![]()  | 
        HISTORY OF GREECE | 
        ![]()  | 
      
![]()  | 
        THE SCOPE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK HISTORYTHE HEROIC AGE [ca. 1400-1200 B.C.] THE DORIANS [ca. 1100-1000 B.C.]SPARTA AND LYCURGUS [ca. 885 B.C.]
  | 
      
SUMMARY OF GREEK HISTORYA TABLE OF CHRONOLOGY
                 IT is unnecessary in the summary of a country whose
              chief events are so accurately dated and so fully understood as in the case of
              Greece, to amplify the chronology. A synoptical view of these events will,
              however, prove useful. Questions of origins and of earliest history are obscure
              here as elsewhere. As to the earliest dates, it may be well to quote the dictum
              of Prof. Flinders Petrie, who, after commenting on the discovery in Greece, of
              pottery marked with the names of early Egyptian kings, states that “the grand
              age of prehistoric Greece, which can well compare with the art of classical
              Greece, began about 1600 B.C., was at its highest point about 1400 B.C. and
              became decadent about 1200 B.C., before its overthrow by the Dorian invasion”.
              The earlier phase of civilisation in the Aegean may therefore date from the
              third millennium B.C.
                   2000—1000. Later phase of civilisation in the Aegean
              (the Mycenaean Age). The Achaeans and other Greeks spread themselves over
              Greece, Ionians settle in Asia Minor. The Pelopidae reign at Mycenae. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, commands the Greek forces at
              Troy.
   1184. Fall of Troy (traditional date).
                   1124. First migration. Northern warriors drive out the
              population of Thessaly and occupy the country, causing many Achaeans to migrate
              to the Peloponnesus.
                   1104. Dorian invasion. The Peloponnesus gradually
              brought under the Dorian sway. Dorian colonies sent out to Crete, Rhodes, and
              Asia Minor. Argos head of a Dorian hexapolis.
   885. Lycurgus said to have given laws to Sparta. About
              this time (perhaps much earlier) Phoenician alphabet imported into Greece.
                   776. The First Olympic year.
                   750. First Messenian war.
                   
               PERIOD OF GREEK COLONISATION
                  
            (750-650 B.C.)
                  
            683. Athens ruled by nine archons.
                   632. Attempt of Cylon to
              make himself supreme at Athens.
                   621. Draconian code drawn up.
                   611. Anaximander of Miletus, the constructor of the
              first map, born. End of seventh century. Second Messenian war. Spartans conquer
              the country. The Ephors win almost all the kingly power. Cypaelus and his son Periander tyrants of Corinth.
   600. The poets Alcaeus and Sappho flourish at Lesbos.
                   594—593. Solon archon at Athens.
                   590—589. Sacred war of the Amphictyonic league against Crisa. Clisthenes tyrant of Sicyon.
                   585. Pythian games reorganised. Date of first Pythiad.
                   570. Pisistratus polemarch at Athens. Athenians conquer Salamis and Nisaea.
               561. Pisistratus makes himself supreme in Athens. He
              is twice exiled.
                   559—556. Miltiades tyrant of the Thracian Chersonesus.
                   556. Chilon’s reforms in
              Sparta.
                   549—548. Mycenae and Tiryns go over to Sparta.
                   
               ATHENS UNDER THE TYRANTS
              
            (540-510 B.C)
                  
            540. Pisistratus tyrant of Athens.
                   530. Pythagoras goes to Croton.
                   527. Pisistratus dies and is succeeded by his sons,
              Hippias and Hipparchus. Homeric poems collected.
                   514. Hipparchus slain by Harmodius and Aristogiton
                   510. A Spartan army under Cleomenes blockades Hippias
              and forces him to quit Athens.
                   
 THE ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY
                  
            (507 – 493 B.C.)
                  
            Clisthenes and Isagoras contend for the chief power in
              Athens.
                   507. Isagoras calls in Cleomenes who invades Attica.
              The Athenians overcome the Spartans, and Clisthenes, who had left Athens,
              returns. Clisthenes reforms the Athenian democracy.
                   506. Spartans, Boeotians, and Chalcidians allied
              against Athens. The Athenians allied with Plataea. Chalcidian territory annexed
              by Athens. Nearly the whole Peloponnesus forms a league under the hegemony of
              Sparta. Rivalry between Athens and Aegina.
                   504. The Athenians refuse to restore Hippias on the
              Persian demand.
                   498. Athens and Eretria send ships to aid the
              Milesians against the Persians.
                   496. Sophocles born at Athens.
                   494. Naval battle off Lade, the decisive struggle of
              the Ionian war, won by the Persians. Battle of Sepeia.
              The Spartans defeat the Argives.
   493. Themistocles, archon at Athens, fortifies the
              Piraeus.
                   
               PERIOD OF THE PERSIAN WARS
              
            (492-479 B.C.)
                  
            492. Quarrel between the Spartan kings. King Demaratus
              flees to the Persian court, and King Cleomenes seizes hostages from Aegina.
              Thrace and Macedonia subdued by the Persians.
                   490. The Persians subdue Naxos and other islands, and
              destroy Eretria before landing in Attica. Battle of Marathon; the Greeks under
              Miltiades defeat the Persians, the latter losing six thousand men; the Persian
              fleet sets sail for Asia.
                   489. Miltiades’ expedition against Paros. Miltiades
              tried, and fined. His death.
                   487. War between Athens and Aegina. Themistocles
              begins to equip an Athenian fleet.
                   483. Aristides ostracised.
                   481. Xerxes musters an army to invade Greece. Greek
              congress at Corinth.
                   480. Xerxes at the Hellespont. The northern Greeks
              submit to Xerxes. The Greek army is defeated at the pass of Thermopylae and
              Leonidas, the Spartan king, is slain. Battle of Artemisium. The Greek fleet
              retreats. Athens being evacuated, Xerxes occupies it. Battle of Salamis and
              complete victory of the Greeks. Retreat of Xerxes. The Greeks fail to follow up
              their victory.
                   479. Mardonius invades Boeotia; occupies Athens.
              Retreat of Mardonius. Battle of Plataea. Mardonius defeated and slain. Retreat
              of the Persian army. Battle of Mycale and defeat of the Persian fleet.
                   
