Ancient Greece Events

Ancient Greece was one of the largest contributors to present-day civilization. Democracy, philosophy, astrology, biology, mathematics, physics, and the theater are only a few of its contributions to us. Words and thoughts from great men such as Plato, Socrates, Pythagoras, and Aristotle are still taught in universities to this day. Also, a large number of Ancient Greek Events mark Greeks history

Cities which have withstood the powers of nature for thousands of years still stand for us to view in awe. This was a great civilization far ahead of its time, whose beauty and knowledge will live on for many generations to come.

In Ancient Greece, Pythia or the Oracle of Delphia was a priestess who used to hold court at Pytho, is said to have prophesied events in the ancient Greek world. Greeks believed in prophecies and warnings very much in ancient and so many important and powerful citizens of Ancient used to visit the priestess of Pytho to ask for counsel and prophecies.

Greeks had a great passion for recording events and writing history which has helped us in recovering so much information about the ancient Greek world even after so long time. Famous historians like Herodotus (who is also known as the father of history), Homer(though he is more known to be a literary creator), Thucydides, etc. had left so many materials that has immensely helped and influenced the modern society.

Ancient Greece Timeline events

A huge number of significant events mark Greeks history a few of which are as follows-

The establishment of the Mycenean civilization

In or around 1450 B.C., one of the most cataclysmic volcanic eruptions in recorded history, that may have involved tidal waves, earthquakes, and crop failures, severely disrupted Minoan civilization and the Mycenaeans were able to bring Minoan Crete under their sway and to displace the Minoans in exercising a widespread power and influence. It brought great imorovement trade and sea movements. They were also the first speakers ancient Greek language.

End of the Mycenean Age and start of the Dark Age

There was a time of turmoils – a “Dark Age” – between circa 1100-800 B.C. when the Mycenaen cities were abandoned, houses no longer tended to be built with stone, and the keeping of written records fell away and it came to an end. During the Dark age Greece had separated into kinships which led to he formation of city states in the future. A new writing system was adopted with Phoenician alphabets which was led to the creation of the Greek writing system. Population also collapsed with declining agriculture and harsh weather conditions.

Ancient Greek Events- Olympics

The ancient Olympics were rather different from the modern Games. There were fewer Ancient Greek Events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Also, the games were always held at Olympia instead of moving around to different sites every time.

Ancient Greece, race illustration

The Greeks considered it their duty to attend, and duty to their gods was more important than duty to their city-states, which were fighting the wars in the first place. Many of the best athletes were soldiers whose commanders would not want them to leave the fighting. With the truce in place and the fighting halted, these soldier-athletes were free to compete in the Games and then return to the fighting when the Games had finished.

The First Messenian War

The first Messenian war took place in the year 732 Bc between Sparta and Messenia which was ultimately won by Sparta. It resulted into substantial wealth and prestige, and also marked the rise of Sparta as a major power.

Events leading to Democracy

Greece saw the rise of Tyrants around mid-seventh century BC from among the aristocrats. At this moment Athens was ruled by archons or a kind of Dictatator like those of Draco who were very harsh and oppressive. Sensing growing discontent among the people Solon innated a series of reforms which gave the people some rights. Then Cleisthenes gave more rights and iss credited for the rise of Democracy in Ancient Athens. It led to flourishing of talents with great contributions which continue to hold importance even today.

Athens greatly flourished attaining great prosperity under leaders like Pericles, and getting considered as the most powerful state in Classical Greece. Culture flourished giving us the famed Greek plays, philosophical theories, epics, etc.

The Persian invasion

The Persian wars lasted for about 50 years with repeated incursions from the Persians. With legendary Battles like in Marathon and Salamis, it changed Greek politics completely. The Greek states came together for some time to beat the invader but ended with Athens taking the lead in liberating Greek Asia minor states, while Sparta backed off which almost made them the leader of the Greek world.

The Peloponnesian war (431-404 BC)

The Peloponnesian war took place mainly due to the enormity between the two leading states, Sparta and Athens which shook the ancient Greek world.
The successful empire of Athens was crushed by Sparta in a war that last 30 years and that was also with the help of Persians, whom they were fighting together some years back.

The plague of 430 BC in Athens

The plague was a decisive event that could have made history look very different. Athens was dealing with Sparta quite comfortably in the initial years of the war. But the plague of 430 BC  changed everything. It took away almost one-third of the population including their famed Pericles. This was a major turning point without which historians argue that the result of the war could possibly have been different.

Rise of Alexander the Great

The rise of Alexander was an extremely significant event not only for Ancient Greece but for the entire world.

He constructed one of the largest Empire the world has seen taking Greek culture outside their Mediterranean world. The Greek culture which still influences modern ways of life could not have possibly been done without Alexander.
He unified the Greek states and made Macedonians acceptable to the Greeks, who were otherwise considered barbarians by the Greeks.

Death of Alexander the Great

In 323 B.C. Alexander “the Great” became severely sick and died. His empire was initially administered in the name of close male relatives of Alexander but was subsequently contested over by several prominent soldiers. Although Alexander’s empire was dismembered the establishment of Macedonian dynasties over sweeping Asian and Egyptian territories allowed the continuance of a high degree of Macedonian and Greek influence over a most extensive geographical area.

Alexander the Great

By 281 B.C. the contest between the claimants to the Macedonian territories left Ptolemy in control in Egypt, Seleucus in power over much of Asia Minor and the Middle East, and Antigonas holding sway in Macedonian Greece.

Captured by Rome

The Romans managed to subdued the Achaean League or the Greeks who were resisting their rule finally in 146 BC. It led to total control of the Greek peninsula by the Roman Republic. bCorinth was demolished with their wealth looted and plundered. It marked the end of Greek independence and start of their subjugation under the Romans.

More info on- historical events in greek culture