8th century

c. 7th century

632

Synoecism in Attica.

Board of archons established; social unrest in Attica.

Cylon’s failed attempt to become tyrant.

Publication of Draco’s law-code.

Solon becomes archon of Athens and introduces his reforms. 

Peisistratos first attempts to establish himself as tyrant. 

Peisistratos tyrant of Athens.

Hippias tyrant of Athens, assisted by his brother Hipparchos.

Hipparchos assassinated by Harmodius and Aristogeiton; Hippias’ rule becomes more authoritarian.

Cleisthenes introduces his democratic reforms.

Establishment of the elected board of ten generals.

Athens commits 20 ships to the Ionian revolt against Persia.

Battle of Marathon: Athens and Plataea defeat the Persians.

Ostracism used for the first time.

Archons selected by lot for the first time.

The Athenians decide to enlarge their fleet.

Battle of Salamis: an Athenian-led Greek navy defeats the Persian navy.

Battle of Plataea: a combined Greek force drives the Persians from Greece for good.

478

467

462/1

461–445

460

457/6

454

451/0

447

431–404

430–426

413

411/10

404

403

399

379

357

337

322

Delian League established.

Naxos attempts to leave the Delian League; Athens responds by razing its walls and doubling its tribute.

Reforms of Ephialtes, who is assassinated within a year.

‘First’ Peloponnesian War.

Pericles enters Athenian politics.

Archonships opened to most Athenian citizens.

Delian League treasury moved from Delos to Athens.

Pericles introduces a much stricter citizenship law.

Pericles institutes the building project at Athens.

The Peloponnesian War.

Plague in Athens; Pericles dies of plague in 429.

The Sicilian expedition goes disastrously wrong and Athens loses huge numbers of men and ships.

Short-lived oligarchies of 400 and then 5,000 at Athens.

Athens surrenders; Sparta imposes Thirty Tyrants to rule Athens.

The Thirty Tyrants are expelled by democratic rebels; Sparta allows Athens to return to democracy.

The trial and execution of Socrates.

Athenian alliance with the Boeotian League.

Athenians declare war on the Macedonian kingdom of Philip II.

League of Corinth established by Philip II and allied to Macedonia.

Macedonians take control of Athens and put an end to democratic government.