Ancient Greece

Historical Timeline
Bronze Age (c. 3000–1100 BCE)

Minoan Civilization (Crete) and Mycenaean Civilization (mainland Greece).

Known for palaces (like Knossos), early writing systems (Linear A and B).

Dark Ages (c. 1100–800 BCE)

Collapse of Mycenaean civilization.

Decline in writing and infrastructure.

Archaic Period (c. 800–480 BCE)

Rise of city-states (poleis), like Athens, Sparta, Corinth.

Invention of the Greek alphabet.

Start of colonization and expansion across the Mediterranean.

Classical Period (c. 480–323 BCE)

Height of Greek culture.

Democracy in Athens (led by Pericles), Persian Wars, Peloponnesian War.

Flourishing of philosophy, drama, and art.

Thinkers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.

Hellenistic Period (323–31 BCE)

Begins after Alexander the Great’s death.

Greek culture spreads across Egypt, Persia, India.

Ends with Roman conquest (Battle of Actium).

🏛️ Key Contributions
Philosophy: Socratic method, ethics, logic, metaphysics.

Democracy: Athens developed early democratic practices.

Literature: Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, tragedies by Sophocles, Euripides.

Art & Architecture: Columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian), Parthenon.

Science & Math: Archimedes, Hippocrates, Pythagoras, Euclid.

Theatre: Birthplace of drama and comedy.

⚔️ Famous Conflicts
Trojan War (mythical but foundational to epic tradition).

Persian Wars (notably the battles of Marathon, Thermopylae).

Peloponnesian War (Athens vs. Sparta).

🧍‍♂️ Society & Culture
Polytheistic religion: gods like Zeus, Athena, Apollo.

Olympics held every 4 years to honor Zeus.

Citizens had rights, but women, slaves, and foreigners often didn’t.

🌍 Geography
Mountainous terrain led to independent city-states.

Surrounded by sea, which influenced trade and naval power.