This is a timeline of ancient Greece from its emergence around 800 BC to its subjection to the Roman Empire in 146 BC.
Nota bene: This article takes a somewhat attenuated definition of the term "ancient". For earlier times, see Greek Dark Ages, Aegean civilizations and Mycenaean Greece; for later times see Roman Greece, Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Greece.
For modern Greece after 1820, see Timeline of modern Greek history.
Archaic Period (785–481 BC)
777: Cumae is founded by Chalcis 776: Traditional date for the first historic Olympic games. 757: The First Messenian War starts. (Date disputed by Jerome, Pausanias and Diodorus; this estimate is based on a reading of Diodorus' Spartan king lists and Pausanias' description of the war). 756: Kyzikus is settled by Ionians 754: Polydorus becomes king of Sparta. 753: Athens: Office of Archon reduced to 10 years. Members of the ruling family to possess the office starting with Charops. (Dating based on Pausanias). 743: Rhegion is founded by Euboeans 740: Zancle is founded by Euboeans 738: Alternative date for the end of the First Messenian War. 737: Rhegion and Zancle join in union under Zancle 735: Perdiccas I of Macedon flees from Argos to Macedonia and conquers the land. 734: Polydorus sends colonists to Italy Syracuse is founded by Korinthians and Teneans Kerkyra is founded by Korinthians 733: Naxos (Sicily) is founded by Euboeans Troliton is founded by Megarans 732: Euboea splits between Chalcis and Eretria due to disputes 731: Sigeion is founded by Mytilene Catania is founded by Chalcidians 730: Leontini is founded by Naxos and controlled by the tyrant Euarchus Troliton is abandoned and settlers settled in Leontini 728: Troliton settlers are ostracized from Leontini and settle Thapsos 727–717: Hippomenes, archon of Athens, kills his daughter's adulterer by yoking him to his chariot and then locks his daughter Leimone in with a horse until she dies. (Pausanias and Aristotle). : Lelantine War between Chalcis and Eretria. Many Greek cities are allied with one or the other. Dates before this time uncertain. 725: Thapsos abandoned and Megara Hyblaea is settled by the Thapsos settlers 720s/710s Droughts on Euboea 720: Korinth removes the Liburnians from Kerkyra Sybaris is founded by Achaeans from Helice 719: Polydorus, King of Sparta, is murdered by Polymarchus. 716: Mylae is founded and annexed by Zancle According to legend: The reign of the Heraklids over Lydia is ended when Candaules, known as Myrsilus to the Greeks, is murdered by Gyges because of his wife's anger. 715: Lydia annexes Colophon and Magnesia and sieges Smyrna 712: Lydia abandons the siege of Smyrna and annexes parts of Troad and Sipylus 712: Korinth annexes Perachora peninsula from Megara 710s Eretrian abandonment of Andros 709: Kroton is founded by Achaeans 707: Taras is founded by Dorians 705: Hybla Minor is annexed by Megara Hyblaea 704: Korinth gives Samos 4 ships 700: The town of Phaselis is founded by the Rhodians Erythra is annexed by Rhegion 699: Metapontion is founded by Kroton and Sybaris 698: Euarchus is overthrown by Leontini 696: Lefkandi is occupied by Chalcis 695: Polieum is founded by Ionians 691: Antandrus is founded and annexed by Mytilene 690: Pheidon becomes tyrant of Argos. 689: Gela is founded by Cretans and Rodians 688: Arisba is annexed by Methymna and Mytilene declares war on Methymna 687: Annual office of Archon established in Athens. Any Athenian citizen can be elected to the office if they have the qualifications. Creon elected first annual archon. (Dating based on Pausanias). 