This timeline gives a chronological listing of the main events in Ancient Greek history 2000 BCE – 146 BCE
Please note: we have chosen to use BCE (Before Common Era) rather than BC (Before Christ)
2000 BCE
Wandering tribes began to settle in Ancient Greece.
1600 BCE
The Mycenaean people began to settle in Ancient Greece.
1370 BCE
The palace at Knossos, on the island of Crete, was destroyed.
1194 BCE
The Trojan war fought between Greece and Troy began.
1184 BCE
The Trojan war ended after the Trojans used a wooden horse to invade Greece.
1100 BCE
The Dorian people, who had iron weapons, defeated and invaded Mycenaean Greece.
c 850 BCE
The Greek alphabet was introduced. It was modelled on the Phoenician alphabet.
c 800 BCE
Homer wrote the Iliad, an epic poem set in the Trojan war, and the Odyssey, a poem which tells the story of Odysseus on his return from the Trojan war.
776 BCE
The first recorded Olympic Games were held at Olympia in Greece. There was just a single event, the men’s 200 metre sprint.
743 BCE
The First Messenian War began between the Messenians and the Spartans.
724 BCE
The Messenian War ended in defeat for the Messenians
650 BCE
The rule of the aristocrats was challenged by wealthy tradesmen and lesser aristocrats. Known as tyrants, they successfully removed the aristocrats and ruled in their stead.
621 BCE
Draco introduced a new set of harsh laws. Unlike previous laws these laws were written down for all to read. The laws were very harsh with death being the punishment for many crimes. The word Draconian, meaning very severe comes from these Draconian laws.
600 BCE
The first Greek coins appeared.
594 BCE
Solon introduced reforms in Athens.
508 BCE
Democracy was introduced to Athens by Kleisthenes.
495 BCE
The philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras, died in Metapontum.
490 BCE
The First Persian war began when Persia sent an invasion force into Athens in retaliation for its participation in a Greek raid on Persia.
490 BCE
The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. After the victory, Pheidippides ran back to Athens with news of the victory. This gave rise to the running event known as the marathon.
480 BCE
The Second Persian war began when Persia’s King Xerxes led an invasion force into Ancient Greece.
August/September 480 BCE
The Persians defeated the Greeks in the Battle off Thermopylae.
September 480 BCE
The Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Salamis.
462 BCE
Ephialtes and Perikles introduced reforms into Athens.
432 BCE
The Parthenon was completed. The temple was built on one of the hills overlooking Athens. The statue of the goddess Athena could watch over the city.
431 BCE
The Peloponnesian wars began between Athens and Sparta.
430 BCE
Perikles died during an outbreak of the plague
415 BCE
The Athenians made an expedition to Sicily.
405 BCE
The Battle of Aegospotami saw the destruction of the Athenian navy by the Spartans.
404 BCE
Athens lost the Peloponnesian Wars. The Athenian democratic government was removed and replaced by a ruling body of 30 tyrants.
403 BCE
Democracy was restored to Athens.
399 BCE
The philosopher Socrates, founder of the art of philosophy, was charged with impiety (being disrespectful to the Gods) he was found guilty and executed.
395 BCE
The Corinthian war began between Sparta and Thebes, Athens, Corinth, and Argos.
380 BCE
The philosopher Plato, student of Socrates, founded the Academy in Athens.
371 BCE
Sparta defeated Thebes at the Battle of Leuctra.
359 BCE
Philip II became King of Macedon.
347 BCE
The philosopher, Plato, student of Socrates, founder of The Academy and author of The Republic died in Athens.
339 BCE
The Catapult was invented at Syracruse.
338 BCE
The League of Corinth, a federation of Greek states, was founded by Philip II to boost support against Persia.
336 BCE
Philip II, King of Macedon was assassinated – his son Alexander became King of Macedon. He was later known as Alexander the Great.
335 BCE
Aristotle founded the Lyceum in Athens.
333 BCE
Alexander conquered the Persians and declared himself King of Persia.
331 BCE
Alexander conquered Egypt and founded Alexandria which was declared the capital of his newly gained land
323 BCE
Alexander the Great died. His son had not yet been born so his conquered lands were divided between his top generals.
322 BCE
Aristotle, philosopher, mathematician, student of Plato and tutor of Alexander died in Euboea.
265 BCE
Euclid, the inventor of geometry, died.
212 BCE
The mathematician and engineer, Archimedes, was assassinated in Syracuse.
146 BCE
The Romans defeated the Greeks at the Battle of Corinth and Ancient Greece became part of the Roman Empire.
First published 2015; updated and re-published Jun 21 2021 @ 9:40 am – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2015 – 2021). Ancient Greece 2000 BCE – 146 BCE.