Module 1 Annotated Timeline

  • Greece Begins
    3000 BCE

    Greece Begins

    Bronze Age/Neolithic on the island of Crete(Minoan) through excavations mostly through Sir Arthur Evans. The writing that was used, Linear A, has not been deciphered and many discoveries were interpreted by Evans and may not be accurate.
  • Period: 3000 BCE to 488 BCE

    Module 1 Annotated Timeline

  • 3000-1400-Minoan Civilization
    2500 BCE

    3000-1400-Minoan Civilization

    The Minoans seemed to be a seafaring civilization that traded with others. Earthquakes and Volcanic eruptions are thought to have caused many disasters for the Minoans.
  • Athens founded
    1790 BCE

    Athens founded

    The city-state of Athlens begins around this time and lasted until about 338 BCE.
  • Mycenaean Civilization Begins
    1650 BCE

    Mycenaean Civilization Begins

    Approximate starting time on mainland Greece.
  • Minoan Civilization invaded by Mycenae
    1400 BCE

    Minoan Civilization invaded by Mycenae

    Approximate time of Mycenaeans conquering Minoan civilizations. Previous natural disasters may have weakened the Minoans.
  • The Trojan War
    1250 BCE

    The Trojan War

    According to Greek myths, the war began over the abduction of Queen Helen of Sparta by Prince Paris of Troy. The Mycenaeans defeat and destroy Troy. Troy was discovered and Heinrich Schliemann excavated Troy in 1870s. (approximate date)
  • Mycenaean Civilization Declines
    1200 BCE

    Mycenaean Civilization Declines

    Mycenae civilization falls to destruction (fires). Writing will be lost during the Greek dark ages until approximately 800 BCE.
  • Sparta is founded.
    900 BCE

    Sparta is founded.

    The city-state of Sparta begins at around 900 BCE until about 190 BCE.
  • Greek Alphabet invented
    800 BCE

    Greek Alphabet invented

    The Greek Alphabet was invented at approximately this time and was derived from the Phoenician Alphabet. First alphabet with distinct letters for vowels.
  • First Olympic Games
    776 BCE

    First Olympic Games

    The Greek Olympic Games are held in the city-state of Olympia for about twelve centuries. The games were held in honor of Zeus.
  • Iliad and the Odyssey
    750 BCE

    Iliad and the Odyssey

    Possibly written by Homer wrote these epic poems about the Trojan War and the Adventures of Achilles and Odysseus.
  • Corinth founded
    700 BCE

    Corinth founded

    The city-state of Corinth began around 700 BCE and lasted until around 338 BCE.
  • The time of the Tyrants Begins
    657 BCE

    The time of the Tyrants Begins

    Cypselus-Overthrows the priests-kings of Corinth Cylon-an an Athenian Nobleman and olympiad that tried to cease control of Athens, but failed. Peisistratos, Hipparchus, and Hippias- father and two sons are the consecutive tyrants of Athens for about 36 years starting around 536 BCE. Aristagoras- Participant in the Ionian Revolt against the Persians. He ruled Miletus for about fourteen years.
  • Democracy is introduced to Athens
    505 BCE

    Democracy is introduced to Athens

    Cleisthenes, a statesman, reformed the governmental structure of Athens into a democracy.
  • 499 BCE

    Ionian Revolt

    Ionians revolt against Persians. The revolt is defeated by the Persians in 494 BCE.
  • Battle of Marathon
    490 BCE

    Battle of Marathon

    Part of the Grecco-Persian Wars. The Persians landed at Marathon unopposed, but the Athenians went and defended the city-state and won. After the battle was won, they sent a runner to Athens to let them know they had won the war. This is said to be where our marathon distance comes from.