The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss the ascension and political happenings of the tyrannies of Peisistratos and his two sons, Hippias and Hipparchus, at Athens; the economic reforms that they undertook; their patronage of the arts and public works in the Agora and Acropolis, as well as at other religious sanctuaries in Attica; and their encouragement of religious festivals, especially the Greater Panathenaia and the Dionysia 565 BC - Peisistratos captured Nisaea, bringing an end to the wars with Megara, which ended the troublesome food blockage and enhanced his reputation 561 BC - Peisistratos seized the Acropolis and make himself tyrant, much to the chagrin of Solon 558 BC - Solon died of old age 556 BC - Resistance mounted against Peisistratos, leading the nobles to seek an alliance with the exiled Alcmeonidai; they were recalled to Athens and Peisistratos fled the city; the political alliance soon collapsed, so Megacles of the Alcmeonidai instead realigned with Peissistratos through a political marriage and thus he became tyrant of the city again; but this too was short-lived and Peisistratos was driven from the city a second time 547 BC - earthquake fells the temple of Apollo at Delphi; the Alcmeonidai were able to gain a special position of privilege thanks to their funding of the rebuilding of the temple 546 BC - After spending ten years cultivating powerful allies and a large personal army, Peisistratos invaded Attica; he crushed the Athenian army near Pallene, and became tyrant for the third and final time 540 BC - Miltiades the Elder established a colony in the Thracian Chersonese and ruled it as a tyrant, only subordinate to Peisistratos' overarching authority 534 BC - Thespis was first winner of tragedy competitions at the Dionysia 528/7 BC - Peisistratos died and the tyranny was passed to Hippias and Hipparchus 525/4 BC - archonship of Cleisthenes of the Alcmeonidai 524/3 BC - archonship of Miltiades the Younger of the Philaids 524 BC - Miltiades the Elder died and his eldest nephew, Stesagoras, replaced him as tyrant of the Thracian Chersonese 519 BC - the Athenians defended the Plataeans militarily against the Thebans 515 BC - Stesagoras was assassinated and replaced by his younger brother, Miltiades the Younger, who immediately quelled the uprising and formed an alliance with king Olorus of Thrace by marrying his daughter 515/4 BC - second archonship of Cleisthenes, but he tried to make it something more than titular (as the tyrants held the unofficial power), and for that he was banished from Athens 514 BC - Hipparchus was assassinated by the Tyrannicides, Harmodius and Aristogeiton; afterwards, Hippias' rule became oppressive 513 BC - Cleisthenes' mercenary army was defeated by Hippias' mercenary forces near Lypsidrion in northern Attica 511 BC - Cleisthenes' uses his families special privilege to get the Delphic oracle to coax Cleomenes and the Spartans to assist them in removing Hippias as tyrant; unfortunately, their first force was defeated near Phaleron 510 BC - Cleisthenes' second attempt was successful, though; Hippias was forced into exile, where he would eventually make his way to the Persian court of Darius; immediately after this the Thebans and Athenians engaged in hostilities again over Plataea, with the result of another Athenian victory Intro by Doug Metzger of the Literature and History Podcast Website: http://literatureandhistory.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory Twitter: https://twitter.com/lahpodcast

In this episode, we discuss the life of the great Athenian statesman, Solon, who from his position of sole archonship, enacted various economic, political, and legal reforms that would later form the backbone for Athenian democracy in the Classical Period ca. 625 BC - severe agrarian crisis causes the Athenians to look for new land--their solution was to establish a cleruchy on Salamis; this led to continuous war with Megara, who also held claims to the island ca. 605 BC - in order to defend their trade routes into the Black Sea, Athens challenges Mytilene for control of Sigeion in the Troad, an event which was arbitrated by Periander in favor of Athens (thanks to Solon's argument) 595 BC - Solon and Peisistratos led forces that defeated the Megarians 594/3 BC - Solon appointed as sole archon to reform the constitution, which (among many other things) eliminated debt slavery and helped ease the land crisis; though wildly successful, his reforms' immediate aftermath led to increased competition amongst the elite for political offices 593-583 BC - Solon's self-imposed exile for 10 years following his reforms so that he couldn't be persuaded to change anything, during which he visited Egypt, Cyprus, Lydia, and Ionia 591/0 BC - political strife led to anarchia as they were unable to elect the three archons; eventually restored 580s-560s BC - The three dominant political factions (Pediakoi, Peralioi, and Diakrioi) competed for control 586/5 BC - second bout of anarchia; once again was eventually restored 582/1 BC - archonship of Damasias, at the end of which he refused to step down 579 BC - after two and half years, Damasias was driven out of the archonship; afterwards, a board of 10 archons were appointed to govern Athens 578 BC - three traditional offices of the archons were re-established 575 BC - great ramp built up the Acropolis; noble families competed for prestige through the funding of the construction of new buildings and statues on the Acropolis, such as the Temple of Athena Poleis, the precursor to the Parthenon, and a statue of Athena Promachos 566 BC - the Great Panathenaia was instituted by the archon, Hippocleides ca. 565 BC - Solon recognized that Peisistratos was harboring feelings for a revolution to end the political strife of the three dominant political factions

