Greek History · Chronicle III of IX

Classical Greece

Athens and Sparta at their height — democracy, tragedy, and a war that never seemed to end.

Span: 490 – 323 BC
Entries: 46
Next: Hellenistic Period

Frontispiece · Map of the Battle of Marathon (490 BC)Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

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Entry 1 of 46

490 BC
Persian WarsMilitary
Battle of Marathon
Athenian forces decisively defeat the Persian invasion force, establishing Athens as a major power and preserving Greek independence.
Map of the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) · Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Meanwhile, elsewhere
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
480 BC
Persian WarsMilitary
Battle of Thermopylae
King Leonidas and 300 Spartans make a heroic last stand against the massive Persian army, buying time for Greek forces to regroup.
Leonidas at Thermopylae, painting by Jacques-Louis David (1814) · Jacques-Louis David, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Military
Battle of Salamis
Themistocles leads the Greek fleet to a decisive victory over the Persian navy, saving Athens and the Greek cause.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
479 BC
Persian WarsMilitary
Battle of Plataea
Greek forces under Pausanias decisively defeat the Persian army, ending the Persian invasion and establishing Greek military supremacy.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
477 BC
Athenian EmpirePolitical
Formation of the Delian League
Athens forms an alliance of Greek city-states to protect against future Persian aggression, which gradually becomes the Athenian Empire.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
471 BC
Athenian PoliticsPolitical
Ostracism of Themistocles
The architect of the victory at Salamis is ostracised from Athens, ending the political ascendancy of the Persian-war generation and clearing the way for Cimon.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
466 BC
Athenian ExpansionMilitary
Battle of Eurymedon
Athenian commander Cimon defeats the Persian fleet and army at the Battle of Eurymedon, securing Athenian naval dominance.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
464 BC
Spartan CrisisEvent
Spartan Earthquake
A massive earthquake devastates Sparta, killing thousands and triggering a helot revolt that threatens Spartan survival.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
462 BC
Spartan CrisisMilitary
Battle of Tanagra
Athens and Sparta clash at the Battle of Tanagra, with Sparta victorious but unable to exploit their advantage.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
461 BC
Age of PericlesPolitical
Pericles becomes dominant statesman
Pericles begins his long period of influence over Athenian politics, ushering in the golden age of Athenian democracy and culture.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
460 BC
First Peloponnesian WarMilitary
First Peloponnesian War begins
War breaks out between Athens and allies against Sparta and the Peloponnesian League, beginning 15 years of intermittent conflict.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
458 BC
Cultural AchievementCultural
Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy
Aeschylus stages his masterpiece trilogy, the pinnacle of Greek tragedy, exploring themes of justice and divine law.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
454 BC
Athenian EmpirePolitical
Treasury moved to Athens
The Delian League treasury is moved from Delos to Athens, marking the transformation from alliance to empire.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
451 BC
Peace AttemptsPolitical
Five Years' Truce
Athens and Sparta agree to a five-year truce, temporarily halting the First Peloponnesian War.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
447 BC
Cultural AchievementCultural
Construction of the Parthenon begins
Under Pericles' direction, construction begins on the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, the ultimate expression of Classical Greek architecture.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
431 BC
Peloponnesian WarMilitary
Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War
War breaks out between Athens and its empire against Sparta and the Peloponnesian League, beginning a 27-year conflict that will reshape Greece.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
430 BC
Peloponnesian WarEvent
Plague in Athens
A devastating plague strikes Athens, killing up to a third of the population including Pericles' sons and weakening the city.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
429 BC
Peloponnesian WarEvent
Death of Pericles
Pericles dies of plague, removing Athens' greatest statesman during the critical early years of the Peloponnesian War.
Bust of Pericles, Roman copy after a Greek original by Kresilas · Vatican Museums, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
425 BC
Peloponnesian WarMilitary
Battle of Pylos
Demosthenes leads Athenian forces to victory at Pylos, capturing Spartan hoplites on the island of Sphacteria.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
424 BC
Peloponnesian War / Cultural AchievementMilitary
Battle of Delium
The Boeotians defeat the Athenians at the Battle of Delium, where Socrates fought as a hoplite and saved Alcibiades.
Cultural
Herodotus publishes Histories
Herodotus completes his Histories, founding the discipline of history and documenting the Greco-Persian Wars.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
421 BC
Peloponnesian WarPolitical
Peace of Nicias
Athens and Sparta swear a fifty-year peace, ending the Archidamian phase of the Peloponnesian War — a settlement that neither side can sustain.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
418 BC
Peloponnesian WarMilitary
Battle of Mantinea
Sparta crushes the Argive-Athenian coalition at Mantinea, restoring her hegemony in the Peloponnese and exposing the hollowness of the Peace of Nicias.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
415 BC
Peloponnesian WarMilitary
Sicilian Expedition
Athens launches a massive expedition against Syracuse, ending in catastrophic defeat that severely weakens Athenian power.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
413 BC
Peloponnesian WarMilitary
Destruction of Athenian fleet
The Athenian fleet is destroyed in Syracuse harbor, marking the complete failure of the Sicilian Expedition.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
411 BC
Peloponnesian War / Cultural AchievementPolitical
Athenian Coup
The oligarchic coup of the Four Hundred overthrows Athenian democracy, though it is quickly restored.
Cultural
Aristophanes' Lysistrata
Aristophanes stages his anti-war comedy Lysistrata, using humor to comment on the futility of the Peloponnesian War.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
404 BC
Peloponnesian WarMilitary
Fall of Athens
Athens surrenders to Sparta, ending the Peloponnesian War. The Long Walls are demolished, and Athens loses its empire.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
403 BC
Athenian RecoveryPolitical
Restoration of Democracy
Thrasybulus leads the democratic restoration in Athens, overthrowing the Spartan-backed oligarchy.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
399 BC
Socratic PeriodPolitical
Trial and execution of Socrates
Socrates is tried and executed for corrupting the youth and impiety, becoming a martyr for philosophy and free thought.
The Death of Socrates, painting by Jacques-Louis David (1787) · Jacques-Louis David, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
395 BC
Corinthian WarMilitary
Corinthian War begins
Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos fight against Sparta and Persian support, beginning the Corinthian War.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
387 BC
Philosophical SchoolsCultural
Plato founds the Academy
Plato establishes his school of philosophy in Athens, which will operate for nearly 900 years and influence Western thought profoundly.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
371 BC
Theban HegemonyMilitary
Battle of Leuctra
Thebes under Epaminondas defeats Sparta, ending Spartan military supremacy and establishing Theban dominance in Greece.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
370 BC
Theban HegemonyMilitary
Invasion of the Peloponnese
Epaminondas leads Theban forces into the Peloponnese, liberating Messenia and ending Spartan dominance.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
369 BC
Theban HegemonyPolitical
Foundation of Megalopolis
Thebes founds Megalopolis as a buffer state against Sparta, permanently altering the balance of power in the Peloponnese.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
367 BC
Theban HegemonyMilitary
Second Invasion of the Peloponnese
Epaminondas leads a second invasion of the Peloponnese, further weakening Spartan power.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
362 BC
Theban HegemonyMilitary
Battle of Mantinea
Epaminondas wins his final battle at Mantinea but is killed, ending Theban dominance in Greece.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
359 BC
Macedonian RisePolitical
Philip II becomes king of Macedon
Philip II ascends the Macedonian throne and begins reforms that will create the most powerful military force in Greece.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
357 BC
Macedonian ExpansionMilitary
Conquest of Amphipolis
Philip II captures Amphipolis, gaining control of rich gold mines and securing Macedon's eastern frontier.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
356 BC
Macedonian RiseEvent
Birth of Alexander the Great
Alexander is born to Philip II and Olympias at Pella, destined to become one of history's greatest conquerors.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
352 BC
Macedonian ExpansionMilitary
Battle of Crocus Field
Philip II defeats the Phocians at the Battle of Crocus Field, establishing Macedonian dominance in central Greece.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
338 BC
Macedonian HegemonyMilitary
Battle of Chaeronea
Philip II defeats the combined forces of Athens and Thebes, establishing Macedonian dominance over the Greek city-states.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
336 BC
Macedonian HegemonyPolitical
Alexander becomes king
Alexander succeeds his assassinated father Philip II and immediately secures his position and begins planning the Persian invasion.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
335 BC
Cultural AchievementCultural
Aristotle founds Lyceum
Aristotle establishes his school of philosophy in Athens, creating a systematic approach to knowledge that will influence science for centuries.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
334 BC
Alexander's ConquestsMilitary
Battle of Granicus
Alexander wins his first major victory against the Persian Empire, crossing into Asia and beginning his epic conquests.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
333 BC
Alexander's ConquestsMilitary
Battle of Issus
Alexander defeats Darius III despite being outnumbered, capturing the Persian royal family and securing control of Asia Minor.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
331 BC
Alexander's ConquestsCultural
Foundation of Alexandria
Alexander founds Alexandria in Egypt, which will become the greatest center of learning and culture in the ancient world.
Military
Battle of Gaugamela
Alexander decisively defeats Darius III, ending the Persian Empire and completing his conquest of the Persian heartland.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
326 BC
Eastern CampaignsMilitary
Battle of the Hydaspes
Alexander defeats King Porus in India, his most difficult battle. His army refuses to go further, forcing him to turn back.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
323 BC
Death of AlexanderPolitical
Death of Alexander the Great
Alexander dies in Babylon at age 32, leaving his vast empire without a clear heir and ushering in the Hellenistic period.
Meanwhile, elsewhere · 3
38 more entries, to 323 BC

