Timeline of Ancient Greece

An Easy and Engaging History for Students

Ancient Greece is one of the most important civilizations in world history. It gave us many things we still use today—like democracy, philosophy, theater, science, and the Olympic Games. The Greeks lived in small city-states, built amazing temples, wrote books, and loved asking big questions about life.

Ancient Greece was not just one country with one king. It was made up of many independent city-states such as Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes. These city-states often fought each other, but they also shared a common language, religion, and culture.

Let’s go through a timeline of Ancient Greece to understand how it started, what happened during its most important years, and how it came to an end.

c. 3000–1100 BCE – Early Greek Civilizations (Bronze Age)

The earliest people in Greece lived during what we call the Bronze Age. These people built simple homes, used bronze tools, and started to trade with other lands.

Two important early cultures were:

1. The Minoans (c. 3000–1400 BCE)
The Minoans lived on the island of Crete. They built large palaces like the one at Knossos. They traded with Egypt and the Middle East. Their writing system is called Linear A, but no one has been able to read it yet.

2. The Mycenaeans (c. 1600–1100 BCE)
The Mycenaeans lived on mainland Greece. They were warriors and built strong fortresses. They had a writing system called Linear B, which we can read. The famous war between the Greeks and the city of Troy (the Trojan War) may have happened during this time.

Around 1100 BCE, the Mycenaean cities were destroyed. We don’t know exactly why, but it may have been due to war, earthquakes, or invaders.

c. 1100–800 BCE – The Greek Dark Ages

After the fall of the Mycenaeans, Greece entered a time called the Dark Ages. People lived in small villages. Writing was forgotten. Trade stopped. Life was hard.

But during this time, the Greeks still remembered their stories. They passed them down by word of mouth. One man named Homer later wrote two great poems based on these old stories—The Iliad and The Odyssey. These poems became the most famous works in Greek history.

c. 800–500 BCE – The Archaic Period

In the Archaic Period, Greek life started to improve again. Writing returned, and people built cities, temples, and roads. Trade with other countries grew. The Greeks began to send people to live in new lands and started colonies all around the Mediterranean Sea.

This was also the time when city-states, or polis, became very important. Each city-state had its own government, army, and money. The most powerful ones were Athens and Sparta.

Other important things that began during this time:

• The Greek alphabet was created.

• Coins were used for the first time in Greece.

• Greek art and sculpture became more detailed.

• The early form of democracy began in Athens.

c. 508 BCE – Democracy Begins in Athens

In 508 BCE, a man named Cleisthenes made big changes in Athens. He gave more power to the people. Citizens could vote and take part in making laws. This was the beginning of Athenian democracy.

Not everyone could vote—only free men born in Athens. Women, slaves, and foreigners could not. But it was still a big step toward modern democracy.

490–479 BCE – The Persian Wars

During this time, the Greek city-states had to fight a powerful empire from the east called Persia. These wars are known as the Persian Wars.

Here are some key events:

1. Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)
The Persians attacked Athens, but the Athenians won the battle. A man ran over 26 miles to tell the city about the victory—this is where we get the word “marathon” today.

2. Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE)
The Spartan king Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought a huge Persian army. They lost, but they slowed the enemy down and became heroes.

3. Battle of Salamis (480 BCE)
The Athenian navy tricked and defeated the Persian navy. This helped save Greece.

In the end, the Greeks won the Persian Wars and kept their freedom.

c. 480–404 BCE – The Golden Age of Greece

After the Persian Wars, Athens became the most powerful city-state. This time is called the Golden Age of Athens.

Athens built many beautiful buildings, like the Parthenon, a temple for the goddess Athena. Great thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle lived during this time. Theater, science, and art reached new heights.

The leader of Athens during this time was Pericles. He supported the arts and helped build democracy.

However, not all Greek city-states were happy with Athens having so much power.

431–404 BCE – The Peloponnesian War

Sparta and Athens began to fight in a long and terrible war called the Peloponnesian War. It lasted for 27 years. Many people died, cities were destroyed, and Greece became weaker.

