Greek Timeline
Old Testament
Olympics begin and are set for every 4 years.
Traditional date for founding of Rome.
Greek Alphabet Invented
Athenian Archon list begins. Citizens form an
assembly (ecclesia), which selected 9 archons
each year.
Proto-democracy of Athens defended against
attempted coup by Cylon. Proves Athenians want
to govern as a citizenry.
Draco appointed to create first code
(Draconian)
(VO ~
5~ O, W
683
632
560-528
528-510
510
500
490
48 1
480
479
Signs of rhetorical patterns in
Works of Homer.
law^
621
600
594-560
Philosophy
PoeticsIRhetoric
Historical Event
Fall of Troy
Dates
1220 or
1184
800
776
773
750-700
O
~
Sappho
Solon writes new laws for Athens. Becomes
model of a selfless leader.
Pisistratus rules Athens as benevolent tyrant.
Hippias rules Athens, initially as benevolent
tyrant. Brother Hipparchus assassinated in 514,
and Hippias begins to rule as a crueler tyrant.
Cliesthenes leads revolt and establishes first
democratic-style government (serving by lot)
k
-g
of Persia, responds to Greek colony
rebellion against Persian infl~ence,.~,.,
Greeks defeat Persians ( ~ e r x e s i a Marathon
t
League of 30 forms with alliance of Athens and
Sparta
Athens abandone
in Persians (Xerxes);
Athenian victory
Greeks defeat Persian army at Plataea
fi:
Heraclitus (tit s4phrjt> b h
th-,
)
~ U I J
/
I-
Parmenides
[
!o ~ O K S
- +
-139 rcj
q ~ * ~ )
J
/
1
1
Foundation of Delian League, led by Athens
against Persia
I
Ephialtes' reforms democratize Athens further.
478
467
461
469
c459-429
Pericles as leader of Athens -I. e Jhr o ' 5
440s
446
br(ck
h,v~,
Protagoras of Abderra visits ~ t h e n sand
becomes advisor to Pericles. Protagoras writes
laws of Thurii in 444. Alcibiades born.
Alcibiades raised by Pericles.
42 1
Sophocles stages Ajax and
Antiaone
lsocrates born
Start of Peloponnesian War with Spartan invasion
of Attica and Athenian naval raids on
Pelo~onnes.
Pericles dies in plague.
Gorgias (aged 56) and Tisias sent to Athens as
ambassadors from Sicily
Brief peace between Athens and Sparta.
Alcibiades convinces Athens to build coalition
against Sparta.
420s-410s
415
Socrates born
gspasia writes speeches for
,Pericles and teaches "rhetoric."
Protagoras begins teaching in
Athens.
Peace declared between Athens and Sparta,
designed to last 30 years (only lasts 15 years)
436
429
427
I
pq 4 ihn 5
I,
, ;t'+
r~Mk?/)rn(<
450
I
Alcibiades leads naval attack against Syracuse
but is called back for vandalizing herms. He
defects to Sparta and is then exiled. Athenian
navy defeated in 41 3.
Gorgias' speaking style
creates a sensation in Athens
as he persuades Athens to
help defend Leontini from
Syracuse. Gorgias begins
teaching in Athens.
Antiphon begins teaching in
Athens around this time. Other
sophists active.
Aristophanes stages
comedies, including The Birds
and The clouds
I
Plato born
8
%
411
Oligarchy of the 400 (democracy soon restored)
404
Sparta defeats Athens in 404. Alcibiades killed.
Tyranny of the 30, led'by Critias, takes over.
Tyranny of the 30 crumbles and Critias is killed.
Socrates tried and executed. Plato leaves
Athens.
Protagoras dies
Antiphon executed for aiding
400.
<
Q ?
b
-
403
399
/
I c390
I
Socrates is 65, Plato is 23
--9
p&wv
/
I Gorgias dies
Aristotle becomes tutor to Alexander
Philip II conquers all of Greece
Philip II of Macedon murdered; Alexander
becomes king
323
I
I
Plato returns to Athens and
establishes Academy.
Aristotle born
I Aristotle ioins Plato's Academv
Plato dies
lsocrates dies
335
1 322
k $4
I lsocrates o ~ e n shis school.
387
384
380
357
348
338
336
&\-\id?
Aristotle starts Lyceum in
I Alexander dies
I Athens.
I
I Aristotle dies
1