686: Methymna is annexed by Mytilene Megara gains independence from Korinth 685: The second Messenian war begins. Chalcedon is founded by Megarans 680: Epizephyrian Lokros is founded by Opus 676: Pergamon is founded by Ionians 674: Karystus is occupied by Korinth 672: Abydos is settled by Miletus 671: Melia is destroyed by Samos and Priene, Samos builds Fort Carium to replace it and Samos and Priene split Melia 670: Miletus is sieged by Lydia, Priene is annexed by Lydia, Samos annexes former Melian territory 669 or 668: Battle of Hysiae 668: Lydia abandons siege of Mietus 667: Byzantium is founded by Korinthians 665: The second Messenian war ends. 664: Corcyran Revolt and First Sea Battle in ancient Greece between Corcyra and Korinthos Akrai is founded and annexed by Syracuse 657: Cypselus subjects Corinth to tyranny. Founding of Lekas by Corinth 655: Akanthus and Stageira are founded by Androsi 654: Abdera is founded by Klazomenaites 652: Ephesus and Priene are sacked by Cimmerians 651: Levantine War ends, Chalcis wins and annexes Levantine Plain 650: The Pontic Pentapolis: Apollonia, Callatis, Mesembria (Nessebar), Odessos (Varna), and Tomis (Constanța), all on the Euxeinos Pontos. Andros, Kea and Tenos gain independence from Eretria, Cypselus leaves Karystus Syracuse annexes Pantalica 648: Himera is founded by Zancleans 645–560: Spartan wars with Tegea all unsuccessful 643: Kasmenai is founded and annexed by Syracuse 637–630: Drought on Thera 633: Ambrakia founded by Tyrant Gorgus and Korinthians 632: Cylon, Athenian noble, seizes Acropolis and tries unsuccessfully to make himself king 631: Battus establishes a Greek colony in Cyrene in Libya. 630: Helorus is founded and annexed by Syracuse Histria is established by Milesian settlers in order to facilitate trade with the native Getae. Founding of Tripolis by Samos Formal pederasty is introduced, first in Crete, as a means of population control and an educational modality. 628: Selinus is founded by Hyblaea Megarans 627: Epidamos is founded by Kerkyreans Cypselus is succeeded by Periander 625: Establishment of Naucratis 621: Draco, Athenian lawgiver, issues code of laws, with many crimes punishable by death. Epidaurus is annexed by Korinth 619: Herbessus is annexed by Syracuse 616: Miletus is sieged by Lydia 615: Leontini is overthrown by Panaetius 612: Miletus is overthrown by Thrasybulos 610: Panticapaeum (modern city Kerch) is founded by Milesians 609: Panaetius is oust by Leontini 606: Gorgus is succeeded by Periander 604: Lydia abandons the Siege of Miletus 603: Athenai annexes Sigeion 601: Miletus and Korinth become allies 600: Massalia founded by Phocaean Greeks (approximate date). Segesta is Hellenized by Ionians 598: Akrillai is founded and annexed by Syracuse Kamarina is founded and annexed by Syracuse 597: Delphi gains independence from Kirrha 596: Paleopoli is founded by Samosi 595: Salamis is annexed by Athens Start of the First Sacred War 594: Kirrha is sieged by Amphictyonic League Solon, Athenian statesman, becomes Archon pre-582 BC (cf. ML6 and Plutarch Sol. 14)—later, when member of the Areopagus is appointed to effect social reforms in order to preserve order in Athens, which include the abolition of the security of debts on a debtor's person (Aristotle Ath. Pol. 6), returning exiled Athenian slaves (Solon fr. 4 in Ath. Pol. 12), changing the value of weights and measures to the Korinthian standard, prohibiting the export of grain from Attica and encouraging the planting of olives (Plut. Sol. 22–4), established the property classes (Ar. Ath. Pol. 7) and the council of 400 (Ar. Ath. Pol. 8). 592: Ephesus is sieged by Persia 590: Siege of Ephesus is abandoned, Lydia annexes Smyrna and Median-Lydian war starts Muorica (Renamed Modica) is annexed by Syracuse Sappho, Greek poet, flourishes on island of Lesbos. 