Key Events - Ancient Greece Flashcards
Olympics
The Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece in 776 BC as a religious festival to honor Zeus. They took place every four years in Olympia. Each city-state would participate in the Olympic Truce, an agreement to stop all fighting, for the duration of the games.
Persian War
The Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Greeks and the Persians that lasted from 499 BC to 479 BC. The wars started when the city-state of Miletus rebelled against Persian tyranny and sought help from other Greek city-states. Athens provided aid, while Sparta declined. The Persian Wars included significant battles such as Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, which ultimately led to a Greek victory and the expulsion of the Persians from Greece.
Battle of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC. The Athenians, despite being outnumbered, defeated the Persians. This victory boosted the morale and self-confidence of the Greeks.
Battle of Thermopylae
The Battle of Thermopylae occurred in 480 BC. A small force of Greeks, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, held off a massive Persian army for several days at the narrow pass of Thermopylae. Although the Spartans were eventually defeated, their valiant stand inspired the Greeks and bought them valuable time to prepare for the next battle.
Battle of Salamis
The Battle of Salamis took place in 480 BC. The Athenian navy, led by Themistocles, defeated the Persian fleet in a decisive naval battle. This victory prevented the Persians from conquering all of Greece and marked a turning point in the Persian Wars.
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War was a conflict between Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies, that lasted from 431 BC to 404 BC. The war was sparked by tensions over Athenian power and influence. Sparta, with its strong land forces, and Athens, with its powerful navy, engaged in a long and devastating war that ultimately led to the defeat of Athens and the end of its Golden Age.
Golden Age of Athens
The Golden Age of Athens was a period of cultural flourishing and prosperity that lasted from 479 BC to 404 BC. During this time, Athens saw remarkable achievements in art, architecture, philosophy, and literature. The Parthenon was built, and philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle made significant contributions to Western thought.
Hellenistic Period
The Hellenistic Period was a time of cultural exchange and intellectual development that followed the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. It lasted until the emergence of the Roman Empire in 30 BC. During this period, Greek culture, ideas, and language spread throughout the Mediterranean world and into Asia, blending with local traditions to create a vibrant new Hellenistic culture.
