Ancient Greek History

Minoan Civilization begins

3000 BCE

The Minoan civilization began on the island of Crete around this time. This image is of a Minoan Snake Goddess made circa 1600 BCE.

The Inhabitation of Knossos Begins

2000 BCE

The palace of Knossos was inhabited for about 1000 years. It was destroyed by an earthquake around 1700 BCE and was rebuilt only to be destroyed by invaders around the year 1450 BCE.

Mycenaeans on the Mainland

1700 BCE

The Mycenaeans were on the mainland of Greece flourishing during this time. They had contact with much of the Mediterranean people's between 1400 BCE and 1200 BCE as their pottery has been found in Egypt, Italy, and Israel. The end of the Mycenaeans was most likely brought about by many events happening in a short time span. This is an image of the Lion Gate at the citadel where Schliemann thought he found the grave of Agamemnon.

The Events of the Illiad and the Oddessy Take Place

1250 BCE

If the Trojan War happened, and there is much scholarly debate on this, it is likely to have taken place around this time period. This image is of the Mykonos Vase, the earliest known depiction of the Trojan Horse.

The Dark Age

1100 BCE

For a period of at least 150 years, but possibly up to 300, Greece was in a Dark Age. They lost much of what made it an advanced civilization including writing, architecture and trade. This is an image of the Lefkandi Centaur dating from around 950 BCE which would mean this statue was created during the Dark Age or just as Greece was emerging from it.

Greek Renaissance

800 BCE

Greece entered a Renaissance period between the eighth and sixth centuries BCE. The Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet and made it their own.

Greek Colonization

750 BCE

From the period of about 750 BCE to about 600 BCE, Greek city-states sent out colonists to create colonies in many parts of the Mediterranean. This was likely brought about by a population explosion.

Reform of Athens

594 BCE

While Athens had been inhabited long before the 6th century BCE, it is only now with the reforms brought about by a man named Solon that the city gets on the track towards modern democracy. He created a new constitution and made reforms that the city would come back to after a period of backslide and unrest in the rule of Pisistratus and his sons.

Cleisthenes

508 BCE

This man built upon the previous reforms of Solon. He set Athens on the path towards true democracy where every citizen, defined as a free, native-born male, was expected to take part in the governing of the city.

First Ostracism

488 BCE

Ostracizing a citizen of the democracy was used to check the power of a citizen who had gained too much power. A vote was conducted and if enough voting citizens elected a person, that person would have to leave the city for 10 years. When he came back he would have all of his property and status back. This is a picture of the ostraka which were the broken pieces of pottery that the citizens used to cast their votes on.