In this episode, we discuss the early history of Athens from the mythical kings to the abolishment of the monarchy in the Dark Ages to the rise of the oligarchic constitution and finally to the social and economic crises at the end of the 7th century BC ca. 900 BC - Medontidai archon/basileus of Athens was pre-eminent in Attica ca. 900-750 BC - the synoecism of Attica took place 752 BC - length of Medontidai archonship changed from life to ten years 681 BC - three annually elected archons (eponymous, basileus, polemarch) was introduced ca. 650 BC - six more archons were introduced (called the Thesmothetai); collectively together with the other three they are known as the College of Nine Archons; full aristocratic revolution of Athens has taken hold 632 BC - Cylon unsuccessfully attempted to establish an Athenian tyranny 621 BC - Draco enacted first written constitution in Athenian history

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In this episode, we discuss the political, economic, and social totalitarian system that made Sparta so unique in the ancient world

In this episode, we discuss the early history of Sparta and its growing pains that ultimately led to its rise to hegemony over what modern scholars called the Peloponnesian League ca. 900-800 BC - the syncoecism of the four villages on the west bank of the Eurotas River resulted in the polis of Lacadaemon (Sparta) ca 800-750 BC - a fifth village found three miles from the other villages is incorporated into Sparta, the old Mycenaean town of Amyclae ca. 780-750 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Charilaus (the nephew of the semi-mythical lawgiver Lykurgas who supposedly reformed Sparta) ca. 760-740 BC - reign of Agiad king, Teleklos ca. 750-725 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Nicander ca. 740-720 BC - the First Messenian War brought about the annexation of Messenia and the formation of the helot system that transformed Sparta into a slave-holding state like no other Greek poleis ca. 740-700 BC - reign of Agiad king, Alkamenes ca. 725-675 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Theopompos 706 BC - illegitimate Spartans, known as "Parthenai", were exiled to Italy where they founded Taras ca. 700-665 BC - reign of Agiad king, Polydoros ca. 675-650 BC - the poets Alcman and Tyrtaeus flourished at Sparta ca. 675-645 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Anaxandridas 669 BC - the Spartans were defeated by Pheidon and the Argives at Hysiae ca. 668-650 BC - thanks to their defeat at the hands of Argos, the helots revolted with the backing of Argos, resulting in the Second Messenian War; the Spartans, though, were able to put the revolt down thanks to the martial vigor of Tyrtaeus ca. 665-640 BC - reign of Agiad king, Eurycrates ca. 645-625 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Zeuxidamas ca. 640-615 BC - reign of Agiad king, Anaximander I ca. 625-600 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Anaxidamos ca. 615-590 BC - reign of Agiad king, Eurycratides ca. 600-575 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Archidamos I ca. 590-560 BC - reign of Agiad king, Leon 583 BC - Sparta may have assisted with the overthrow of the Kypselid tyranny at Corinth ca. 575-550 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Agasicles 572 BC - Sparta may have helped Elis regain control over the sanctuary of Olympia again from Pisa ca. 560 BC - the "Battle of the Fetters" resulted in a devastating Spartan loss to Tegea ca. 560-525 BC - reign of Agiad king, Anaxandridas II 556 BC - the Spartans, with Chilon as ephor, helped to overthrow the Orthagorid tyranny at Sicyon ca. 550-515 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Ariston ca. 550 BC - Sparta finally subdued Tegea, but instead of conquering them, they enacted diplomacy, marking the beginnings of Peloponnesian League 547 BC - Spartans are approached by the Lydians for an alliance against Persia, but the Spartans never provide aid as they still have Argos to deal with 546 BC - the "battle of Champions" resulted in a Spartan defeat of Argos and the annexation of the region of Kynuria from the Argives 525-522 BC - the Spartans and Corinthians join together to depose Polycrates of Samos as tyrant 520-490 BC - reign of Agiad king, Kleomenes 515-491 BC - reign of Eurypontid king, Demaratos 515-512 BC - Kleomenes' half-brother, Dorieus, tried to found the colony of Cinyps on the Libyan coast but he was ultimately driven out by Carthage 510 BC - Dorieus was killed in battle against the Carthaginians as he tried to establish a second colony, this one in western Sicily