In the end, Sparta won the war, but it was a bitter victory. Athens lost its power, and the Greek city-states were no longer united.

c. 400–336 BCE – A Time of Conflict and Change

After the war, Greece was never the same. The city-states kept fighting. No one could become the new leader of all Greece. At the same time, new thinkers continued to teach and write.

Socrates was put to death by the Athenians because he asked too many questions. His student, Plato, opened a school called the Academy. Plato’s student Aristotle also became a famous teacher and later taught a boy named Alexander.

During this time, a kingdom to the north called Macedonia began to grow stronger.

336–323 BCE – Alexander the Great

In 336 BCE, Alexander, the son of King Philip II of Macedonia, became king. Alexander was only 20 years old, but he was very smart and brave.

Alexander wanted to conquer the Persian Empire—and he did. He led his army across Asia, Egypt, and even into India. He never lost a battle.

Alexander spread Greek culture, language, and ideas to many parts of the world. This time is known as the Hellenistic Era. Cities like Alexandria in Egypt became centers of Greek learning and science.

Sadly, Alexander died in 323 BCE at the young age of 32. His empire broke apart because no one could replace him.

323–146 BCE – The Hellenistic Period

Even though Alexander died, Greek culture kept spreading. This time is called the Hellenistic Period. People in Egypt, the Middle East, and parts of India built cities like Greek ones, learned the Greek language, and followed Greek customs.

Some important Hellenistic kingdoms were:

• Ptolemaic Egypt

• Seleucid Empire (in the Middle East)

• Macedon

Great scientists and mathematicians lived during this time. For example:

• Archimedes studied physics and created machines.

• Euclid wrote books about geometry.

• Eratosthenes measured the Earth’s size with surprising accuracy.

Greek theater, art, and philosophy also continued to grow.

146 BCE – Greece Becomes Part of the Roman Empire

As the Hellenistic kingdoms became weaker, another great power rose—the Roman Republic. Rome slowly took control of Greek lands.

In 146 BCE, the Romans defeated the city of Corinth and made Greece part of their empire. Greek culture did not disappear. In fact, the Romans loved Greek art, theater, and philosophy. They copied many Greek ideas.

So even though Greece was no longer free, its culture continued to influence the world.

The Legacy of Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece ended as a political power long ago, but its ideas are still with us today.

Here’s what Greece gave to the world:

• Democracy: The idea that people can vote and choose their leaders.

• Philosophy: Great thinkers who asked deep questions about life, truth, and knowledge.

• Olympic Games: Sports competitions held every four years, just like today.

• Science and Math: Early steps in physics, astronomy, and geometry.

• Art and Architecture: Beautiful temples, sculptures, and designs.

• Literature and Theater: Epic poems, dramas, and comedies still read and performed today.

Ancient Greece may be in the past, but its ideas are all around us—in schools, governments, art, and daily life.

FAQ – Ancient Greece

What was Ancient Greece?
Ancient Greece was a group of city-states in southern Europe where many important ideas, like democracy and philosophy, began.

What is a city-state?
A city-state is a city that rules itself like a small country. Examples are Athens, Sparta, and Thebes.

Who were the Minoans and Mycenaeans?
The Minoans lived on Crete and were good traders. The Mycenaeans lived on mainland Greece and may have fought in the Trojan War.

What was the Golden Age of Greece?
The Golden Age was a time when Athens was strong and full of great thinkers, artists, and builders, especially during the 400s BCE.

Who was Alexander the Great?
Alexander was a king from Macedonia who built a huge empire and spread Greek culture across many lands.

What was the Peloponnesian War?
It was a long war between Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 BCE. Sparta won, but it weakened all of Greece.

What is the Hellenistic Period?
This is the time after Alexander the Great’s death when Greek culture spread across many parts of the world.

Did the Romans destroy Greek culture?
No. The Romans admired Greek culture and helped keep it alive. They copied Greek art, gods, and philosophy.

What are some famous Greek thinkers?
Famous Greek thinkers include Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes, and Euclid.

Why is Ancient Greece important today?
Ancient Greece gave us ideas like democracy, philosophy, and science that still shape the modern world.