2000 B.C.
Mycenaean people in Greece (main city of Mycenae)
1600-1100
Strong Mycenaean kings rule Greece (Agamemnon)
1500
Mycenaean contact with Minoans (island of Crete) and adopt their sea trade, writing, art
1200s
Trojan War (GREEKS/MYCENAENS (Agamemnon, Achilles, Menelaus, Helen) vs. TROJANS (Paris,
Hector, Priam). Largely MYTH that we know of from THE ILLIAD but has some historical truth)
1150-750
Dorians take over Greece (DARK AGE! They are less advanced, no writing, bad economy)
750-700
Homer writes books (Iliad/Odyssey)
750
Many polis (city states) arise around Greece
725
Sparta becomes a city state
621
Draco’s laws (harsh… Draconian! but everyone is equal under law)
594
Solon’s laws (no slavery, all can participate in assembly and courts, but only rich can hold office)
500
Cleisthenes (wealth less important in politics, citizens have more say, Council of 500 chosen randomly)
499-449
Persian Wars (Persia vs. Athens (but other Greeks get involved)—Greeks win!)
490
Battle of Marathon (Greeks win! Pheidippides runs to Athens to bring news of victory and prepare city to
fight. He dies after running.)
480
Battle of Thermopylae (Xerxes of PERSIA (250,000 men), vs. Leonidas of SPARTA leading coalition
Greek forces (7,000 Greeks), held Persians back for 3 days, then Sparta held while other forces retreated,
all Spartans die)
480
Battle of Salamis (evacuate Athens and fight a sea battle, narrow channel, Persians could not turn around,
Athens’ boats punctured Persian boats)
479
Delian League formed (uniting several city states, Athens would come to control this League (and it’s
money) and therefore much of Greece…setting the stage for the Peloponnesian War)
477-431
Athenian Golden Age
461-429
Pericles was great ruler of Athens (created direct democracy)
431-404
Peloponnesian Wars (SPARTA vs. ATHENS; Sparta wins!)
430
Athenian plague (Pericles dies)
399
Socrates executed (by drinking hemlock)
336
Alexander the Great becomes king of Macedonia
2000-336 = 1664 (17 lines needed)