In this episode, we discuss the program of the Ancient Olympic games in its entirety and introduce the other Panhellenic festivals 776 BC - the Olympic Games for Zeus at Olympia were instituted with the only event being the stadion foot race 724 BC - the diaulos was introduced 720 BC - the dolichos was introduced; the games were first performed in the nude 708 BC - wrestling and the pentathlon were introduced 688 BC - boxing was introduced 680 BC - chariot racing was introduced 648 BC - single horse equestrian races and the Pankration were introduced ca. 600-575 BC - the Herean Games for Hera at Olympia were instituted, in which women could participate 582 BC - the Pythian Games for Apollo at Delphi were instituted following their victory in the First Sacred War 581 BC - the Isthmian Games for Poseidon at Corinth were instituted following their expulsion of tyranny 573 BC - the Nemean Games for Zeus were instituted 566 BC - the Panathenaic Games at Athens were instituted by the tyrant Peisistratos 540-516 BC - brilliant wrestling career of Milo of Kroton 520 BC - the hoplitodromos was introduced

In this episode, we describe the new schools of thought that began to percolate in the 6th century BC about our existence and role in this universe absent from the gods Thales of Miletus (624-546 BC) Anaximander of Miletus (611-546 BC) Anaximenes of Miletus (585-528 BC) Pherecydes of Syros (ca. 580-520 BC) Pythagoras of Samos (ca. 570-495 BC) Xenophanes of Colophon (ca. 570-470 BC) Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca. 535-475 BC)

In this episode, we discuss part 2 of 2 on the influential people whose writings give us incite into the economic, social, and political happenings that reshaped archaic age Greece ca. 625 BC - the Penthiliadai, the ruling family of Mytilene, were ousted, leading to rival factions competing for power on Lesbos ca. 610 BC - the tyrant Melanchrus was ousted by a faction that included Alcaeus' brothers and Pittacus; Myrsilus became the next tyrant ca. 605 BC - Myrsilus dies, Athens challenges Mytilene for control of Sigeion in the Troad, an event which was arbitrated by Periander in favor of Athens ca. 600 BC - political unrest again took root on Lesbos, which forced the poets Sappho and Alcaeus into exile ca. 590 BC - the Mytileneans entrusted Pittacus with absolute power to heal the sores of the city; in doing so, he recalled all exiles and enacted a general amnesty ca. 590-580 BC - Sappho instituted a school of music and poetry for upper-class women on Lesbos 578 BC - Pittacus lays down absolute power and retires from political life Pittacus of Lesbos (648-568 BC) Sappho and Alcaeus of Lesbos (ca. 630-570 BC) Bias of Priene (fl. 6th century BC) Cleobulus of Rhodes (fl. 6th century BC) Aesop (620-564 BC) Stesichorus of Metauros (ca. 630-555 BC) Earliest stages of the Gortyn legal code (ca. 600-525 BC) Theognis of Megara (fl. 550 BC) Phocylides of Miletus (fl. 550 BC) Hipponax of Ephesus (fl. 550 BC) Anacreon of Teos (ca. 570-485 BC) Ibycus of Rhegium (fl. 525 BC)

In this episode, we discuss the changes in literary creation that took place in the 7th and 6th centuries BC; and part 1 of 2 on the influential people whose writings give us incite into the economic, social, and political happenings that reshaped archaic age Greece ca. 800-700 BC - The "Epic Cycle" was constructed, which includes the works of "Homer" ca. 750-700 BC - Hesiod flourished ca. 700-675 BC - Terpander and Thaletas instituted musical schools at Sparta ca. 680 BC - Archilochus wrote the first non-epic poetry on the historical record ca. 675-650 BC - Alcman, Tyrtaeus, Callinus, and Semonides all flourished ca. 630-600 BC - Mimnermus flourished; Arian introduced the dithyramb to Corinth

In this episode, we discuss the innovation taking place during the 7th and 6th centuries BC in the realm of vase painting, statuary, and architecture

