Ancient Greek History

As one of the earliest human civilizations, Ancient Greek History covers a very long span of years dating back to 6000 BC to 146 BC. This long period can be classified into various categories on the strength of major socio-cultural, political and religious events that shaped Greek life then. It is out of this that one gets such categories as the Neolithic, Early Bronze, Minoan, Mycenaean, Dark Ages, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. Three renowned historians, Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon are said to have contributed immensely to Ancient Greek History.

The Neolithic period ran from 6000 BC to 2900 BC. This era was marked by the settlement of the Greek land by people that were said to be farmers that kept animals such as goats and sheep while at the same time they also practiced pottery. Some of the villages that sprung up in this phase of Ancient Greek History because of these settlements include Neo Nikomedia, Dimini, Sesklo and Agrissa.

This was followed by the Early Bronze Age which lasted only nine hundred years up to 2000 BC.  It is also subdivided into several ages such as Helladic, I, Helladic II and Helladic III. This Ancient Greek History period was characterized by the settlement of Greeks into colonies each of which is said to have held around 300 – 1000 people. Bronze was introduced and widely used to make swords and knives and for trade, architecture and agriculture. It resulted in the introduction of class systems, which are also related to the burial systems.

The next period, dubbed the Mycenaean Age was named after the Mycenae kingdom. Gold was plenty in supply as evidenced by great works of art cast in it. Many heroes who are revered throughout Ancient Greek History arose during this time. However, the glamour and prosperity of Greeks then was destroyed during the Dark Ages.

The Dark Ages in Ancient Greek History covers the fall of the Mycenae kingdom until the second start of writing in 750 BC. The Dorian invasion wrecked havoc on the land and other factors such as famine, rebellion and dissent conspired to bring down the curtain on the prosperous Greek society.

The Archaic period of the Ancient Greek History ran from 750 BC – 500 BC is defined by the kind of art practiced then. There was plenty of development in the political theory more so the start of democracy. It was closely followed by the Classical period that lasted less than two centuries during which art became more stylish and advanced. The literary scene witnessed the creation of tragedies such as Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus. Plato and Socrates also founded their philosophical schools during this era.

The last phase of Ancient Greek History was christened the Hellenic Period due to the distinction it witnessed in cultural terms that was distinct from the Classical period. It lasted from 336 BC to 146 BC when Greece was annexed by the Roman Empire. It led to the development of other Greek centers in such places as Antioch, Egypt, Alexandria and Syria. Many Greek city states including Sparta, Athens, Corinth, Thebes and Argos sprang up and flourished during this period.