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Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek Time Periods
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“Ancient Times" is a period of about 1000 years (from
the catastrophe of Mycenae until the conquest of the
country by the Romans)
Divided in to four time periods
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The Greek Dark Ages (1200800 BC). In this period artists use
geometrical schemes such as squares, circles, lines to decorate
amphoras and other pottery.
The Archaic period (800500 BC) represents those years when
the artists made larger free-standing sculptures in stiff, hieratic
poses with the dreamlike "archaic smile".
The Classical years (500323 BC) artists perfected the style that
since has been taken as exemplary: "classical", such as the
(Parthenon).
The Hellenistic years that followed the conquests of Alexander
(323146 BC), also known as Alexandrian, aspects of Hellenic
civilization expanded to Egypt and Bactria.
History of Mycenaean Greece
The Bronze Age (3500 – 1100 B.C.E.)
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The Greeks are believed to have migrated
southward into the Greek peninsula in several
waves beginning in the late 3rd millennium BC
Known for the reign of King Agamemnon and
the wars against Troy as narrated in the epics of
Homer (Iliad and the Odyssey).
At some point in the fifteenth century BC,
Mycenaean Greeks from the Mainland appear to
have conquered Crete.
It was generally a prosperous period, dominated
by powerful kingdoms and empires— Egypt,
Mesopotamia and the Hittites.
The Trojan War
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Historical event that had taken place in the 13th or 12th century
BCE.
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of
Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy stole Helen from her
husband Menelaus, the King of Sparta.
Agamemnon, King of Mycenae and the brother of Helen's husband
Menelaus, led an expedition of Achaean troops to Troy and besieged
the city for ten years.
The Greeks laid siege to Troy for some ten years without success.
After the deaths of many heroes, including the Achaeans Achilles
and Ajax, and the Trojans Hector and Paris, the city fell to the ruse
of the Trojan Horse.
The Iliad relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy, while
the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the
Achaean leaders.
History of Mycenaean Greece
The Dark Ages (1100 – 800 B.C.E.)
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No primary texts survive, and only scant archaeological
evidence remains.
Some secondary sources: Herodotus' Histories ,
Pausanias' Description of Greece. However, both were
mostly either Athenian or pro-Athenian. As a result we
know far more about Athens than any other Greek city.
Shift in lifestyle, centered around a moderately
sedentary agricultural lifestyle.
Mycenaen Greece challenged by vital and energetic
"Dorian" invaders from the north.
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Dorians use iron weapons, in contrast to bronze of the
Mycenaens.
The “Archaic Period" Ancient Greece
(800-500 B.C.E.)
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Rise of city states of which "Mycenaen" Athens and
"Dorian" Sparta were amongst the more prominent.
First "Olympic" Games were held in 776 B.C. between
contestants drawn from different city states.
City states of were initially ruled by rich landowners
known as Aristocrats (best people).
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Resentment of Aristocratic rule, and political disputations, allows
for city states to be ruled by so called Tyrants.
Modern English usage of this word implies well, "Tyranny", but
the original usage of the word meant "Ruler".
Democracy - rule by the people - appeared in Athens
around 508 B.C. following a two year period of civil war.
The “Classical Years” Ancient Greece
(500323 B.C.E.)
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Features an intense rivalry with the mighty Empire of the
Persians.
Athenian politician Themistocles urged that Athens
should undertake the heavy expense of building a large
number of warships.
Athenians built Triremes, a newly developed ship, that featured
rowers being arrayed in three banks on each side of the ship.
Athens grew in trade and influence and entered upon what is known
to history as its Golden Age (479-431 B.C.).
Pericles ruled in Athens 460-430 B.C. and encouraged an ambitious
rebuilding of the city.
 Program included the construction of the Parthenon, an temple
dedicated to the goddess Athena, on the elevated site known as
the Acropolis.
Athens became a centre for the arts where the ancient Greeks, and
humanity, made great strides in, amongst other things Philosophy
 Socrates, Plato and Aristotle
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The “Classical Years” Ancient Greece
(500323 B.C.E.)
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Pericles “Father of Democracy
405 B.C. Spartan navy inflicted a critical defeat of Athens
navy. Without its fleet Athens could be starved into
submission and fell to Sparta.
Spartan abolish democracy and create an oligarchy
known as the Thirty Tyrants.
386 B.C. Persian King Artaxerxes again asserted Persian
control over the several colonies established by the
states of Ancient Greece in Asia Minor.
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Philip II was murdered and his twenty one year old son
Alexander was recognized as king.
Alexanders accession is considered to mark the beginning of the
Hellenistic Age
The “Hellenistic Years” Ancient Greece
(323146 B.C.E.)
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Alexander the Great expands Greece’s borders as far
east as India and as far south as Egypt.
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In 323 B.C. Alexander "the Great" became severely sick and
died.
The defeat of the Greek cities by King Phillip and
Alexander taught the Greeks that their city-states could
never again be powers in their own right, and that the
hegemony of Macedon and its successor states could not
be challenged unless the city states united, or at least
federated.
In these times a new power , centered on Rome, was
emerging and encroaching upon the Greek colonies in
the Italian peninsula.
By 146 B.C. Greece was brought within Rome's system
of provinces.