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| Greek Historical Timeline | |
| 4000 BC | Prehistoric Period |
| Archaeological evidence indicates a primitive civilization as early as 4000 BC. Progression from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age commences by 3000. Two main cultures are flourishing, the Minoan in the island of Crete and in Mycanae and Pylos in the main land. Indo-European tribes, the Achaeans and the Ionians, originally occupying central Europe, migrate south and establish their roots in Greece. | |
| 1200 BC | Troy and Meditteranean Expansions |
| The mainland slowly absorbs the civilization of Crete. The dominant city-state is Mycenae. The expedition to Troy, beautifully captured by Homer in his Iliad and Odyssey, takes place. A new tribe, the Dorians, migrate from northern Greece to the south and establish their center in Sparta. The Spartans are using iron weapons and quickly become the most major power in the Peloponnese. Prosperous Greek colonies are established throughout the Mediterranean (including southern France, Sicily, Italy, North Africa, and Asia Minor) and all around the Black Sea. | |
| 600 BC | From Monarchy to Democracy |
| Some unification, in the form of alliances, of the various Greek city-states takes place. The Olympic Games begin, first dated in 776. An Athenian Constitution, based on democratic principles, is being formed by mid 6th century and reaches its final form in 502. Twenty five centuries later the same fundamental principles govern our lives. | |
| 500 BC | The Persian Wars - Athenian Supremacy |
| By 550, the Greek colonies of Asia Minor are under Persian rule. Persian expeditions into Greece begin. The Athenians, led by Miltiades, won an overwhelming victory over the numerically superior Persian army in Marathon, and the Persians withdraw. Today's marathon runs are in commemoration of that event. The second Persian expedition starts in 481. After the heroic Greek stand at Thermopylae, the Persian fleet is destroyed in Salamis. Athens becomes the most influential city-state of Greece. The Parthenon, the Propylaea, and other great buildings are constructed. Greek literature reaches its greatest heights. | |
| 400 BC | The Peloponnesian Wars - Spartan Supremacy |
| In 431, the inevitable clash between Athens and Sparta starts. After a long fight, Sparta is able to outlast its opponents and establishes its supremacy in 404. Spartan rule is harsh and most of the captured cities, including Athens, revolve and restore their democracy. | |
| 350 BC | Alexander the Great - Macedonian Supremacy |
| Philip II becomes king of Macedonia in 359 and quickly begins to implement his greatest inspiration of uniting Greece under his leadership and Hellenize his neighboring countries. Partly due to his political craft and partly due to the strength of his armies he succeeds. His son, Alexander the Great, brings his armies into Asia, destroying the old foe, the Persians, and expanding the Greek language and culture far into Asia. | |
| 150 BC | Romans - Greek Renaissance |
| Rome conquers Greece by 146 BC. Greece overwhelms Rome with its Literature and Arts. In the first centuries of the Christian era, during the emperor Adrian, a Greek renaissance takes place. It is brought to an end by the Goths, who in 267 AD overran Greece, capture Athens, and ruin Argos, Corinth, and Sparta. | |
| 400 AD | The Rise and Glory of Byzantium |
| After 395, the Roman Empire is ruled by two emperors, one in the Latin West (Rome) and the other in the Hellenic East (Constantinople). The Byzantine Empire is formed by a mixture of Hellenic culture and language, and Christianity. The Byzantine Empire successfully fights off against Slavic incursions from the North and protects Western Europe's territorial integrity from Arab and Ottoman invasions from the East. | |
| 1000 | The Slow Decline of Byzantium |
| Following the Schism between the Orthodox Church and Papacy of 1054, and the disastrous battle of Manzikert (1071), the Byzantine Empire slowly begins its downhill route. Constantinople falls to the crusaders in 1204, and although it is freed in 1261, it never regains its old power. | |
| 1453 | The Fall of Constantinople |
| On April 6th, 1453, Muhammad II drives 80,000 men on the walls of Constantinople, defended by 4,773 soldiers under the Last Emperor, Constantine XI of the Paleologi Dynasty. On May 29th, Constantinople falls bringing the Byzantine Empire to an end. | |
| 1460 | Ottoman Rule |
| By 1460 most parts of mainland Greece are under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Crete follows in 1669. | |
| 1821 | The War of Independence |
| March 25th, 1821. The War of Independence begins. It ends with the naval battle of Navarino Bay (modern day Pylos), on October 20, 1827. The first modern Greek nation is composed of the Peloponnese, Attica, and a few Cycladic Islands. | |
| 1900 | Balkan Wars - Territorial Expansions |
| Crete fights for its independence and unites with the mainland by 1908. Epirus, northern Thessaly, Macedonia, and part of Thrace become parts of Greece after the two Balkan Wars. | |
| 1920 | World War I and Asia Minor Campaign |
| World War I finds Greece by the side of the Allies. In postwar settlements, it receives western Thrace from Bulgaria and eastern Thrace from Turkey (both allied with the Central powers). Greek troops land in Smyrna (now Izmir) on the western coast of Turkey in 1919. The expedition ends in a disaster, in 1922. Over one million Greek residents of Asia Minor perish or are repatriated to Greece, many emigrate to the United States. | |
| 1940 | World War II |
| The Italian campaign in Greece begins on 28th October 1940. The Greek army drives the invaders out of the country deep into Albania, which was annexed by Italy. Germany postpones the invasion of the Soviet Union and intervenes to prevent a complete Italian rout. The Germans enter Athens on April 27, 1941. Crete falls following fierce fighting. The Greeks pay for their successes in the battlefield very dearly. Severe famine and monetary collapse develop by late 1943. Intense guerrilla warfare develops into a civil war following the departure of Germans on October 1944. The Civil War ends on October 1949 leaving Greece in ruins. | |
| 1960 | Post War Era - European Community |
| Political instability, instigated partly due to a multiplicity of political parties, dominates the political life during the 1950's. Rehabilitation of the economy, however, progresses steadily. Greece joins NATO in 1951. The military seizes control of the government in 1967 until 1974. Monarchy is officially abolished and a new constitution is approved in 1975. Following the 1974 crisis in Cyprus, Greece withdraws its membership from NATO and does not rejoin until 1980. Greece enters the European Community in 1981. Monetary union takes place in 2002. A couple of years later, 2004, the Olympic Games return home! | |
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