               POST-BELLUM RECONSTRUCTION
              
            (479-463 B.C.)
                  
            478. Athenians under Xanthippus capture Sestus in the Chersonesus. Confederacy of Delos.
                   477. Athenian walls rebuilt. Piraeus fortified.
              Themistocles’ law providing for the annual increase of the navy. Pausanias
              conquers Byzantium. He enters into treacherous relations with the Persians.
                   476. The Spartans endeavour to reorganise the
              Amphictyonic league. Their attempts defeated by Themistocles.
                   474. The poet Pindar flourishes.
                   473. Scyros conquered by the Athenian, Cimon. Argos
              defeated by the Spartans at the battle of Tegea.
                   472. Themistocles ostracised. PERSAE of
              Aeschylus performed.
                   471. The Arcadian league against Sparta crushed at the
              battle of Dipaea
   470—469. Naxos secedes from the confederacy of Delos,
              and is compelled to return.
                   470. Socrates born.
                   468. Cimon defeats the Persians at the Eurymedon.
              Argos recovers Tiryns.
                   465—463. Thasos revolts and is reduced by the fleet
              under Cimon.
                   464. Sparta stirred by terrible earthquake and a
              revolt of the helots. The Third Messenian war.
                   463-462. Cimon persuades Athens to send help to the
              Spartans, but the latter refuse the assistance. They are afraid of Athens’
              revolutionary spirit. This incident puts an end to Cimon’s Laconian policy. It
              is the triumph of Ephialtes and his party.
                   
               THE AGE OF PERICLES
              
            (463-431 B.C.)
                  
            
 463-461. Triumph of democracy at Athens under
              Ephialtes and Pericles. The Areopagus deprived of its powers. Cimon protests
              against the changes effected in his absence. He is ostracised, and Athens forms
              a connection with Argos, which captures and destroys Mycenae.
                   460-459. Megara secedes from the Peloponnesian league
              to Athens. A fleet, sent by Athens to aid the Egyptian revolt against Persia,
              captures Memphis.
                   459. Ithome captured by the Spartans.
                   459—458. Athens at war with the northern states of the
              Peloponnesus. Athenian victories of Halieis, Cecryphalea,
              and Aegina.
   458. Long walls of Athens completed.
                   457. Spartan expedition to Boeotia. Victory of Tanagra
              over the Athenians. Truce between Athens and Sparta. Battle of Oenophyta and conquest of Boeotia by the Athenians. The
              Phocians and Locrians make alliance with Athens.
   456. Aegina surrenders to the Athenians.
                   454. Greek contingent in Egypt capitulates to the
              Persians; the Athenian fleet destroyed at the mouth of the Nile.
                   454—453. Treasury of the confederacy of Delos
              transferred from the island to Athens.
                   453. Pericles besieges Sicyon and Oeniadae without success. Achaia passes under the Athenian dominion.
                   452—451. Five years’ truce between Athens and the
              Peloponnesus.
                   450—449. Cimon leads an expedition against Cyprus.
              Death of Cimon. The fleet on its way home wins the battle of Salamis in Cyprus.
                   448. Peace of Callias concluded with Persia. Sacred
              war. The Phocians withdraw from the Athenian alliance.
                   447. Boeotia lost to Athens by the battle of Coronea.
                   447—446. Revolt of Euboea and Megara from the Delian
              confederacy. Euboea is subdued and annexed. Pericles plants colonies in the
              Thracian Chersonesus, Euboea, Naxos, etc.
                   446—445. Thirty Years’ Peace between Athens and
              Sparta.
                   444. Aristophanes born.
                   442. Thucydides opposes Pericles; is ostracised,
              leaving Pericles without a rival in Athens, where he governs for fifteen years
              with absolute power. Sophocles’ Antigone produced.
                   440-439. Pericles subdues Samos. Corcyraeans defeat
              Corinthians in a sea-fight.
                   433. Corcyra concludes alliance with Athens. Battle of Sybota between Corcyra and Corinth. King Perdiccas of
              Macedonia incites the revolt of Chalcidice against Athens.
                   432. Megarian decree, passed at Athens, excludes
              Megarians from all Athenian markets. Battle of Potidaea. Athenians defeat the
              Corinthians.
                   
               THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR
              
            (431-404 B.C.)
                  
