The Bronze era of ancient Greece went from about 3000 BC to 1000 BC, and during this time the first Greeks settled and began a civilization with bronze weapons and tools. During that period, between around 2200 to 1450 BC, the first advanced Greeks dwelled on the large island of Crete. They became known as the Minoans, and although much is not known about them, the tales that are told of them are romantic and full of wealth. The fall of the peaceful Minoans was perhaps caused by the eruption of the underwater volcano on the small island of Thera, seventy miles north of Crete. The eruption was likely to have killed thousands, not just by the explosion itself though, but because of the destroyed crops it left behind. It was after this that the Mycenaeans, who lived mainland, took advantage and control of the Minoans. They plundered and robbed from many cities, and in about 1200 BC, led by their king Agamemnon, they burnt down Troy. Later on in history, the story of this attack became one of the great classics in literature.

About 1100 BC, Mycenae was invaded by the Dorians, who’s weapons were made of iron, thus were stronger and more efficient than the Mycenaeans. Under the rule of the Dorians, Greece set foot into three hundred years of dark age. Little was known about this period of time, and it was to be known as the lowest point in Grecian history. As centuries went by, the Greeks began to grow independent and lived together in groups within city-states. Near the end of the dark age, an alphabet was borrow from the Phoenicians and writing was again used. When the dark age was truly over, the skills of trade, architecture and handicrafts were recovered, and in 776 BC the first Olympic games began.

In 621 BC, a man named Draco made up a set of severe laws for the city-state of Athens, the laws were eventually repelled and an archon (administrator) named Solon was chosen in 594 BC. Solon set up an assembly where laws and rulers were chosen, forming the first stride towards democracy. After Solon came Cleisthenes, who stressed and extended the importance of the assembly and created a council of 500 citizens in the 508 BC. At the council new plans and rules were made, which were then voted in at the assembly where male citizens got the right to give their opinions and vote in new laws, archons, and military leaders.

The period of time came when war raged constantly between the Greeks and the Persians. It began in 546 BC, when Persian king Cyrus obtained by force the Grecian cities of Ionia. Lead by Athens who had the strongest navy, and later also Sparta who had the strongest army, the war was fought against the Persians. The united Greeks defeated the Persians at the battle of Matathon, the revolt in Ionia, the sea battle of Salamis, and achieved victory at the battles at Platacea and Mycale in 479 BC which permanently ended the Persian attacks.

Afterwards though, Athens and Sparta again continued their historic rivalry, started by their political and military differences. In 431 BC, Sparta declared war on Athens, and ended Athens’ golden age. Even though other Greek city-states also joined in and took sides, this war was to be known as the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The war lasted twenty-seven years with bloody battles fought, peace treaties attempted, and cruel blood shed. The war was finally over in 404 BC when Athens surrendered and with that Sparta exterminated Athens democracy and took over Grecian affairs. Spartan rule did not last long though, due to their inapt administrating, and Sparta was soon defeated by Thebes in the battle of Leuctra in 371 BC. During the period of time after the Peloponnesian War Athens had indeed reestablished their democracy, but even after that neither they nor any other city-state had the power again to declare command.

About 25 years afterwards, domination over Greece was obtained by perhaps the most unexpected of people. Led by power-yearning King Philip II, the scattered groups of Macedonia (Northern Greece) united and took control over Greece by 338 BC. After achieving Grecian command Philip began organizing an invasion towards Persia. Before he had the chance to attack though, Philip was assassinated and his place as leader was taken by his son Alexander. Alexander continued with his father’s plans for the Persian invasion, and for three years prepared an army for battle. Finally in 334 BC, the day came when Alexander and his army set off on their quest for domination. From then to 331, the army achieved victory where ever they went. Soon Alexander had control over all of Eastern Persia, including Egypt. In 331, Alexander increased his army and moved on to control the rest of Persia, after fulfilling this dream he went on to the East and increased his dominion to the end of what is now Pakistan. Wanting to go into Asia Alexander brought his army into India. When they arrived, they defeated an Indian army and their deadly war elephants, after that though Alexander’s worn out army would advance no further and longed for home. Thus, Alexander unwillingly led his army back to Persia. In Babylon, Alexander became ill and pasted away at the young age of 33, leaving behind him the largest empire of the time. Through out his conquest Alexander not only expanded his empire but also spread widely the Grecian language, art, and many of it’s cultures and ideas, a process which became known as Hellenization. So though Alexander’s life was short, due to his achievements and astonishing strength to create an empire so great as he did in just a mere ten years, he became known to all as Alexander the Great.

After Alexander’s death, blood-shedding wars were fought over the Greek empire between the years 323 to 281 by his generals, called the Diadochi (successors). Finally from the empire sprouted 3 kingdoms, the Ptolemies, the Seleucid, and the Macedonian, but in another 135 years the 3 kingdoms too, slowly fell. Defeated and conquered the 3 kingdoms went into the hands of the powerful Romans, beginning with the Macedonians, then the Seleucids 82 years later, and the Ptolemaic in 31 BC, ending the Ancient empire of Greece, but definitely not its culture and ways of thinking.

Gods and Goddesses

Art

Between 2,200 - 1,450 BC, the early Greek Minoans began to prosper in arts and crafts. On the island of Creek, the Minoans built astounding palaces, and decorating them they had beautiful paintings and murals sculptured in wet plaster, also known as frescoes. Often times, Minoan paintings and carvings were made with the picture of one of the most worshipped Minoan creatures, the bull.

During the golden age of Athens, with the support of the rulers, Greek art practically reached its top most point ever. Vases and pottery of all types were made, and on them were pictures varying from gods and the ancient epic stories to daily lives and work habits. At that time, architecture also represented the flourish of Grecian arts. For the magnificent columns that supported many of the marvelous buildings, such as the Parthenon, and also the buildings themselves expressed much artisticness by their elaborate designs and images.

An important part in Grecian art was also sculpturing. Sculptures were made ranging from ancient legends to mathematical philosophers. Many of the Grecian sculptures were either memorials or represented a person known and respected by many. As the influence of Grecian art began to spread, places like Rome became enchanted with the styles and ideas of the Greeks. Soon many of the Roman temples, such as the Roman Temple of Pallasm, were patterned after the Greeks.