BCE Dates Flashcards
Beginning of great civilizations Mesopotamia and Egypt
ca. 3000
Bloom Phoenician cities
ca.1000-750
King David of Israel
‘ca. 1000
Assyrian Empire
ca. 900-612
New-Babylonian Empire
ca. 612-550
Persian Empire
ca. 550-331
First Olympic games
‘776’
Cyrus of Persia conquers the Lydian Empire and Greek cities on the west coast of Asia Minor
546: Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, conquered the Lydian Empire, led by King Croesus. This conquest extended Persian rule into western Turkey and led to the incorporation of Greek cities on the west coast of Asia Minor into the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus’s relatively tolerant and benevolent governance allowed local rulers and populations to maintain some autonomy and cultural freedom. This expansion set the stage for interactions and conflicts between the Greeks and Persians, culminating in the Greco-Persian Wars in the early 5th century BC.
Cyrus conquers Babylon; end Babylonian exile of the Jews
539: Cyrus the Great, the ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, conquered the city of Babylon in 539 BC. This conquest marked a significant historical event and resulted in the end of the Babylonian Exile for the Jewish people. The Babylonian Exile had begun in 586 BC when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem and destroyed the First Temple, leading to the displacement and suffering of the Jewish population. After Cyrus’s conquest, he issued a decree, known as the Cyrus Cylinder, which allowed various captive peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands. This decree facilitated the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem, where they began rebuilding the Second Temple. The end of the Babylonian Exile was a pivotal moment in Jewish history, marking the reestablishment of Jewish life in their homeland and the reconstruction of their religious and cultural practices.
Founding of the Delian League
447- 404
Peace agreement with Persia
449
Start of the Periclean building programme on Acropolis
447: Rebuilt Athens eg the Parthenon following the persian wars
Athenian expedition to Sicily
415-413: The Athenian expedition to Sicily took place during the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BC. Athens, led by commanders Alcibiades and Nicias, aimed to expand its influence and undermine the power of Syracuse in Sicily. However, the campaign faced logistical challenges, strategic setbacks, and political infighting. The siege of Syracuse turned disastrous for Athens, resulting in the loss of a significant portion of their forces. The expedition ended in failure, with most Athenian forces killed or captured, severely weakening Athens and strengthening its enemies in the Peloponnesian War. This campaign is often seen as a significant blunder that had far-reaching consequences for the course of the war and the Delian League. n 415 BC, Alcibiades was accused of impiety and involvement in the mutilation of religious statues. Fearing prosecution, he defected to Sparta.
Alcibiades offered the Spartans valuable information about Athens, its strategies, and its weaknesses. His knowledge and insights were beneficial to the Spartans.
Different coalitions of Greek poleis; rise of Macedon
395-340
Battle of Leuctra/ Boeotian War
379- Revolt in Thebes against Sparta