            431. Sparta decides on war with Athens on the grounds
              of her having broken the Thirty ears’ Peace. Peloponnesian War. First period
              called the “Attic War”. Plataea surprised by Thebans. Thebans taken and
              executed in spite of a promise for their release. King Archidamus of Sparta
              invades Attica. The population crowd into Athens. Athens annexes Aegina. The
              fleet takes several important places.
                   430. The plague in Athens. Trial of Pericles for
              misappropriation of public money. Potidaea taken by the Athenians and the
              inhabitants expelled.
                   429. Archidamus besieges Plataea. Phormion,
              the Athenian, wins the victory of Naupactus. Death of Pericles. Rivalry between
              contending parties under Nicias and Cleon.
                   428. Archidamus invades Attica. Mytilene revolts and
              is blockaded by the Athenians.
                   427. Fourth invasion of Attica by the Spartans.
              Surrender of Mytilene. The Mytilenaean ringleaders
              executed. Surrender of Plataea to the Peloponnesians. Oligarchs in Corcyra
              conspire to overthrow the democrats. Civil war and naval engagement. Terrible
              slaughter. Athenian expedition to Sicily under Laches. Birth of Plato.
   426. Athenians under Demosthenes defeated in Aetolia.
              Battle of Olpae. Peloponnesians and Ambracians defeated by Demosthenes. Purification of Delos
              by the Athenians. The Delian festival revived under Athenian superintendence.
   425. Athens increases the amount of tribute to be paid
              by the confederacy. The episode of Pylos, leading, after a long struggle, to
              the capture of Lacedaemonian forces in Sphacteria.
                   424. Defeat of Hippocrates at Delium. Thucydides, the
              historian, banished for not succouring Amphipolis in time. Brasidas takes towns
              of Chalcidice.
                   423. Truce between Athens and Sparta. Scione in Chalcidice revolts to Sparta and an Athenian
              expedition under Cleon is sent against it, notwithstanding the truce.
                   422. Battle of Amphipolis won by Brasidas, but both he
              and Cleon are slain.
                   421. Peace of Nicias ends the first period of the
              Peloponnesian War. Mutual restoration of conquests. Scione is taken and all the male inhabitants put to death.
   420. Second period of the Peloponnesian War.
              Alcibiades becomes the chief opponent of Nicias. Expedition against Epidaurus.
                   418. Nicias recovers his power in Athens. The Spartans
              invade Argolis. Athenians take Orchomenus, but are defeated by the Spartans.
              Battle of Mantinea. Hyperbolus attempts to obtain the ostracism of Nicias. The
              decree is passed against himself, being the last instance of ostracism. Argive
              oligarchy overthrows the democratic government. A counter revolution restores
              the democrats. Athens concludes alliance with Argos.
                   416. Melos conquered by the Athenians. The Sicilian
              city of Segesta appeals to Athens for help against Selinus. Nicias opposes the
              sending of assistance, but is overruled and sent with Alcibiades in command of
              a Sicilian expedition.
                   415. Mysterious mutilation of the Hermae statues
              regarded as an evil omen. Alcibiades accused of a plot. His trial postponed.
              The expedition sails. Fall of Alcibiades; his escape.
                   414. Siege of Syracuse. The Spartan Gylippus arrives with ships.
                   413. Nicias appeals for help to Athens and a second
              expedition is voted. Syracusans worsted in a sea battle. Syracusans capture an
              Athenian treasure fleet, and win a battle in the harbour of Syracuse. Arrival
              of the second Athenian expedition and its total defeat. The Athenians retreat
              by land. The rear guard is forced to surrender and the relics of the main body
              are captured after the defeat of the Asinarus.
              Tribute of the confederacy abolished and replaced by an import and export duty.
   412. Third period of the Peloponnesian War, called the Decelean or Ionian War. The allies of Athens take
              advantage of her misfortunes to revolt. Sparta makes a treaty with Persia.
              Athens wins several naval successes.
                   411. “Revolution of the Four Hundred”. The fleet and
              army at Samos place themselves under the leadership of Alcibiades. Spartans
              defeat the Athenian fleet at Eretria. Fall of the Four Hundred and partial
              restoration of Athenian democracy. Battle of Cynossema won by the Athenians. Alcibiades defeats the Peloponnesians at Abydos.
   410. Battle of Cyzicus won by Alcibiades. Complete
              restoration of Athenian democracy.
                   408. Alcibiades conquers Byzantium.
                   407. Cyrus, viceroy of Sardis, furnishes the Spartan
              Lysander with money to raise the pay of the Spartan navy. Lysander begins to
              set up the oligarchical government of the decarchies in the cities conquered by him. Battle of Notium.
              Athenians defeated. Alcibiades’ downfall.
   406. Battle of Arginusae. Peloponnesians defeated by
              the Athenians. The victorious generals are blamed for not rescuing their
              wounded, and are illegally condemned and executed. The Spartans make overtures
              for peace, which are rejected.
                   405. Battle of Aegospotami. Most of the Athenian ships
              are taken and all the prisoners are put to death. The Athenian empire passes to
              Sparta. Lysander subdues the Hellespont and Thrace, and lays siege to Athens.
               404. Surrender of Athens.
                   
               SPARTAN SUPREMACY AND PERSIAN INFLUENCE
                  
            (403 -  379
              B.C.)
                  
            Return to Athens of exiles of the oligarchical party.
              Athens under the Thirty. Thrasybulus and other exiles gain Phyle. Theramenes
              opposes the violent rule of the Thirty and is put to death.
                   403. Battle of Munychia. Thrasybulus defeats the army
              of the Thirty. Death of Critias. The Thirty are deposed and replaced by the
              Ten. The Spartans under Lysander come to the aid of the Ten, but the
              intervention of the Spartan king, Pausanias, brings about the restoration of
              the Attic democracy.
                   401. Cyrus’ campaign and the battle of Cunaxa. Retreat
              of the Ten Thousand Greeks under Xenophon.
                   400. Spartan invasion of the Persian dominions.
                   399. Spartans under Dercyllidas occupy the Troad. Elis conquered and dismembered by
              the Spartans. Socrates put to death for denying the Athenian gods.
                   398. Agesilaus becomes king of Sparta.
                   397. Cimon’s conspiracy.
                   396. Agesilaus invades Phrygia.
                   395. Agesilaus wins the victory of Sardis. Revolt of
              Rhodes. The Spartans invade Boeotia and are repelled with the assistance of the
              Athenians. Thebes, Athens, Argos, and Corinth allied against Sparta.
                   394. Agesilaus returns from Asia Minor. Battle of
              Nemea won by the Spartans. Battle of Cnidus. The Persian fleet under Conon
              destroys the Spartan fleet. Agesilaus wins the battle of Coronea and retreats from Boeotia.
   393. Pharnabazus destroys the Spartan dominion in the
              eastern Aegean, and supplies Conon with funds to restore the long walls of
              Athens. Beginning of the “Corinthian War”.
                   392. Federation of Corinth and Argos. Fighting between
              the Spartans and the allies on the Isthmus of Corinth. Both sides send
              embassies to the Persians.
                   391. The Spartans begin fresh wars in Asia.
                   389. Successes of Thrasybulus in the northern Aegean.
                   388. Spartans dispute the supremacy of Athens on the
              Hellespont and are defeated at Cremaste.
   387. Peace of Antalcidas between Persia and Sparta.
              Athens is compelled to accede.
                   386. Dissolution of the union of Corinth and Argos.
              Sparta compels the Mantineans to break down their city walls and separate into
              small villages.
                   384—382. The city of Olynthus, having united the
              Chalcidian towns under her hegemony and increased her territory at the expense
              of Macedonia, makes alliance with Athens and Thebes. Sparta sends help to the
              towns which refuse to join.
                   384. Aristotle born.
                   882. Spartans seize the citadel of Thebes.
                   880.PANEGYRIC of Isocrates, a plea for Greek
              unity.
                   381-879. Sparta forces Phlius to submit to her dictation.
                   379. Chalcidian league compelled by Sparta to
              dissolve. The power of Sparta at its height. Rising of Thebes under Pelopidas
              against Sparta. Sphodrias, the Spartan, invades
              Athenian territory. The Spartans decline to punish the aggression.
   RISE OF THEBES
              
