4000 BC

Neolithic Period

nomads settled in Greece and towns begin to develop

1700 - 1100 BC

Bronze Age

from the rise of the Minoans through the Mycenaean

1700 BC

The Island of Crete is invaded by the Greeks.

1400 BC

Rise of the Mycenaean culture on the Peloponnese

1200 BC

Invasions - Decline of the Mycenaean civilization

1184 BC

Trojan Horse - Greeks conquer Troy

1100 - 500 BC

The Age of Expansion

from Dorian Invasion to Periclean Athens

776 BC

The first Olympic games were held.

750 BC

Greeks begin to found colonies in the West (Syracuse, Marseilles, and Tarentum)

750 BC

Homer writes The Odyssey. 

660 BC

Greek city-states are governed by tyrants.

592 BC

Solon begins to reform the Athenian political system.

550 BC

Peisistratus seized power in Athens.

510 BC

End of tyranny. Cleisthenes introduces political reforms that lead to the birth of democracy in Athens.

500s BC

Philosophy is born.

500 BC

Athens develops the world's first democracy.

500 - 336 BC

Classical Age

from the Golden Age of Athens to Philip of Macedonia's victory at Chaeronea

499 BC

Conflicts with the Persian Empire begin. 

490 BC

Athenian victory over the Persians at Marathon

480 BC

Persians destroy the Athenian Acropolis.

479 BC

Persians are defeated at Battle of Plataea.

461 - 431 BC

It is the years of Greece's greatest playwrights.

454 BC

Athens dominates the Greek city-states.

447 - 405 BC

Athenians built the Parthenon and other great temples.

448 BC

Pericles is elected commander of the Athenian army.

431 - 404 BC

Thucydides records the Peloponnesian War.

404 BC

Spartan victory over Athens

400s BC

Hippocrates writes a pledge about the duty of doctors.

399 BC

Socrates is condemned to death.

356 BC

Philip II becomes king of Macedonia.

338 - 39 BC

Hellenistic Age

through Alexander's conquests until the last Greek kingdom was overthrown by Rome

338 BC

Philip II defeats the Hellenic League at the Battle of Chaeronea.

336 BC

Philip II is assassinated - Alexander succeeds him to the throne.

323 BC

Alexander dies.

321 BC

Alexander's generals divide the empire between them.

272 BC

Romans sack Tarentum..

200s BC

Astronomer Aristarchus states the Earth revolves around the sun.

197 BC

Romans defeat the Macedonians.

146 BC

Romans take Corinth and impose Roman rule on Greece and Macedonia.

86 BC

Sulla and the Romans sack Athens.

31 BC

Battle of Actium. Cleopatra is defeated and Rome wins Egypt.