Summary: 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