            (378-359 B.C)
                  
             
                   378. Athens makes alliance with Thebes.
                   378—377. Formation by the Athenians of a new maritime
              confederacy.
                   378—376. Three unsuccessful Spartan expeditions into
              Boeotia.
                   376. Great maritime victory of the Athenian Chabrias at Naxos. Successes of Timotheus of Athens in the
              Ionian Sea.
                   374. Brief peace between Sparta and Athens.
                   374—373. Corcyra unsuccessfully invested by the
              Spartans.
                   371. Peace of Callias, guaranteeing the independence
              of each individual Greek city. Thebes not included in the Peace. Jason of
              Pherae, despot of Thessaly. Battle of Leuctra. Epaminondas of Thebes defeats
              the Spartans. Revolutionary outbreaks in Peloponnesus.
                   370. Arcadian union and restoration of Mantinea.
              Foundation of Megalopolis. Epaminondas and Pelopidas invade Laconia.
                   369. Messene restored by the Thebans as a menace to
              Sparta. Alliance between Sparta and Athens. The Thebans conquer Sicyon.
              Pelopidas sent to deliver the Thessalian cities from the rivals, Alexander of
              Macedon and Alexander of Pherae.
                   368. The Spartans win the “tearless victory” of Midea
              over the Arcadians. Death of Alexander II of Macedon. Succession of his brother
              Perdiccas secured by Athenian intervention. Pelopidas captured by Alexander of
              Pherae.
                   367. Epaminondas rescues him. Pelopidas obtains a
              Persian decree settling disputed questions in Peloponnesus. The decree
              disregarded in Greece.
                   366. The Thebans conquer Achaia, but fail to keep it.
              Athens makes alliance with Arcadia
                   365. Athenians conquer and colonise Samos, and acquire Sestus and Grithote.
              Perdiccas III of Macedon assassinates the regent. Timotheus takes Potidaea and Torone for Athens. Elis invaded by the Arcadians.
   364. Creation of a Boeotian navy encourages the allies
              of Athens to revolt. Battle of Cynoscephalae. Alexander of Pherae, defeated by
              the Boeotians and their Thessalian allies. Pelopidas falls in the battle.
              Orchomenus destroyed by the Thebans. Elis invaded by the Arcadians. Spartan
              operations fail. Battle in the Altis during the Olympic games. The Arcadians
              appropriate the sacred Olympian treasure. Praxiteles, the sculptor, flourished.
                   362. Unsuccessful attack on Sparta by Epaminondas.
              Battle of Mantinea and death of Epaminondas.
                   361. Agesilaus of Sparta goes to Egypt as a leader of
              mercenaries. Battle of Peparethus. Alexander of
              Pherae defeats the Athenian fleet. He attacks the Piraeus.
   360. The Thracian Chersonesus lost to Athens.
               
 PHILIP OF MACEDONIA
              
            (359-386 B.C)
                  
             
                   859. Death of Perdiccas III of Macedon. Philip seizes
              the government as guardian for his nephew, Amyntas.
                   858. Brilliant victories of Philip over the Paeonians
              and Illyrians.
               857. Thracian Chersonesus and Euboea recovered by
              Athens. Philip takes Amphipolis. Revolt of Athenian allies, Chios, Cos, and
              Rhodes.
                   356. Battle of Embata lost
              by the Athenians. Philip founds Philippi, takes Pydna and Potidaea, defeats the
              Illyrians and sets to work to organise his kingdom on a military basis. Birth
              of Alexander the Great.
                   355. Peace between Athens and her revolted allies. The
              Athenians abandon their schemes of a naval empire. Outbreak of the “Sacred war”
              against the Phocians who had seized the Delphic temple.
                   354. Battle of Neon. The Phocians defeated.
              Demosthenes begins his political activity. Phocian successes under Onomarchus.
                   353. Methone taken by Philip of Macedon. Philip and
              the Thessalian league opposed to Onomarchus and the tyrants of Pherae.
              Onomarchus drives Philip from Thessaly. Philip crushes the Phocians in Magnesia
              and makes himself master of Thessaly. Phocis saved from him by help from
              Athens.
                   352. War in the Peloponnesus. Spartan schemes of
              aggression frustrated. Thrace subdued by Philip.
                   351. Demosthenes delivers his First Philippic.
                     349. Philip begins war against Olynthus which makes
              alliance with Athens. Athenian attempt to recover Euboea fails.
                   348. Philip destroys Olynthus and the Chalcidian
              towns.
                   347. Death of Plato.
                   346. Peace of Philocrates between Philip and Athens.
              Phocis subdued by Philip. Philip presides at the Pythian games. Philip becomes
              archon of Thessaly. Demosthenes accuses Aeschines of accepting bribes from
              Philip.
                   344. Demosthenes delivers The Second Philippic.
                     343. Megara, Chalcis, Ambracia, Acarnania, Achaia, and
              Corcyra ally themselves with Athens.
                   342—341. Philip annexes Thrace. He founds
              Philippopolis.
                   341. Demosthenes’ Third Philippic.
                     340. Diplomatic breach between Athens and Philip.
                   339. Perinthus and Byzantium unsuccessfully besieged
              by Philip. Philip s campaign on the Danube.
                   338. The Amphiotyonic league
              declares a “holy war” against Amphissa, and requests the aid of Philip. Philip
              destroys Amphissa and conquers Naupactus. Philip occupies Elatea. Athens makes
              alliance with Thebes. Battle of Chaeronea. Philip defeats the Athenians and
              Thebans. The hegemony of Greece passes to Macedon. Philip invades the
              Peloponnesus, which, with the exception of Sparta, acknowledges his supremacy.
              Philip establishes a Greek confederacy under the Macedonian hegemony. Lycurgus
              appointed to control the public revenues in Athens.
                   336. Attalus and Parmenion open the Macedonian war in
              Aeolis.
                   
 THE AGE OF ALEXANDER
              
            (336-323 B.C.)
                  
            Murder of Philip and succession of Alexander the
              Great. Alexander compels the Hellenes to recognise his hegemony.
                   335. Alexander conducts a successful campaign on the
              Danube and defeats the Illyrians at Pelium. Thebes
              revolts against him and is destroyed.
   334. Alexander sets out for Asia. Battle of the
              Granicus. Alexander defeats the Persians. Lydia, Miletus, Caria, Halicarnassus,
              Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia subdued.
                   333. Alexander goes to Gordium and cuts the Gordian
              knot. Death of his chief opponent, the Persian general, Memnon. Submission of
              Paphlagonia and Cilicia. Battle of Issus. Alexander puts the army of Darius to
              flight. Sidon and Byblos submit.
                   332. Tyre besieged and taken. He slaughters the
              inhabitants and marches southward, storming Gaza. Egypt conquered. He founds
              Alexandria.
                   331. Battle of Arbela and defeat of the Great King.
              Babylon opens its gates to Alexander. He enters Susa. The Spartans rise and are
              defeated at Megalopolis.
               330. Alexander occupies Persepolis. Alexander in
              Ecbatana, in Parthia, and on the Caspian. Philotas is accused of conspiring
              against Alexander’s life and is executed. His father, the general Parmenion,
              put to death on suspicion. Judicial contest between Demosthenes and Aeschines
              ends in the latter’s quitting Athens. Part of Gedrosia (Beluchistan)
              submits to Alexander.
   329. Arachosia conquered.
                   328. Alexander conquers Bactria and Sogdiana.
                   327. Alexander quells the rebellion of Sogdiana and
              Bactria. Clitus killed by Alexander at a banquet. Alexander marries the Sogdian
              Roxane. Callisthenes, the historian, is put to death under pretext of
              complicity in the conspiracy of the pages to assassinate Alexander. Beginning
              of the Indian war.
                   326. Alexander in the Punjab; he crosses the Indus,
              and is victorious at the Hydaspes. At the Hyphasis the army refuses to advance further. Alexander builds a fleet and sails to the
              mouth of the Indus.
   325. Conquest of the Lower Punjab. March through
              Gedrosia (Mekran in Beluchistan)
              and Carmania. Nearchus makes a voyage of discovery in the Indian Ocean.
   324. Alexander in Susa. He punishes treasonable
              conduct of officials during his absence. Alexander’s veterans discharged at Opis. Harpalus deposits at Athens the money stolen from
              Alexander. The trial respecting misappropriation of this money ends in
              Demosthenes being forced to quit Athens. Alexander’s last campaign against the Kossaeans.
   323. Alexander returns to Babylon and reorganises his
              army for the conquest of Arabia. Death of Alexander.
                   
               THE POST-ALEXANDRIAN EPOCH
                  
             (323  - 280 B.C.)
                  
            323. At Alexander’s death his young half-brother,
              Philip Arrhidaeus, succeeded to his empire, while there are expectations of a
              posthumous heir by Roxane. The young Alexander is born. Perdiccas is made
              regent over the Asiatic dominions, while Antipater and Craterus take the joint
              regency of the West. The Greeks, with Athens at their head, attempt to throw
              off the Macedonian yoke as soon as Alexander is dead, and the Lamian war breaks out (323-322). But one by one the states
              yield to Antipater and Craterus. The direct government of the dominions in
              Europe, Africa, and Western Asia is divided among Alexander’s generals.
              Thirty-four shared in the allotment; the most important are: Ptolemy Lagus, in
              Egypt and Cyrenaica; Antigonus, in Phrygia, Pamphylia, and Lycia: Eumenes, the
              secretary of Alexander, in Paphlagonia and Cappadocia; Cassander, in Caria;
              Leonnatus, in Hellespontine Phrygia; Menander, in Lydia; and Lysimachus, in
              Thrace and the Euxine districts. Perdiccas aims to marry Alexander’s sister,
              Cleopatra, as a means of becoming absolute master of the empire. The other
              generals league themselves against him, and (321) Perdiccas is murdered by his
              soldiers while proceeding against Ptolemy. Antipater replaces him as regent,
              and redivides the empire; Seleucus is given Babylonia to rule over. Antipater
              dies 319, and Cassander Polysperchon become regents. In 317 and 316, Cassander
              conquers Greece and Macedonia. Antigonus, with the help of Cassander, attacks
              and defeats Eumenes, who is betrayed by his own forces in 316. Antigonus now
              has ambitions to control the whole empire, and in 315 the terrible war of the
              Diadochi, between him and the other generals, begins. Antigonus and his son,
              Demetrius Poliorcetes, call themselves kings. Seleucus, Lysimachus, Cassander,
              and others do the same. Demetrius seizes Athens in 307. At the end of the struggle
              every member of Alexander’s family is dead, the majority put to death. In 301,
              at the battle of Ipsus, Antigonus falls, and
              Demetrius takes to flight. Cassander dies 296, and the succession is contested
              by his two sons, Philip IV and ;Antipater. Demetrius takes the opportunity of
              this quarrel to seize the European dominions. He prepares to invade Asia, and
              the other successors of the empire, together with King Pyrrhus of Epirus,
              league against him. In 287 Pyrrhus invades Macedonia, and Demetrius’army deserts him. Pyrrhus is welcomed as king, and he gives Lysimachus the eastern
              part of Macedonia to rule over. Demetrius renews the struggle with Pyrrhus, and
              at his death, in 283, his son, Antigonus Gonatas, carries it on. In 282
              Lysimachus is attacked by Seleucus Nicator, and is defeated and killed on the
              plain of Corus in 281. Ptolemy Ceraunus murders Seleucus, and seizes the
              European kingdom of Lysimachus. In 280 Pyrrhus goes to Tarentum to make war on
              the Romans.
   
               THE ACHEAN AND AETOLIAN LEAGUES
                  
            (280 -  217 B.C.)
                  
