Greek History

776 BCE First Olympic Games take place

776 BCE

The games would take place every 4 years in honor of the Greek god Zeus

The first Olympic Games takes place.

776 BCE

The games would take place every 4 years in honor of the Greek god Zeus.

First Messenian War begins

757 BCE

This is a war between Sparta and Messenia that will last many years.

First Messenian War begins.

757 BCE

This is a war between Sparta and Messenia that will last many years.

Homer begins to write the Iliad and Odyssey

750 BCE

These epic poems become two of the most famous literary works in Greek literature.

Homer begins to write the Iliad and Odyssey

750 BCE

These epic poems become two of the most famous literary works in Greek literature.

The Greek Tyrants come into power.

650 BCE

Cypselus is the first Tyrant of Corinth

The Greek Tyrants come into power.

650 BCE

Cypselus is the first Tyrant of Corinth.

A lawyer named Draco introduces strict new laws in Athens that are punishable by death.

621 BCE

These are called Draconian laws

A lawyer named Draco introduces strict new laws in Athens that are punishable by death.

621 BCE

These are called Draconian laws.

The first Greek coins are introduced.

600 BCE

The first Greek coins are introduced.

600 BCE

Pythagoras is born.

570 BCE

He will make major advances in science, math, and philosophy. We still use the Pythagorean Theorem today to help with geometry.

Pythagoras is born.

570 BCE

He will make major advances in science, math, and philosophy. We still use the Pythagorean Theorem today to help with geometry.

Democracy is introduced in Athens by Cleisthenes

508 BCE

He establishes a constitution and is often called the "Father of Athenian Democracy". This is one of the great accomplishments of the Greek culture.

Democracy is introduced in Athens by Cleisthenes.

508 BCE

He establishes a constitution and is often called the "Father of Athenian Democracy". This is one of the great accomplishments of the Greek culture.

The Greeks fight the Persians in the Greek/Persian Wars.

490 BCE

Two famous battles are the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. The Greeks win and the Persians retreat.

The Greeks fight the Persians in the Greek/Persian Wars.

490 BCE

Two famous battles are the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. The Greeks win and the Persians retreat.

The Greeks fight the Persians in the Greek/Persian Wars.

490 BCE

Two famous battles are the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. The Greeks win and the Persians retreat.

Sophocles begins to write plays for the theatre.

468 BCE

Soon the theater becomes a very popular form of entertainment in Greece.

Sophocles begins to write plays for the theatre.

468 BCE

Soon the theater becomes a very popular form of entertainment in Greece.

Famous playwright Euripides wins first prize for the best play in Athens

440 BCE

The temple to Athena, the Parthenon, is completed in Athens on the Acropolis.

432 BCE

Today this is the most famous surviving building of Ancient Greece.

The wars between Sparta and Athens begin.

431 BCE

They are called the Peloponnesian Wars. The wars will last 27 years with Sparta eventually conquering Athens in 404 BC.

The famous Greek philosopher Socrates is put to death for corrupting the youth of Athens with his teachings.

399 BCE

Greek philosopher and student of Socrates, Plato, founds the first institution of higher learning in the western world. It's called the Academy.

386 BCE

The great philosopher, scientist, and mathematician, Aristotle, begins to tutor Alexander (later to be called Alexander the Great).

342 BCE

Alexander the Great becomes king when his father, Philip of Macedon is assassinated.

336 BCE

Alexander begins his conquests and defeats the Persians.

333 BCE

Alexander conquers Egypt

332 BCE

He establishes the new capital of Egypt at Alexandria. Over the next several years Alexander would greatly expand his empire, conquering much of Persia on the way to India.