History of Greece

Proto Greek Area reconstruction

Mycenaean World en

Dodona Theater - Gallery version

Hephaistos Temple

3393 - Athens - Stoà of Attalus - Herodotus - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 9 2009

History of Greece encompasses the history of the territory of the modern nation state of Greece as well as that of the Greek people and the areas they inhabited and ruled historically. The scope of Greek history spans from the Stone Age to the present.

Prehistoric Greece

The earliest evidence of human presence in the Balkans, dated to 270,000 BC, is found in the Petralona cave, with the oldest evidence of hominid habitation in Greece being the Theopetra cave dating to the Middle Paleolithic period. Moving into the Neolithic age, settlements like Sesklo and Dimini represent some of the oldest known structured communities. The Bronze Age civilization of Crete, known as the Minoan civilization, is one of the earliest recorded civilizations in Europe, followed by the Mycenaean civilization on the mainland.

Classical Greece

The period known as Classical Greece begins with the emergence of the city-states, or polis, of which Athens and Sparta were the most prominent. The 5th century BC was marked by the Persian Wars, in which the Greeks united to defend their lands against the Persian Empire. Following their victory, Athens entered its Golden Age, becoming a center of art, philosophy, and democracy. The Peloponnesian War, which pitted Athens against Sparta, marked the decline of Athenian power.

Hellenistic Greece

After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the territories he conquered were divided among his generals, leading to the Hellenistic period. During this time, Greek culture and power expanded into the Near East and Asia. The city of Alexandria in Egypt became a major center of Greek culture and learning.

Roman Greece

Greece came under Roman rule in 146 BC, becoming a part of the Roman Empire. Despite this, Greek culture continued to dominate the eastern Mediterranean, and the city of Byzantium later became the capital of the Byzantine Empire under the name Constantinople, preserving Greek language, culture, and learning during the Middle Ages.

Byzantine Greece

The Byzantine Empire, lasting from 330 to 1453 AD, was a continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces. During this period, Greek and Christian identity became intertwined, and the Orthodox Church played a significant role in the daily life of the people.

Ottoman Greece

Greece fell under Ottoman rule in the mid-15th century. The period of Ottoman dominance was marked by frequent uprisings and significant cultural contributions, despite the challenges of foreign rule. The most notable of these uprisings was the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829), which eventually led to the establishment of the modern Greek state.

Modern Greece

The modern history of Greece is characterized by the struggle for national identity and sovereignty, territorial expansions and contractions, and political instability. The 20th century was marked by two World Wars, a civil war, and the military dictatorship of 1967-1974. Greece joined the European Union in 1981, which marked a period of economic growth and increased political stability.

Conclusion

The history of Greece is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the Greek people. It encompasses periods of great achievement and profound hardship, and it has had a profound impact on the development of Western civilization. Today, Greece is a modern nation that remains proud of its rich heritage.