            The Achaean towns of Patrae, Dyme, Tritaea, and Pharae expel their Macedonian garrisons and join in a
              confederacy.
                   279. The Celts descend on the Balkan countries and on
              Macedonia. Death of Ptolemy Ceraunus.
                   278. Celts under Brennus approach Greece. Struggle
              between Celts and Hellenes round Thermopylae. Brennus defeated at Delphi. Celts
              driven back. Aetolian Confederacy becomes the most important representative of
              Greek independence.
                   277. Antigonus king of Macedonia. He founds the
              dynasty of the Antigonids. Pyrrhus conquers Sicily.
                   276. The Achaean town Aegium expels its garrison and
              joins Patrai, etc., in the Achaean Confederacy.
                   244. Pyrrhus returns to Epirus.
                   273. Pyrrhus expels Antigonus from Macedon.
                   272. Pyrrhus besieges Sparta, which successfully
              resists him. He turns against Argos, where he is killed. Antigonus recovers his
              supremacy in Greece. The Greek cities fight for their independence.
                   265. The Macedonians defeat the Egyptian fleet at Cos.
              Antigonus recovers his position in the Peloponnesus.
                   263. Chremonidean war.
                   263-202. Antigonus takes Athens. End of the
              independent political importance of Athens.
                   255. The Long Walls of Athens broken down.
                   249. Aratus frees Sicyon from its tyrant Nicodes, and brings the town over to the Achaean League.
                   245. Aratus becomes president of the Achaean League.
              Agis IV becomes king of Sparta and attempts to introduce reforms.
                   242. Aratus conquers Corinth. Megara, Troezen, and Epidaurus join the Achaeans.
                   241. Agis IV executed.
                   239. Demetrius, king of Macedon. Alliance between the
              Achaeans and Aetolians.
                   238—5. Extinction of the Epirote Aeacids; federative
              republic in Epirus.
                   235. Cleomenes III, king of Sparta.
                   234. Lydiades abdicates from
              his tyranny and brings Megalopolis over to the Achaean League.
                   231. Illyrian corsairs ravage the western coasts of
              Greece and defy the Achaean and Aetolian fleets.
                   229. The greater part of Argolis included in the
              Achaean League. Antigonus Doson, regent of Macedon. Athens frees herself from
              the Macedonian dominion. The Romans defeat the Illyrian corsairs.
                   228. Athens makes alliance with Rome. The Achaean
              League at the height of its power.
                   227. Beginning of the Spartan war against the Achaean
              League.
                   226. Cleomenes III effects fundamental reforms in
              Sparta.
                   224. Battle at Dyme.
              Cleomenes defeats the Achaean League.
                   223. Aratus calls in the aid of Macedon. Egypt deserts
              the Achaeans and becomes the ally of Sparta. Achaeans, Boeotians, Phocians,
              Thessalians, Epirotes, and Acarnanians form, under the leadership of Macedon,
              an alliance against Sparta.
                   222. Battle of Sellasia.
              Defeat of the Spartans. Antigonus Doson restores the Spartan oligarchy.
               220. Philip V, king of Macedon. War of Philip and his
              Greek allies, including the Achaean League, against the Aetolians supported by
              Sparta.
                   219. Lycurgus (last king of Sparta).
                   217. Peace of Naupactus. The destructive war against
              the AetoIians ended in dread of a Carthaginian
              invasion. Philip V becomes protector of all the Hellenes.
   
 THE ROMAN CONQUEST
              
            (216-140 B.C.)
                  
            216. Philip concludes an alliance with Hannibal and provokes
              the first Macedonian war with Rome.
                   214. Battle near the mouth of the Aous. The Romans
              surprise Philip and defeat him. Aetolians, Eleians, Messenians, and Illyrians
              accept Roman protection.
                   213. Aratus poisoned at Philip’s instigation.
                   211. Sparta goes over to Rome. Savage wars of the
              Grecian cities against one another.
                   208. Philopoemen becomes
              general of the Achaean League, and revives its military power.
                   205. Philip makes peace with Rome, ceding the country
              of the Parthenians and several Illyrian districts to
              Rome. Philip carries on war in Rhodes, Thrace, and Mysia, and sends auxiliaries
              to Carthage.
   200. Second Macedonian war declared by Rome. Romans
              under Sulpicius invade Macedonia.
                   199. Romans kept inactive by mutiny in the army.
                   198. Defeat of Philip by Flamininus.
              Achaeans and Spartans join the Romans.
                   197. Battle of Cynoscephalae and destruction of the
              Macedonian phalanx. Philip accepts humiliating terms and renounces his
              supremacy over the Greeks.
                   194. Flamininus returns to
              Rome. The Aetolians, dissatisfied, pillage Sparta, which joins the Achaean
              League. Antiochus in of Syria comes to the aid of the Aetolians.
                   191. Battle of Thermopylae. Antiochus defeated by the
              Romans.
                   190. Battle of Magnesia. Romans defeat Antiochus.
              Submission of the Aetolians.
                   183. Messene revolts from the Achaean League.
                   179. Callicrates succeeds Philopoemen as general of the Achaean League. Death of Philip V and accession of Perseus,
              who conciliates the Greeks, and makes alliances with Syria, Rhodes, etc.
                   169. Attempted assassination of Eumenes of Pergamum on
              his return from Rome.
                   168. Third Macedonian war declared by the Romans.
              Romans are unsuccessful at first, but the battle of Pydna is won by Paulus
              Aemilius, the Macedonians losing twenty thousand men. Flight and subsequent
              surrender of Perseus.
                   150. Death of Callicrates.
                   152. Andriscus lays claim to the throne of Macedon.
                   148. Andriscus defeated at Pydna and taken to Rome.
                   146. Macedon made a Roman province. Romans support
              Sparta in her attempt to withdraw from the Achaean League. Corinthians take up
              arms, and are joined by the Boeotians and by Chalcis. Battle of Scarphe and victory of the Romans under Metellus. Corinth
              is taken by Mummius; its art treasures are sent to
              Rome, and the city delivered up to pillage. Achaean and Boeotian leagues
              dissolved.
    
                   THE EGYPTIAN KINGDOM OF THE PTOLEMIES OR LAGIDS
              
            (323-30 B.C.)
                  
