	Pericles' Citizenship Law	Restricts Athenian citizenship to those with Athenian parents on both sides Impacts social and political structure of Athens
449 BCE	Peace of Callias	Alleged peace treaty between Athens and Persia Marks effective end of Greco-Persian Wars
447-432 BCE	Construction of Parthenon	Iconic temple on Athenian Acropolis Symbolizes Athenian power and cultural achievement
443 BCE	Herodotus begins writing Histories	Foundational work of Western historical writing Covers Greco-Persian Wars and cultural observations
441 BCE	Sophocles' Antigone first performed	Explores themes of state power vs. individual conscience
440 BCE	Protagoras visits Athens	Marks rise of Sophist movement in philosophy
433 BCE	Statue of Zeus at Olympia completed	Sculpted by Phidias, one of Seven Wonders of Ancient World
431 BCE	Outbreak of Peloponnesian War	Conflict between Athens-led Delian League and Sparta-led Peloponnesian League Thucydides begins writing his History
430-426 BCE	Plague of Athens	Devastating epidemic weakens Athens Pericles dies in 429 BCE
428 BCE	Euripides' Hippolytus wins at City Dionysia	Showcases evolution of Greek tragic form
427 BCE	Gorgias of Leontini visits Athens	Influences development of rhetoric and Sophist philosophy
425 BCE	Aristophanes' The Acharnians performed	Earliest surviving complete comedy Satirizes Peloponnesian War
421 BCE	Peace of Nicias	Temporary truce in Peloponnesian War Lasts until 415 BCE
415-413 BCE	Sicilian Expedition	Disastrous Athenian campaign against Syracuse Major turning point in Peloponnesian War
411 BCE	Oligarchic coup in Athens	Brief rule of "The Four Hundred" Reaction to Sicilian Expedition disaster
405 BCE	Battle of Aegospotami	Decisive Spartan naval victory over Athens Leads to Athenian surrender in 404 BCE
404-403 BCE	Rule of Thirty Tyrants in Athens	Spartan-backed oligarchic regime Overthrown and democracy restored in 403 BCE
399 BCE	Trial and execution of Socrates	Major event in history of philosophy Plato's works deeply influenced by his teacher's death
395-387 BCE	Corinthian War	Thebes, Athens, Corinth, and Argos vs. Sparta Ends with Peace of Antalcidas, reasserting Persian influence
387 BCE	Plato founds the Academy	First institution of higher learning in Western world
384 BCE	Birth of Aristotle	Student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great Foundational figure in Western philosophy and sciences
371 BCE	Battle of Leuctra	Theban victory over Sparta led by Epaminondas Ends Spartan military dominance
367 BCE	Aristotle joins Plato's Academy	Beginning of Aristotle's philosophical career in Athens
359 BCE	Philip II becomes king of Macedon	Begins Macedonian rise to power
356 BCE	Birth of Alexander (the Great)	Son of Philip II, tutored by Aristotle
348 BCE	Philip II destroys Olynthus	Demonstrates growing Macedonian threat to Greek city-states
338 BCE	Battle of Chaeronea	Philip II defeats Theban-Athenian alliance Effectively ends era of independent Greek city-states
336 BCE	Assassination of Philip II	Alexander III (the Great) becomes king of Macedon
335 BCE	Aristotle founds the Lyceum	Rival school to Plato's Academy
334-323 BCE	Alexander's campaigns	Conquers Persian Empire Spreads Hellenistic culture across much of known world
323 BCE	Death of Alexander in Babylon	Marks end of Classical period and beginning of Hellenistic era

Hellenistic Period

Date	Event/Development	Details and Significance
323 BCE	Death of Alexander the Great	Marks the beginning of the Hellenistic Period Leads to the division of Alexander's empire
322-320 BCE	Lamian War	Greek cities rebel against Macedonian rule Ends with Macedonian victory, solidifying their control
321-301 BCE	Wars of the Diadochi	Series of conflicts among Alexander's successors Results in the formation of major Hellenistic kingdoms
305 BCE	Establishment of major Hellenistic kingdoms	Ptolemaic Egypt under Ptolemy I Seleucid Empire under Seleucus I Macedon under Cassander
300-100 BCE	Flourishing of Hellenistic science and culture	Establishment of Library of Alexandria Advances in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine Development of new philosophical schools (Stoicism, Epicureanism)
280-275 BCE	Pyrrhic War	Pyrrhus of Epirus fights Rome in southern Italy First clash between Greek and Roman powers
267-261 BCE	Chremonidean War	Sparta and Athens vs. Macedon Ends with Macedonian victory, weakening Greek city-states
250-150 BCE	Rise of federal leagues in Greece	Achaean League and Aetolian League gain prominence Attempt to balance power against Macedon
220-217 BCE	Social War in Greece	Conflict between Achaean League and Aetolian League Weakens Greek resistance to foreign powers
215-205 BCE	First Macedonian War	Rome vs. Macedon Marks beginning of Roman intervention in Greek affairs
200-196 BCE	Second Macedonian War	Rome defeats Philip V of Macedon Rome declares "Freedom of the Greeks" at Isthmian Games
192-188 BCE	Roman-Seleucid War	Rome defeats Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire Seleucids forced out of Greece and western Asia Minor
171-168 BCE	Third Macedonian War	Rome defeats Perseus of Macedon End of Macedonian monarchy
146 BCE	Roman conquest of Greece	Destruction of Corinth Greece becomes Roman province of Achaea
145-139 BCE	Fourth Macedonian War	Failed revolt against Roman rule Macedonia becomes a Roman province
133 BCE	Kingdom of Pergamon bequeathed to Rome	Last major Hellenistic kingdom in Asia Minor falls to Rome
88-63 BCE	Mithridatic Wars	Conflict between Rome and Pontus Further Roman expansion in the Hellenistic East
69-67 BCE	Crete and Cilicia become Roman provinces	Roman control extends over eastern Mediterranean
64 BCE	Pompey annexes Seleucid Empire	End of Seleucid dynasty Syria becomes a Roman province
31 BCE	Battle of Actium	Octavian (Augustus) defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII End of Ptolemaic Egypt and the Hellenistic period

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