In his 1886 book, History Topics for the Use of High Schools and College, William Francis Allen divides world history into conventional periods, for which he provides outlines of important topics. While it is about world history, the section on Classical Antiquity has enough detail to acquaint you with the major events and leaders in Classical Greece and the beginning of the Hellenistic period. Allen's emphasis is more on political and military operations, less on individuals and cultural developments.
Allen's introduction to History Topics for the Use of High Schools and College says his topics are suggestions for student research, appropriately selected for the grade levels assigned. My adaption of this list provides one more layer of help, related readings.
Allen begins with what he terms the "Oriental Period, to B.C. 500." The next section is the one found here. It is the beginning of Classical Antiquity and starts in Greece. The section that follows is topics in the history of the Roman Republic. Allen divides each major section into a more important and a less important area. On my adaptation of Allen's list, there is a dotted line before the less important material. The links will take you to readings on the topic from Theodor Mommsen, a good public domain history of Greece by William Smith, Xenophon, Plutarch, and articles written for the Ancient / Classical History site at About.com.
Greek Period. 500-300 B.C.
Although there is a general chronology within each of the four sections, you should consult this Classical Greece Timeline for the sequence of events.
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I. Greece
- A. The geography and people of Greece.
- B. Greek colonies.
- C. The Spartan hegemony.
- D. The Persian invasion.
- E. The Athenian Empire; the Age of Pericles.
- F. The Peloponnesian War.
- G. Epaminondas; the hegemony of Thebes [Pelopidas].
- H. Philip of Macedon
- I. The return of the Heraclidae.
- J. Themistocles.
- K. The Battle of Marathon; Salamis; Leuctra.
- L. The Peace of Antalcidas. 387 B.C. [See Xenophon]
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II. The Macedonian Empire
- A. Alexander. The conquest of Persia.
- B. The expedition to India.
- C. Greece after Alexander.
- D. The Achaean League.
- E. The kingdom of Pergamus.
- F. The Seleucidae; the kingdom of Syria.
- G. The Ptolemies in Egypt. Lagidae.
- H. The Parthian Empire. Arsacidae.
- I. The Battle of Ipsus. 301 B.C.
- K. The Aetolian league.
- L. Agis and Cleomones.
For the following three centuries, see Topics in Roman History.
