Ancient Greece

October 31, 2011

Pre-Hellenic
Greece dominated by two civilizations: Minoan Crete 2700-1450 BCE Mycenae 1600-1100 BCE

Pre-Hellenic Greece

Minoan Crete
A complex civilization flourished on Crete before the greek mainland. Known for the architecture of their palaces. Named after the mythical king Minos.

Knossos

Knossos

Linear A and B
Both languages use the same symbols, but the languages are different. Linear A 1900-1450 BCE Linear B 1600-1100 BCE

Mycenae
Mainland civilization dominated by a warrior aristocracy. Origin of many greek Gods & Goddesses. Conquered other Greek city-states in the Mediterranean.

The Trojan War

c.1180 BCE Destruction of Troy by an alliance of Greek city-states. Known from Homers Iliad. Troy Found by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870s.

The Greek Dark Ages

1100-800 BCE Period from which there are few written sources. Stems from the fall of Mycenae and Troy.

The Archaic Period

Two City-States (polis) emerge as the dominant military & economic forces. Sparta Militaristic & Expansionist. Athens Economic Power.

This is...Sparta
Sparta conquered their neighbors on the Laconian plain. Conquered Messenia. Helots - Messenian slaves. Hoplites - Soldiers equipped with spears & formed into a Phalanx.

Athens
Athens underwent governmental reform in the 6th Century. Solon expanded access to governmental institutions to more Athenians. Cleisthenes eventually divided Athens into 30 demes.

Persian Wars
492 BCE - The Persian Empire invades Greece 490 BCE - The Battle of Marathon 480 BCE - Second Persian invasion

Battle of Thermopylae
480 BCE 300 Spartans (and 5,000 to 11,000 other Greeks) held off between 70,000 & 300,000 Persians Ultimately the Greeks were defeated, but the tide of the invasion turned against the Persians.

Delian League
Led by Athens Sparta does not participate. 479 BCE - Invasion of Persia Beginning of an Athenian Empire

Peloponnesian War
431-404 BCE War between Athens and Sparta Sparta, Corinth, & Macedonia emerge as the most powerful Greek city-states