589: Klazomenai is sieged by Lydia 588: Poseidonia is founded by Sybaris 587: Siege of Klazomenai is abandoned by Lydia 586: Death of Lycophron tyrant of Corcyra Plataea gains independence from Thebai 585: Kirrha is destroyed Lydian-Median border set at Halys River The philosopher Thales of Miletus predicts a solar eclipse that occurs during the Battle of Halys. Periander is overthrown by Psammetichus End of the First Sacred War 583: Psammetichus is overthrown by Korinth 582: Akragas is founded by Gelans First recorded Pythian Games 581: Selinus attacks Motya Korinth join the Peloponnesian League 580: Foundation of Parthenope Selinus is defeated by Carthage and withdraws from Motya Periander is overthrown by democrats in Ambrakia Elis joins the Peloponnesian League Lipari is founded by Knidosi 578: Thrasybulos dies 575: Empúries, also known as Ampurias (Greek: Ἐμπόριον, Catalan: Empúries [əmˈpuɾiəs], Spanish: Ampurias [amˈpuɾjas]), a town on the Mediterranean coast of the Catalan comarca of Alt Empordà in Catalonia, Spain is founded by Greek colonists from Phocaea with the name of Ἐμπόριον (Emporion, meaning "trading place", cf. emporion). 572: Pisa and Olympia are annexed by Elis 570: Akragas is overthrown by Phalaris Phocaeans from Massalia (modern day Marseille) founded the colony of Monoikos (Monaco). 569: Pythagoras is born. 565: Peisistratos, Athenian general, organizes Diakrioi, party of poor people. 561: Peisistratos takes power in Athens for first time. 560: Ephesus is besieged by Lydia Phalaris annexes Himera 559: Ephesus is annexed by Lydia Achilleion is founded and annexed by Mytilene 559-550: Lydia annexes Aeolis and Ionia 557: Argos is overthrown by Perilaus 556: Phlius is overthrown by Leo 555: Helike (Elche) is established by Greeks from the Achaian city of Helice Peisistratos driven out by Lycurgus who is commander of nobles. Miltiades I unites Thracian Chernessos under his rule 554: Phalaris is overthrown by Akragas and Himera gains independence 553: Kamarina declares independence from Syracuse 552: Kamarina is annexed by Syracuse 551: Telemachus overthrows Akragas 550: Minoa is founded by Selinus Odessa is established by the Greek city of Histria. Miltiades II is born 549: Peisistratos restored by help of Megacles. Boeotian League is founded 548: Lesbos sieges Sigeion 547: Athens repulses the Lesbans and Sigeion (Now ruled by Hegesistratos) becomes an Athenian vassal 546: Sparta annexes Kynouria, Thyrea and Kythera from Argos Croesus, rich king of Lydia, captured at Sardis by Persians. 545: Miletus is overthrown by Molpagoras Lygdamis becomes Tyrant of Naxos The ancient Greek colony of Hermonassa (Krasnodar Krai, Russia) is founded by Ionians and Cretans.M.J. Traister and T.V. Shelov-Kovedyayev, “An inscribed conical clay object from Hermonassa” 544: Abdera starts its Golden Age 543: Phanagoria, (Krasnodar Krai, Russia), is founded by Teian colonists who had to flee Asia Minor in consequence of their conflict with Cyrus the Great. 542: Peisistratos expelled, makes fortune from Thracian mines. The colony of Gorgippia (Krasnodar Krai, Russia) was built by Pontic Greeks. 541: Telemachus is overthrown by Alcamenes 540: Naxan vassalization of Paros Selinus is overthrown by Theron 538: Sybaris conquers Siris Samos is overthrown by Polycrates 536: Samos annexes South Mycale from Miletus 535: Perilaus dies 534: Athens starts extracting tribute from Ios 532: Peisistratos restored by Thessaly and Lygdamis of Naxos. 531: Ikaria is annexed by Samos 530: Emporion becomes a Carthaginian vassal Maktorion is founded by exiled Gelans Tegea joins the Peloponnesian League 529: Leo dies 528: Maktorion is abandoned and the settlers move to Gela 527: Peisistratos dies, succeeded by sons Hippias and Hipparchus. Rineia and Delos are annexed by Samos 525: Netum is annexed by Syracuse The ancient Greek city of Euesperides, (modern day Benghazi) is founded by people from Cyrene Persian Cambyses II, son of Cyrus the Great takes Egypt. 524: Samos annexes Donousa Lgydamis of Naxos is overthrown 523: Chalcedon is annexed by Persian Empire 522: Death of Polycrates of Samos and succession of Maiandrios 521: Overthrow of Maiandros by Persian backed Syloson 520: Peithagoras overthrows Theron 519: Plataea leaves the Boeotian League and is sieged by the latter Miltiades is overthrown by Stesagoras Abydos declares independence from Stesagoras and is led by the Persian Tyrant Daphnis 518: Athens repulses the Boeotians from Plataea 517: Sybaris is overthrown by Telys 516: