Periods in Greek History The 8 ages of Greece

Early Greece The history of Greece can be traced back to the Stone age. The first Greeks lived in caves and used tools of bone and flint. They hunted bison and reindeer, and gathered wild plants.

The First Farmers Before 6,000 B.C., farmers settled in eastern Greece. They grew wheat and vegetables, while also herding sheep.

The Bronze Age (3,000-1,100 B.C.) Archaeologists study the architecture, burial sites, and lifestyle artifacts of early Greeks to find clues about the Bronze Age. The discovery of bronze came about by mixing copper and tin. They used bronze to make tools and weapons. The discovery of bronze made farming and building easier.

Minoan age (2,000 B.C.-1,400 B.C.) Minoans were the first European civilization on the island of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. The civilizations was named after the legendary king, Minos, and flourished around 2,000 B.C. Much of what we know about the Minoans came from frescoes (wall paintings). Minoans are remembered for their naval dominance and their exquisite palaces. The largest palace was on the island of Knossos.

Mycenaean Age (600-1,100 B.C.) Known as a period of high cultural achievement. Formed on the mainland of Greece. The people were named “Mycenaean” after the city Mycenae where archeologists first discovered evidence of this culture. Based on archeological evidence, the Mycenaeans were warlike people. Archeologists have unearthed royal tombs of gold, which shed light on Mycenaean beliefs, religious practices, and their way of life.

The Dark Ages (1,100-750 B.C.) The Dark Ages is a period that falls between the fall of the Mycenaean civilizations and the re-adoption of writing in the 9th or 7th century B.C. After the Trojan Wars, the Mycenaeans went through a period of civil wars. The country was weak and a people called Dorians took over. During this time, the Greeks lost the art of writing, so they left no written records. Little is recorded about the Greeks during these years from other civilizations around the world.

Archaic Greece (750- 500 B.C.) Greek culture began to revive during this period. Its mainland was made up of a collection of small city-states. City-states such as Athens and Sparta thrived during this time. Population grew and the Greeks increased their contact with other nations. The age is defined by the development of art—specifically the style of pottery and sculpture. Writing was once again reestablished, along with advances in political theory, early signs of democracy, and the culture of classical Greece.

Classical Period (500-336 B.C.) For much of this time period, the city-states were dominated by the great city of Athens. Athens reached its political height with the democracy (system of government where citizens govern themselves) under Athenian statesman Pericles. Athens also reached it culture height with the building of the Parthenon on top of the acropolis.

Classical Period (500-336 B.C.) The genre known as Greek tragedies was created during this time (ex. Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides). Philosophy schools of Socrates and Plato were founded. The classical period ended in a violent war between the city-states, which proved to be a devastation from which the city-states could not fully recover.

Hellenistic Period (323-146 B.C.) The term “Hellenistic” refers to the time period of Greek history and culture after the death of Alexander the Great. Hellenistic also refers to the period between the conquest of the Persian empire by Alexander the Great and the supremacy of the Roman Empire. During this time period, Greek culture and learning was dominate in the Mediterranean civilizations and Asia Minor. While conquering much of the known world at that time, Alexander the Great also spread Greek culture and knowledge.