             
                   In 323 Ptolemy I, son of Lagus, receives the
              government of Egypt and Cyrenaica in the division of Alexander’s Empire. He
              rules at Alexandria. In 321 he allies himself with Antipater against the
              ambitious Perdiccas. He joins the alliance against Antigonus in 315.
                   306. He assumes the title of king.
                   304. He assists the Rhodians to repel Demetrius, and
              wins the surname of Soter (Saviour).
               285. He abdicates in favour of his son, Ptolemy
              Philadelphus, and dies two years later. Ptolemy II reigns almost in undisturbed
              peace. About 266 he annexes Phoenicia and Coele-Syria. He is famous as a great
              patron of commerce, science, literature, and art, and raises the Alexandrian
              Museum and Library to importance. On his death in 247, his son, Ptolemy (III) Euergetes, reunites Cyrenaica, of which his father’s
              half-brother, Magas, had declared himself king on the death of Ptolemy I.
   In 245 he invades Syria, to avenge his sister
              Berenice, the wife of Antiochus II, slain by Laodice. He also marches to and
              captures Babylon, but is recalled to Egypt by a revolt in 243.
                   In 222 he is succeeded by his son, Ptolemy (IV) Philopator.
                   In 217 this king defeats Antiochus the Great at
              Raphia, recovering Phoenicia and Coele-Syria, which has been wrested from him.
              Ptolemy (V) Epiphanes began his reign in 205 or 204. Antiochus the Great
              invades Egypt, and the Romans intervene. Ptolemy marries Cleopatra, daughter of
              Antiochus. He dies by poison in 181. His son, Ptolemy (VI) Philometor,
              succeeds, with Cleopatra as regent until her death in 174. Then the ministers
              make war on Antiochus Epiphanes, who captures Ptolemy in 170. The king’s
              brother, Ptolemy (VII) Euergetes or Physcon, then proclaims himself king, and reigns jointly
              with his brother after the latter’s release.
   In 164 Ptolemy VII expels Ptolemy VI, but is compelled
              to recall him at the demand of Rome. Ptolemy VII returns to Cyrenaica, which he
              holds as a separate kingdom until his brother’s death, 146, when he returns to
              Egypt, slays the legitimate heir, and rules as sole king. The people of
              Alexandria expel him in 130, but he manages to get back in 127. Dies 117. His
              son, Ptolemy (VIII) Philometor or Lathyrus, shares
              the throne with his mother, Cleopatra III.
   In 107 his mother expels him, and puts her favourite
              son, Ptolemy (IX) Alexander, on the throne. Ptolemy VIII keeps his power in
              Cyprus, and on his mother’s death the Egyptians recall him and banish his
              brother. The wars with the Seleucid princes are kept up. Berenice III, the
              daughter of Ptolemy VIII, succeeds him in 81. Her stepson, Ptolemy X or
              Alexander II, son of Ptolemy Alexander, comes from Rome as Sulla’s candidate,
              and marries her. The queen is at once murdered, by her husband’s order, and the
              people put him to death, 80. The legitimate line is now extinct. An
              illegitimate son of Ptolemy Lathyrus, Ptolemy (XI) Neua Dionysus or Auletes, takes Egypt; and a younger brother, Cyprus. Weary of
              taxation, the Alexandrians expel Auletes in 58, but the Romans restore him in
              55. His son, Ptolemy XII, and his daughter, Cleopatra, succeed him in joint
              reign in 51. In 48 Ptolemy expels his sister, who flees to Syria, and attempts
              to recover Egypt by force of arms. Caesar effects her restoration in 48, and
              the civil war with Pompey results. Ptolemy is defeated on the Nile, and
              drowned. Cleopatra’s career after this belongs to Roman history. Unwilling to
              appear in Octavian’s triumph after Actium, she kills herself in some unknown
              way, 30 B.C.
   
               THE SELEUCID KINGDOM OF SYRIA
              
            (312-65 B.C.)
                  
