Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece

Period: 800 BCE to 300 BCE

Ancient Greece was a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of antiquity.

First Olympics Games

776 BCE

The Olympics originally took place in Olympia, Greece. This was both an athletic event and a festival in honor of the Greek god Zeus. Part of this event was the sacrifice of 100 oxen to Zeus. This tradition discontinued and took 1,503 years to return; although this event made a return the purpose of the event had changed along with its traditions. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-modern-olympic-games

Persian Empire

546 BCE

All the Greek colonies in Anatolia fall into the hands of the Persians. The Persian Empire was arguably the first empire to exist at the time and was so big that it consisted of 44% of all the people on the planet. They also had some of the biggest and most advanced cities, for example; Babylon, Susa, Tyre, and Memphis. https://www.themaparchive.com/product/persian-empire-550330-bce/

The Athenian Revolution

508 BCE

This revolt was by the people of Athens that overthrew the ruling aristocratic oligarchy. Democracy is introduced by Cleisthenes, he established a constitution and is known as "Father of Athenian Democracy". Establishing the self-governance of Athens in the form of a participatory democracy which lasted almost a century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenian_democracy

Ionian Revolt

499 BCE

The Greek colonies are unhappy about being ruled by the Persian Empire which leads to the Ionian Revolt. Athens and Eretria decide to support this revolt with their support. Of course this attempt of uprising was crushed by the Persians. https://sites.google.com/a/cherrycreekschools.org/the-history-of-the-persian-war/about-me

Battle of Marathon

492 BCE

The Persians decide to teach Athens and Eretria a lesson by sending out an expeditionary force to conquer Greece. After entering Greece they quickly subjugated Thrace and Macedon and burned Eretria to the ground, Athens however managed to hold off and defeat the Persians during the Battle of Marathon. This was very meaningful showing that even though the Persian Empire was massive it was defeated by a small city state. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon

Battle of Thermopylae

480 BCE

This battle was fought between the Greek city-states, which were led by King Leonidas l of Sparta, and the Achaemenid Empire of Xerxes l.The Greeks were vastly outnumbered but managed to come up with a strategical way to use the geograghy to their advantage. After holding off the Persian king Xerxes for three days the Greeks were then betrayed and the Persians took control. https://ludwigheinrichdyck.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/the-battle-of-thermopylae-480-bc-defending-the-pass/

Mini Renaissance

478 BCE

Greece became very wealthy and influential due to their new found territory and prestige after the war and went through a mini renaissance. Some of the best sculptures and architectures like the Parthenon and Artemis in bronze came forth during this time. Plato and Aristotle invented philosophy and science and founded their academy. This was considered to be the Golden Age for Greece. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_School_of_Athens

Peloponnesian War

431 BCE

The Peloponnesian War was fought between Delian League led by Athens against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. One of the primary causes of this war was that Sparta feared the growing power and influence of the Athenian Empire. The result of this granted power to Sparta making it the most powerful city-state in the region. http://history-by-kyle.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-greek-golden-age-
and-great.html

Alexander The Great

335 BCE

Alexander the Great conquers Greece to then make them swear their allegiance to him. He then made the surprising decision to attack the Persians, who are still the largest most technologically advanced nation. Even though he is vastly outnumbered he manages to win three huge land battles; Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela, against the full force of the Persians. He overthrew the Persian King Darius III and conquered the Achaemenid Empire. https://bibloteka.com/alexander-the-great-biography/

Macedonia

300 BCE

Macedonia becomes the world's largest Empire stretching from Europe, to North Africa, to India. The death of Alexander the Great sends the Macedonian nation into a civil war as the leading Macedonian generals fight over who gains the power to rule. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_(ancient_kingdom)