Ancient Greece

Beginning of Mycenaean Period

1600 BCE

The Mycenaean civilization flourished in the Late Bronze Age (c. 1700-1100 BCE), peaking from the 15th to the 13th century BCE. The Mycenaeans extended their influence throughout the Peloponnese in Greece and across the Aegean from Crete to the Cycladic islands.

The Trojan War

1250 BCE

a ten-year war waged by the confederated Greeks under Agamemnon against the Trojans to avenge the abduction of Helen, wife of Menelaus, by Paris, son of the Trojan king Priam, and ending in the plundering and burning of Troy.

Introduction of the Olympic Games

776 BCE

The Olympic Games, which originated in ancient Greece as many as 3,000 years ago, were revived in the late 19th century and have become the world's preeminent sporting competition.The first modern Olympics took place in 1896 in Athens, and featured 280 participants from 12 nations, competing in 43 events.

The Rise of the Greek Tyrants

650 BCE

In ancient Greece, a tyrant was simply a person who ruled a city-state by themselves, but who lacked the traditional or constitutional authority of a king or elected leader. This system of government emerged between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE, as traditional monarchies and aristocracies were challenged.

Second Peloponnesian War: Athens versus Sparta

431 BCE

The Second Peloponnesian War was fought between the city-states of Sparta and Athens in the 5th century BC. The conflict began in 431 BC and ended with utter defeat for Athens in 404 BC as its naval empire was destroyed. ... It angered the other city-states by moving the Delian League's treasury to Athens in 454 BC.