            Seleucus (I) Nicator receives the satrapy of Babylon
              from Antipater. He founds his kingdom in 312. He extends his conquests into
              Central Asia and India, assuming the title of king about 306. He takes part
              against Antigonus in the battle of Ipsus, 801. After
              this a part of Asia Minor is added to his dominions, and the Syrian kingdom is
              formed. He defeats Lysimachus on the plain of Corus in 281 and is assassinated
              by Ptolemy Ceraunus in 280. He is the builder of the capital cities of Seleucia
              and Antioch. His son Antiochus (I) Soter succeeds. He gives up all claim to
              Macedonia on the marriage of Seleucus’ daughter, Phila, to Antigonus Gonatas.
              Dies 261, his son Antiochus (II) Theos succeeding. In this reign the kingdom is
              greatly weakened by the revolt of Parthia and Bactria, leading to the
              establishment of the Parthian empire by Arsaces about 250. He also involves
              himself in a ruinous war with Ptolemy Philadelphus, concluding with the peace
              of 250. He is killed, 246, and succeeded by his son Seleucus (II) Callinicus
              who wars with the Parthians and Egyptians until his death in 226. Seleucus
              (III) Ceraunus after a short reign of three years is succeeded by his brother
              Antiochus (III) the Great, the most famous of the Seleucidae.
   223. Alexander and Molon the rebellious brothers of
              the king are subdued. Antiochus goes to war with Ptolemy Philopator and is beaten at Raphia, 217, losing Coele-Syria and Phoenicia.
   214. Achaeus the governor of Asia Minor rebels, and is
              defeated and killed.
                   212. Antiochus begins an attempt to regain Parthia and
              Bactria, but in 205 is compelled to acknowledge their independence. Continued
              warfare with Egypt. Phoenicia and Coele-Syria regained by battle of Paneas in 198, but these territories are given back to
              Egypt when Ptolemy Epiphanes marries Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochus.
   196. The Thracian Chersonesus taken from Macedonia.
                   192—189. War with the Romans, who demand restoration
              of the Thracian and Egyptian provinces.
                   190. Battle of Magnesia; great defeat of Antiochus by
              the Romans.
                   187. Antiochus killed by his subjects as he attempts
              to rob the temple of Elymais to pay the Romans. His
              son Seleucus (IV) Philopator succeeds. Before his
              death, in 175, Seleucus satisfies the Roman claims. His successor is his
              brother Antiochus (IV) Epiphanes. Armenia, lost by Antiochus III, is
              reconquered, also Phoenicia and Coele-Syria, 171—168. Antiochus attempts to
              stamp out the Jewish religion, giving rise to the Maccabaean rebellion in 167. Antiochus (V) Eupator succeeds his
              father in 164. Lysias is regent, as the king is only nine years old. A peace
              with the Jews is concluded and then Antiochus is killed, 162, by Demetrius (I)
              Soter, son of Seleucus Philopator, who seizes the
              throne. The Maccabaeans hold their own against this
              king. Alexander Balas, a pretended son of Antiochus Epiphanes, organises an
              insurrection. He invades Syria, and Demetrius is killed, 150, in battle.
              Alexander Balas usurps the throne. Demetrius (II) Nicator, son of Demetrius I,
              contests the throne but not with much success. Balas wars with Ptolemy Philopator and is killed, 145. A war of succession begins
              between Demetrius Nicator and Balas’ young son Antiochus VI. The latter is
              supported by the Jews. Antiochus VI is slain by Tryphon, the general of
              Alexander Balas, in 142. Tryphon rules until 139, when he is put to death by
              Antiochus (VII) Sidetes. Meanwhile one faction
              recognises Demetrius Nicator as king. He marries Cleopatra, an Egyptian
              princess, goes to war with the Parthians, is captured, and Antiochus Sidetes takes his place for ten years. Sidetes wages war with the Parthians, and is killed in battle, 128. Demetrius Nicator
              now resumes his rule, but owing to his misgovernment is assassinated at the
              instigation of Cleopatra, in 125. The eldest son, Seleucus V, is put to death
              the same year by Cleopatra, and the second son, Antiochus (VIII) Grypus, takes the throne. He expels Alexander Zabina, a
              usurper. Civil war breaks out between Antiochus and his half-brother, Antiochus
              (IX) Cyzicenus, who in 112 compels a division of the
              kingdom, taking Phoenicia and Coele-Syria as his share. Antiochus VIII is
              assassinated, 96. Antiochus IX is killed in 95 by Seleucus (VI) Epiphanes, son
              of Grypus, who rules only one year. Antiochus (X) Eusebes, son of Antiochus IX, follows. His claims are
              contested by the sons of Grypus, Philip, Demetrius
              (III) Eucaerus, and Antiochus (XI) Epiphanes. The
              latter is drowned fleeing from Eusebes and the other
              two rule over the whole of Syria. In 88 Demetrius is captured by the Parthians
              and another brother Antioohus (XIl)
              Dionysius, shares the rule with Philip. He is killed in a war with the
              Arabians. Civil strife has now reached such a state that the Syrians invite
              Tigranes of Armenia to put an end to it. He conquers Syria in 83, and rules it
              until 69, when, after his defeat by Lucullus, Antiochus (XIII) Asiaticus, son
              of Antiochus Eusebes, regains the throne. He is
              deposed, 65, by Pompey, and Syria becomes a Roman province.
   
               THE SICILIAN TYRANTS
              
            (570-210 B.C.)
                  
            The government of the Greek colonies in Sicily is
              originally oligarchical, but the rule soon gets into the hands of despots or
              tyrants, who hold uncontrolled power.
                   570—554. Phalaris, tyrant of Agrigentum or Acrargas, brings that city to be the most powerful in the
              island. About 500, Oleander obtains possession of Gela. His brother Hippocrates
              succeeds, and is followed by Gelo, who makes himself master of Syracuse.
                   488. Theron is tyrant of Agrigentum, and, 481, expels Terillus from Himera. Terillus appeals to the Carthaginians who besiege Himera,
                   480. Gelo aids Theron and defeats Hamilcar.
                   478. Gelo succeeded by his brother Hiero I, an
              oppressive ruler.
                   472. Thrasydaeus succeeds
              Theron in Agrigentum, but is expelled by Hiero.
                   467. Thrasybulus succeeds Hiero, but is driven from
              Sicily by the people, 466. The fall of Thrasybulus is the signal for great
              internal dissensions, settled, 461, by a congress, which restores peace and
              prosperity for half a century, interrupted only by a quickly suppressed revolt
              of the Sicels in 451.
   409. Hannibal, grandson of Hamilcar, attempts the
              conquest of Sicily.
                   405. Dionysius attains to despotic power in Syracuse.
                   383. After constant war the limits of Greek and
              Carthaginian power in Sicily are fixed.
                   367. Dion succeeds Dionysius; after an oppressive rule
              he is murdered, 353. A period of confusion follows. The younger Dionysius and Hicetas hold power against each other. The latter calls in
              the Carthaginians, and Timoleon comes from Corinth, defeats Hicetas,
              and restores Greek liberty in 343. Democratic government is also reinstated in
              other parts of Sicily.
   340. Defeat of Hasdrubal and Hamilcar at the Crimisus puts an end to all fear from Carthage.
                   337. Agathocles establishes a despotism in Syracuse.
              His reign is oppressive and disastrous for Sicily.
                   310. Defeat of Agathocles by Hamilcar at Ecnomus. Agathocles goes to Africa to carry on the war;
              meanwhile Hamilcar gets possession of a large part of Sicily. Agathocles makes
              peace with Carthage, and perpetrates a fearful massacre of his opponents.
                   289. Death of Agathocles. Hicetas becomes tyrant of Syracuse. Agrigentum, under Phintias,
              attains to great power. The Carthaginians now begin to be predominant in the
              island.
                   278. Pyrrhus lands in Sicily to aid the Greeks, but
              returns to Italy, 276. Hiero II is chosen general by the Syracusans. He fights
              the Mamertines.
                   270. Hiero assumes title of king. He allies with
              Carthage to expel the Mamertines. The Romans espouse the latter’s cause, and
              the First Punic War is begun, 264.
                   268. Hiero makes peace with Rome.
                   241. Battle off the Aegates Islands. The whole island,
              except the territory of Hiero, becomes a Roman province.
                   215. Hieronymus, grandson and successor of Hiero,
              breaks the treaty with Rome in the Second Punic War, and is assassinated.
              Marcellus is sent to Syracuse.
                   212. Syracuse falls into his hands.
                   210. Agrigentum captured. Roman conquest completed.
                   
 
  | 
          |||
A HISTORY OF CLASSICAL GREEK LITERATUREMahaffy, John Pentland, Sir | 
        
 
 
  | 
        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]()  | 
          ![]()  | 
          ![]()  |