In this episode, we discuss the new political phenomena arising in various parts of the Greek world in the 7th and 6th centuries BC, called tyranny, by focusing on four poleis in the Peloponnese in particular: Pheidon of Argos (the military cause), Cypselus and Periander of Corinth (the economic cause), Cleisthenes of Sicyon (the ethnic cause), and Theogenes of Megara (the unsuccessful attempt). 747 BC - the last king of Corinth, Telestes, was overthrown, resulting in the city being ran by a royal clan, called the Bacchiadai 733 BC - the Corinthians founded Syracuse and Corcyra ca. 725-700 BC - the trireme was developed at Corinth ca. 700 BC - The Megarians drove out hostile invaders (possibly Corinth?) from their city 685 BC - the Megarians founded Chalcedon on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus 669 BC - The Argives defeated the Spartans at the battle of Hysiae, possibly the event that allowed Pheidon to become tyrant of Argos 668 BC - Pisa gained control of the Olympic sanctuary from Elis, with the help of Pheidon and his newly minted hoplite army; the Megarians founded Byzantion on the European side of the Bosporus 664 BC - the first Greek sea-battle took place between Corinth and its colony, Corcyra 657-627 BC - Kypselos overthrows the Bacchiadai ruling clan and establishes himself as tyrant of Corinth ca. 650 BC - Orthagoras becomes tyrant of Sicyon; Theagenes becomes tyrant of Megara 632 BC - Cylon unsuccessfully attempted to install himself as tyrant of Athens, with the aid of Theagenes 627-585 BC - Periander succeeded his father as tyrant of Corinth, and established Corinth as the most prosperous city-state in the Greek world, although paranoia set in and his rule grew harsher and harsher ca. 600-570 BC - Cleisthenes becomes tyrant of Sicyon 595-585 BC - Cleisthenes of Sicyon and the Amphictyons led the defense of Delphi against the Phocian town of Krissa in the First Sacred War 585-583 BC - Periander's nephew, Psammetikos, ruled as tyrant, but he felt the brunt of Corinthian anger towards his uncle's harshness and was deposed 582 BC - the Corinthians established the Isthmian Games to celebrate the end of the Cypselid tyranny; the Delphians established the Pythian Games to celebrate their freedom from Krissa 570-556 BC - Cleisthenes' successor, Aeschines, ruled as tyrant until he was expelled by the Spartans

In this episode, we discuss the Greek emigration eastward into the Chalcidice Peninsula, Thrace, the Hellespont, the Bosporus, the Black Sea, and northern Africa during the 7th and 6th centuries BC; their relations with the Lydians and Egyptians until around 550 BC; and the development of coinage ca. 700 BC - the Euboeans established colonies on the coasts of Macedon and the Chalcidice Peninsula ca. 700-675 BC - Cimmerian invaders overran the Phrygian kingdom of central Anatolia, whose king Mita (Midas?) committed suicide 685 BC - the Megarians founded Chalcedon on the Asiatic side of the Bosporus 668 BC - the Megarians founded Byzantion on the European side of the Bosporus ca. 680-645 BC - Gyges overthrew Candaules and established the Mermnad ruling dynasty of Lydia; Gyges captured Colophon and Magnesia and brought the Troad under his control, but he was unable to defeat Smyrna, Miletus, and Ephesus and thus entered into alliances ca. 675-600 BC - the Milesians founded colonies in the Troad and on the southern and western shores of the Black Sea region ca. 665-610 BC - Psammetichos I overthrows the Assyrian yoke over Egypt and establishes native rule; with the help of Ionian and Carian mercenaries, he consolidates his hold over the Nile Delta ca. 650 BC - Klazomenai founded Abdera on the Thracian coastline in the northern Aegean Sea ca. 645-625 BC - the Lydian king, Ardys, pushed out the Cimmerians and extended Lydian power eastward to the Halys River; warred with Miletus unsuccessfully but was able to defeat Priene ca. 630 BC - the Therans founded Cyrene on the African coastline in Libya ca. 630-600 BC - Battus I rules over Cyrene ca. 625-610 BC - the Lydian king, Sadyattes, sacked Smyrna, suffered a huge defeat against Klazomenai, and led yearly campaigns against Miletus ca. 610-560 BC - the Lydian king, Alyattes, due to the cunning of the Milesian tyrant Thrasybulus, sued for peace after 17 years of war; Alyattes also fell for trick by Bias that led him to sue for peace with Priene too ca. 600 BC - the Egyptian pharaoh, Necho, sent out an expedition of Phoenician, who sailed from the Red Sea westward entirely around the coast of Africa, returning through the Pillars of Hercules to the mouth of the Nile ca. 600-550 BC - Greek settlements sprang up in the more remote parts of the Black Sea in Colchis and Scythia by the Milesians 600-583 BC - Arkesilaos I rules over Cyrene 585 BC - the battle of the Halys River between the Lydians and the Medes ends in a draw due to the total eclipse of the sun (predicted by Thales) 583-560 BC - Under the rule of Battus II, an influx of Greek migrants reinforced Cyrene at the behest of the Delphic oracle; this led the local Libyan tribes to seek an alliance with the Egyptian pharaoh, Apries ca. 570 BC - the Cyrenaeans under Battus II defeated the Egyptians under Apries, resulting in the overthrow of Apries and the ascendency of Amasis II; the Greeks established Naukratis in the Nile Delta; the use of silver coins reached the Ionian Greeks via the Lydians and it quickly spread to the rest of the Greek world 560-550 BC - the Cyrenean king, Arkesilaos II, was a brutal ruler, leading to a revolt, assisted by the Libyans, and the ascendancy of Battus III 560-546 BC - the Lydian king, Croesus, subdued the Carians and Ephesians Intro by Dominic Perry of the History of Egypt Podcast Website: https://egyptianhistorypodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EgyptianPodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/EgyptianPodcast

