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Greek government began to form, rise of the city-states such as Athens and Sparta. Greeks begin to explore philosophy and theatre.
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The first Olympic Games takes place. Held The every 4 years in honor of the Greek god Zeus.
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First Messenian War begins, between Sparta and Messenia.
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Homer begins to write the Iliad and Odyssey, become two of the most famous literary works in Greek literature.
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A lawyer named Draco introduces strict new laws, Draconian laws,in Athens that are punishable by death.
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The first Greek coins are introduced.
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Pythagoras is born. He makes major advances in science, math, and philosophy. The Pythagorean Theorem is still used today in geometry.
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Democracy is introduced in Athens by Cleisthenes. Establishes a constitution, often called the "Father of Athenian Democracy". One of the great accomplishments of the Greek culture.
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490 BC - The Greeks fight the Persians in the Greek/Persian Wars. Battle of Marathon in 490 BC
Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.
The Greeks win and the Persians retreat. -
Introduction of democracy in Athens, great times for art and philosophy. Athens and Sparta fought in the Peloponnesian Wars. Near the end of the Classical Period Alexander the Great rose to power conquering much of Europe and Western Asia.
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Sophocles begins to write plays for the theatre. The theater becomes a very popular form of entertainment in Greece.
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The temple to Athena, the Parthenon, is completed in Athens on the Acropolis.
Most famous surviving building of Ancient Greece. -
431 BC - the Peloponnesian Wars begins, between Sparta and Athens begin.
Wars last 27 years, Sparta eventually conquers Athens in 404 BC. -
Famous Greek philosopher Socrates is put to death for corrupting the youth of Athens with his teachings
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Greek philosopher and student of Socrates, Plato, founds the first institution of higher learning in the western world, the Academy.
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The great philosopher, scientist, and mathematician, Aristotle, begins to tutor Alexander, later Alexander the Great.
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336 BC - Alexander the Great becomes king when his father, Philip of Macedon is assassinated.
333 BC - Alexander begins his conquests and defeats the Persians.
332 BC - Alexander conquers Egypt, establishes the new capital of Egypt at Alexandria. Over the next several years Alexander greatly expands his empire, conquering much of Persia on the way to India. -
The Hellenistic period begins when Alexander the Great dies. The Ancient Greek civilization begins its decline, Ancient Romans start to gain power.
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Begins after the death of Alexander the Great. Greece declined in power until it was finally conquered by Rome
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Euclid, a Greek mathematician, writes Elements. Has an impact on mathematics for years
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Rome conquers Greece making it part of the Roman Empire.