Classical Greece

Battle of Marathon

Battle of Thermopylae

Battle of Salamis

Battle of Plataea

Formation of the Delian League

Ostracism of Themistocles

Battle of Eurymedon

Spartan Earthquake

Battle of Tanagra

Pericles becomes dominant statesman

First Peloponnesian War begins

Aeschylus' Oresteia trilogy

Treasury moved to Athens

Five Years' Truce

Construction of the Parthenon begins

Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War

Plague in Athens

Death of Pericles

Battle of Pylos

Battle of Delium

Herodotus publishes Histories

Peace of Nicias

Battle of Mantinea

Sicilian Expedition

Destruction of Athenian fleet

Athenian Coup

Aristophanes' Lysistrata

Fall of Athens

Restoration of Democracy

Trial and execution of Socrates

Corinthian War begins

Plato founds the Academy

Battle of Leuctra

Invasion of the Peloponnese

Foundation of Megalopolis

Second Invasion of the Peloponnese

Battle of Mantinea

Philip II becomes king of Macedon

Conquest of Amphipolis

Birth of Alexander the Great

Battle of Crocus Field

Battle of Chaeronea

Alexander becomes king

Aristotle founds Lyceum

Battle of Granicus

Battle of Issus

Foundation of Alexandria

Battle of Gaugamela

Battle of the Hydaspes

Death of Alexander the Great