In this episode, we discuss the causes of colonization (shortage of land and trade); the Greek emigration westward into Italy, Sicily, France, Spain, Corsica, and Sardinia during the 8th, 7th, and 6th centuries BC; the development of the trireme; and their growing tensions with the Etruscans and Phoenicians (Carthaginians) until around 550 BC ca. 775-750 BC - a group of colonists from Chalcis and Eretria in Euboea and from Cyme in Aeolus, together with the Phoenicians, established a colony at Pithekoussai on the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples ca. 740 BC - the Euboeans established a colony at Cumae, directly adjacent of Ischia on the Italian mainland, making it the oldest Greek-only colony in the west and giving them access to the Etruscans 734 BC - the Chalcidians founded the first Greek Sicilian colony, Naxos, on the northeastern coast of the island 733 BC - the Corinthians founded Syracuse and Corcyra 728 BC - the Chalcidians founded Leontini and Catana 726 BC - the Megarians founded Megara Hyblea ca. 725-700 BC - the trireme was developed at Corinth 725 BC - the Chalcidians founded Zancle 720 BC - the Chalcidians founded Rhegium; the Achaeans founded Sybaris 710 BC - the Achaeans founded Kroton 706 BC - the Spartans founded Taras ca. 700 BC - the Achaeans founded Metapontion 688 BC - the Rhodians and Cretans founded Gela ca. 680 BC - the Locrians founded Locri ca. 630 BC - the Greeks began to move away from the eastern side of the island, as Zancle founded Himera in north central Sicily and Megara Hyblea founded Selinus in southwestern Sicily, bringing the Greeks into contact with the Elymians and Phoenician colonies in west Sicily ca. 600 BC - the Sybarites founded Poseidonia; the Phocaeans founded Massalia--the first Greek settlement in France, but in order to do so they had to defeat the Carthaginians in a naval battle south of France ca. 580 BC - the Greeks first engaged in hostilities with the Elymians of Segesta and the Phoenician colonists on Sicily, who in turn formed a military alliance with the powerful Etruscans of central Italy; as a result, the Greeks founded Lipara, the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the northern coast of Sicily, to keep a watch against the Etruscan pirates; Gela founded Akragas on south central Sicily ca. 575 BC - the Phocaeans founded Emporion on northeastern coast of Spain, further encroaching on Carthaginian-owned territory in Spain 570-554 BC - the tyrant Phalaris quickly turned Akragas into a regional power ca. 560 BC - the Phocaeans founded Olbia on the northeastern coast of Sardinia and at Alalia on the eastern coast of Corsica 546 BC - Cyrus the Great of Persia sacked Phocaea, forcing the Phocaeans to flee westward to their colonies; some founded Elea on the Tyrrhenian coastline, making it the last of the Greek settlements in Italy during this great period of Greek colonization

In this episode, we discuss the revolutionary changes in warfare that took place in the 8th and 7th centuries BC that were strictly Greek and reflect the abstract nature of the polis; and the Lelantine War, the first large-scale war on the Greek record after the mythical Trojan War and the first instance in which these military changes were employed. ca. 725-650 BC - the Levantine War took place pitting Eretria, Miletus, Aegina, Megara, and Chios versus Chalcis, Samos, Corinth, Erythrai, and Thessaly ca. 700 BC - Lefkandi was destroyed, probably by Chalcis ca. 650 BC - the Chigi vase is the earliest depiction of hoplite warfare in art