Greece Timeline Project

Persian Wars - Battle of Marathon

490 BCE

The Battle of Marathon, took place in the City-State Marathon. The battle was won by the Greeks, through a fighting technique called the Phalanx Formation, when foot soldiers fight side by side with spears and shields. The Battle started because the Persians wanted revenge on the Greeks, specifically Athenians, because they helped one of Persia’s city-states rebel. The Battle of Marathon has historical significance because the Greeks still won even though they had less soldiers than Persia.

Persian Wars - The Battle of Thermopylae

480 BCE

The Battle of Thermopylae began in 480 B.C. This battle took place in Northern Greece, where the Athenians and Spartans unite to stop Xerxes, emperor of Persia, from taking Athens. The Spartans held a secret passage, Thermopylae, a mountain pass for three days until they lost. This was an important part of history, because for the first time in the Persian Wars the Athenians work together with Sparta.

Persian Wars - The Battle of Salamis

480 BCE

The final Battle was the Battle of Salamis, taking place in 480 B.C. This was different from the previous two battles; this one was held in water. The Greeks were able to sink a third of the Persian fleet, leaving a historical moment of the Greeks with a victory over the Persian wars.

Golden Age Of Athens

479 BCE

After the Persian Wars, Athens had become very wealthy and powerful, and was the leader of the Delian League. Their economic prosperity led to the Golden Age of Athens of culture. This included sculpture, theater, philosophy, and democracy. This Golden Age took place from 479-431 B.C.E. Their sculpture includes portrayed ideal beauty, symmetry, and serenity, typically youthful figures, and the theaters had tragedy and comedy.

The Peloponnesian War

431 BCE

The Peloponnesian war began from a conflict between Sparta and Athens. Athens had become too powerful as the leader of Delian League. Some of the Greek City-States wanted to leave the Delian League due to the harsh Delian League membership fees, as well. Athens would punish the city-states that would leave by conquering them. As a reaction to this, Sparta creates the Peloponnesian League to fight with the Delian League.

The Plague (Peloponnesian War)

430 BCE

During the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians undergo a plague. This is due to all of the Athenians keeping to their city, making it easier for disease to spread. It kills a third of the Athenian population, as well as Pericles. This weakens Athens as a city-state.

The Plague (Athens - The Peloponnesian War)

430 BCE

During the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians undergo a plague. This is due to all of the Athenians keeping to their city, making it easier for disease to spread. It kills a third of the Athenian population, as well as Pericles. This weakens Athens.

Philip the II's/Alexander the Great's Conquering

336 BCE

Sparta and Athens were weakened after the Peloponnesian war. Philip the II of Macedonia (Alexander the Great’s father) took advantage of the weak city-states and conquered Greece. After he died, Alexander, who was tutored by Aristotle and was well educated and well trained as a military officer, was ready to conquer Greece. He became King of Macedonia, and proceeded to conquer Greece, Anatolia, Egypt, Persia, and India.

Hellenism

323 BCE

Alexander’s empire combined the knowledge of Greece, Persia, Egypt, and India, creating an influence of Eastern ideas which made a culture that is known as Hellenism. Alexandria, Egypt was the most important city for Hellenistic culture, and was thought of as a city of knowledge for many years. Many mathematicians, philosophers, and scientists studied there. There was a first ever research library, too. Hellenistic art included sculptures that showed more movement, more flaws, and realism.