Greek History: Events That Changed Greece and the World
From the first farmers to the Battle of Marathon, the fall of Constantinople, the Revolution of 1821 and modern Greece, explore the events that shaped Greece and the world, with key facts, what happened and why it mattered.
Browse Key Events in Greek History
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main periods of Greek history?
Greek history is usually divided into the Prehistoric and Cycladic era, Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, the Dark Ages, and the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods. These are followed by Roman and Byzantine rule, Venetian and Ottoman rule, the War of Independence and the modern Greek state.
When did ancient Greek history begin and end?
Ancient Greek history is usually traced from the Bronze Age civilizations of the Cyclades, Crete and Mycenae, beginning around 3000 BC. It is often said to end with the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BC, although Greek culture, language and learning continued to thrive under Rome and Byzantium.
When did Greece become independent?
The Greek War of Independence began in 1821, and 25 March is celebrated as Greek Independence Day. Greece was recognized as a fully independent state by the London Protocol of 3 February 1830. The Treaty of Constantinople in 1832 set its first borders.
What were the most important battles in Greek history?
Some of the most important include Marathon in 490 BC, Thermopylae and Salamis in 480 BC, and Plataea in 479 BC, which together stopped the Persian invasion. Others are Chaeronea in 338 BC, the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, Navarino in 1827, and the Battle of Crete in 1941.
What was the Byzantine Empire's connection to Greece?
The Byzantine Empire was the eastern half of the Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople from 330 AD until the city fell to the Ottomans in 1453. It was Greek-speaking and Orthodox Christian, and it preserved ancient Greek learning. Many Greeks see it as a central chapter of their history.
How was modern Greece formed?
Modern Greece began in 1830 as a small state covering the Peloponnese, Central Greece and the Cyclades. It grew over the next century, adding the Ionian Islands in 1864, Thessaly in 1881, Macedonia, Epirus, Crete and the eastern Aegean islands after the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, Western Thrace in 1920, and the Dodecanese in 1947.
