Major Topics in Ancient Greek History

Archaeological remains can tell us about the ancient Greeks from before recorded history. It is conventional to start the history of the early Greeks with the Minoans of Crete and the Mycenaeans. Following these was (also conventionally) a period described as a Dark Age, followed by the periods with written records, beginning with the Archaic Age and proceeding through the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and modern eras. The Byzantine era is usually counted as part of the Middle Ages (and of course the modern period is beyond even that), and so beyond the scope of this site. Here are major topics to know in connection with the earlier periods of Greek history.

• The Bronze and Dark Ages

  • The Minoans
    - The people of Crete and the great labyrinth. Artwork depicts bull ceremonies.
  • The Mycenaeans
    - The Mycenaeans lived during the late Bronze Age in Greece, from about 1600 to 1200 B.C.
  • The Dark Age
    - From the fall of the Mycenaean civilization to the rise of the polis.

• Archaic and Classical Age

  • Philosophy

    - The Greeks are credited with inventing philosophy. It was an alternative to a religion/mythology based way of explaining the world.

  • Sparta

    - Sparta eventually defeated the Athenians in the Peloponnesian War. Sparta's government was a mixed form with two kings.

  • Athens

    - The counterpart to the militaristic Spartans, the Athenians were associated with the arts and democracy.
    • Democracy
    • Pericles
    • Greek Theater
    • Greek Poets Timeline

  • The Persian Wars

    - The Greek city-states fought the Persians first to assist their compatriot colonists in Asia Minor and then on mainland Greece when the Persians went after them.

  • Peloponnesian War

    - After the Persian Wars, two major alliances between groups of Greek city-states (poleis) developed: one around Sparta and the other Athens. The Peloponnesian War was fought between these groups.
    • Peloponnesian War Timeline
    • 30 Tyrants

• Hellenistic Age

  • Alexander the Great

    - Alexander of Macedon, following his father, Philip, conquered Greece and then most of the known world. With his empire-building Greek culture spread. At his death, the Hellenistic Period began.

• Roman

  • Macedonian Wars

    - The Romans first came to the defense of the Greeks against the Macedonians, but by the end of the wars, Greece was part of the Roman Empire.

• ancient greece
• peloponnesian war
• persian wars
• hellenistic greece
• alexander the great