Persuasion in Ancient Greece
Andrew Scholtz, Instructor
Informational Pages. . .
Historical Timeline
Dates and events to help you keep track.
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Year(s)
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Event(s)
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ca. 1900-1100
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Greek Bronze Age (prehistoric) | |
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ca. 1900
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Arrival of Indo-Europeans in Greece. | |
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1600-1150
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Greek palace cultures flourish on the Greek mainland and elsewhere (Crete, Cyprus, Turkish coastline). Much of Greek mythology has its roots in dimly remembered events from this period. | |
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ca. 1100-750
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Iron Age (still prehistoric) | |
| Period of decline, then recovery, following the collapse of the palace cultures. Most of the old kingdoms break up. Exceptions: Athens, the Greek kingdoms on the island of Cyprus. | ||
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ca. 800-490
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Archaic period.
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| Introduction of alphabetic writing to Greece. The birth of the polis. The rise of hoplite warfare. Overseas colonization. A period of oligarchy and tyranny in Greece; movement toward democracy here and there in the Greek world. | ||
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ca. 700 (?)
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Homer and Hesiod (epic poets) active.
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ca. 620
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Draco's law code at Athens. | |
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594-593 (?)
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Solon's constitutional reforms and law code at Athens:
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560-510
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Tyranny of Peisistratus and sons at Athens.
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550
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Sparta dominant power in Peloponnese.
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507
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Cleisthenes institutes reforms at Athens (some regard Cleisthenes
as founder of democracy.):
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490-323
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Classical Period
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490-479
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Persian War (Persia tries to conquer mainland
Greece - fails).
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490
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Battle of Marathon (Athenians repulse Persians landing on Attic soil). | |
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487
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Nine archons (chief officials) chosen by lottery (from top 2 property classes). | |
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480
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Battle of Salamis (Greek fleet under Athenian leadership destroys Persian fleet in waters off Attica). | |
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480
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Battle of Plataea (Greek land forces under Spartan leadership inflict decisive defeat on Persians). | |
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477
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Foundation of Delian league, Athens-led alliance
against Persia. First step in creation of Athens' maritime empire.
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463-461
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Ephialtes' ascendancy at Athens: democratic measures,
reduction of Areopagus' powers.
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461
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Ephialtes dies (murdered?). | |
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461-429
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Pericles' ascendancy at Athens. Building projects. Highpoint of the radical democracy, Athenian empire. Pericles political reforms:
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458
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Production date of Aeschylus' Oresteia.
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454
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Delian league becomes Athenian empire.
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451/0
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Pericles' citizenship reforms. (Click here.) | |
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447-
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Periclean building program at Athens. (Parthenon,
other projects.)
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431-404
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Peloponnesian War: Sparta and allies attempt to
break Athenian power.
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431-421
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Archidamian War (Spartan land war vs. Athens; Athenian sea war versus Sparta) | |
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430-426
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Great Plague of Athens.
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429
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Pericles stricken with plague; dies.
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420s
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Ascendancy of Cleon at Athens. Aristophanes' Clouds
first produced.
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424
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Aristophanes' Knights produced.
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422
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Deaths of Cleon, Brasidas. | |
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421
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Peace of Nicias (peace between Sparta and Athens). | |
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416
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Sicilian debate at Athens: Alciabiades versus Nicias
on whether to send forces to Sicily.
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415-413
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Sicilian expedition; crushing defeat for Athens.
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413-404
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Decelean War (Sparta permanently based in Attica). | |
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411
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Aristophanes Lysistrata produced.
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411-410
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Period of oligarchy at Athens. Democracy soon restored.
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404
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Athens defeated by Sparta.
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404-403
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Period of oligarchy at Athens. Democracy soon restored.
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395-387
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Corinthian War: Athens, Thebes, etc. versus Sparta.
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336-323
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Reign of Alexander III ("the Great") of Macedon | |
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335
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Thebes rebels against Alexander; is destroyed | |
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334-323
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Alexander's conquests in the east | |
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323
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Death of Alexander. | |
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322
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Macedonians overthrow the democracy at Athens. Demosthenes (politician, opponent of the Macedonian domination) commits suicide. Aristotle dies. |