Editing Archaic Greece (section)

== Timeline (800 - 479 BCE) ==
The '''Archaic Period''', in history and archaeology, denotes the earliest phase of post-Dark Age Greek culture, roughly starting with the formation of the polis social structure, and ending with the defeat of Persia in its attempted invasion of the Greek mainland. Major events include:

~800s BCE: The '''Great Rhetra''', the legendary Spartan constitution, was established by the lawgiver '''[[Lycurgus]]'''; technically a product of the earlier Dark Age, but influential as an organizational framework for Sparta in the following era. 

~800 BCE: Beginning of the period, marked by the slow re-emergence of urban life and development of the polis.

~750 BCE: The Greek '''alphabet''' is adapted directly from '''Phoenician''' in the late ninth to eighth centuries with the decisive addition of vowel graphemes; early writing appears in epichoric alphabets with local letter shapes and inventories. Until 403 BCE, scripts are not standardized and remain local.

~776 BCE: Traditional date for the first '''Olympic Games''' in '''Olympia'''.

~750-700 BCE: Development of the Greek '''symposium''' and the accompanying cultural practices.

~750 BCE: The beginning of the practice of placing '''votive offerings''' in '''sanctuaries''', reflecting the increasing importance of religion in daily life.

~750 BCE: '''[[Homer]]'s''' epic poems, the ''[[Iliad]]'' and the ''[[Odyssey]]'', are composed.

~750 BCE: Greek colonization begins with settlements in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea regions.

~740 BCE: '''First Messenian War''' begins between '''Sparta''' and '''Messenia'''.

~730 BCE: The first known Greek lawgiver, '''[[Zaleucus]]''', creates legal codes for the city of '''Locri'''.

~725 BCE: The establishment of '''Metapontum''' and other colonies in Southern Italy, marking the spread of Greek culture into Magna Graecia.

~720 BCE: '''Sparta''' establishes the '''Peloponnesian League'''.

~700 BCE: Introduction of the '''hoplite phalanx''', a new formation and style of warfare that would become     characteristic of Greek city-states. It emerges from changes in armor, formation, and rural property distribution. 

~690 BCE: '''Second Messenian War''' begins.

~680 BCE: '''Chalcis''' and '''Eretria''' (both on the island of Euboea) fight the '''Lelantine War''', possibly the earliest historically recorded Greek conflict.

~675 BCE: Foundation of '''Cyrene''', a Greek colony in North Africa, which later becomes a cultural and economic center.

~650 BCE: Rise of the tyrant '''[[Cypselus]]''' in '''Corinth'''.

~650 BCE: The first recorded instance of the Olympic Games being opened to all Greeks (not just locals) indicating a growing sense of '''pan-Hellenic''' identity.

~640 BCE: The city of '''Argos''' defeats Sparta at the '''Battle of Hysiae'''.

~632 BCE: '''[[Cylon]]'s''' unsuccessful attempt to take control of Athens.

~621 BCE: The publication of '''[[Draco]]’s''' law code in Athens, establishing the basis for subsequent Athenian law and order.

~600s BCE: '''Scythian''' invasion of Asia Minor.

~600 BCE: '''Electrum''' coinage becomes widespread in '''Lydia''' and enters circulation in Greek cities.

~600 BCE: '''[[Sappho]]''' of '''Lesbos''' composes her poetry, offering insight into the roles and emotions of women.

~600 BCE: The rise of the cult of '''[[Dionysus]]''' and the introduction of the '''Dionysian mysteries'''.

~594 BCE: '''[[Solon]]''' is appointed '''archon''' and enacts social and economic reforms in Athens. He abolishes debt slavery in Athens, easing the burden on the poor and preventing social unrest.

~595 BCE: The '''First Sacred War''' over control of the '''Delphic Oracle'''.

~582 BCE: '''Pythian Games''' are established in '''Delphi'''.

~580 BCE: The '''Siphnian Treasury''' is constructed at Delphi.

~570 BCE: The rise of the tyrant '''[[Peisistratus]]''' in Athens.

~570 BCE: The construction of the Temple of '''[[Artemis]]''' at '''Ephesus''', one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

~560 BCE: The construction and operation of the '''Tunnel of Eupalinos''' on '''Samos''', one of the earliest known '''aqueducts'''.

~550 BCE: The establishment of the Pythagorean school of philosophy in '''Croton'''.

~546 BCE: '''Cyrus the Great''' of Persia conquers Lydia; Greek cities in Asia Minor come under Persian control.

~546 BCE: The establishment of the '''Achaemenid Empire’s''' satrapies, including the satrapy of Ionia, marking the     integration of Greek cities into the Persian administrative system.

~540 BCE: '''[[Polycrates]]''' becomes tyrant of '''Samos''' and begins major naval expansions.

~530 BCE: Peisistratus dies, and his son '''[[Hippias]]''' takes power in Athens.

~525 BCE: The first performance of '''choral lyric poetry''' at the '''Athenian Dionysia''', setting the stage for the development of '''drama'''.

~520 BCE: The construction of the Temple of '''[[Hera]]''' on the island of '''Samos''', one of the largest temples in Greece.

~514 BCE: Assassination of '''Hipparchus''' by '''Harmodius''' and '''Aristogeiton''' in Athens.

~510 BCE: '''[[Hippias]]''' is expelled from Athens, ending the Peisistratid tyranny.

~508 BCE: '''[[Cleisthenes]]''' reforms the Athenian constitution, laying the foundations for Athenian democracy.

~508 BCE: The reforms of [[Cleisthenes]] are ratified after the expulsion of the Spartan king '''Cleomenes I''' and the Athenian tyrant '''[[Isagoras]]''' from Athens.

500 BCE: Completion of the rebuilding of the Temple of '''[[Apollo]]''' at '''Delphi''' after a fire destroyed the earlier structure.

499 BCE: '''Aristagoras of Miletus''' foments the '''Ionian Revolt'''; Ionian poleis depose tyrants and seek aid from Athens and Eretria.

498 BCE: Allied Ionian, Athenian, and Eretrian forces burn the lower town of '''Sardis'''; Persian pursuit defeats the Greeks near '''Ephesus''' during the retreat.

497–495 BCE: Persian counteroffensives reduce the revolt in the Hellespont and Caria; Carian forces win a night ambush at Pedasus but cannot reverse the tide.

494 BCE: Ionian fleet is defeated at the '''Battle of Lade'''; Miletus is captured and sacked, its population deported; organized resistance collapses.

493 BCE: Final pacification of Ionia; '''Histiaeus''' is captured and executed; at Athens, '''Themistocles''' as eponymous archon advocates developing Piraeus as the city’s harbor.

492 BCE: '''Mardonius''' leads a Persian expedition that reasserts control in Thrace and makes Macedon a client; the fleet wrecks off Mount Athos; Persians abolish many Ionian tyrannies and install democracies.

491 BCE: '''Darius''' sends envoys demanding “earth and water”; many Greek communities submit, while '''Athens''' and '''Sparta''' execute the envoys, hardening the breach.

490 BCE: Persian expedition under '''Datis''' and '''Artaphernes''' subdues Naxos and sacks Eretria; Athenians and Plataeans defeat the Persians at '''Marathon''', forcing a withdrawal.

489 BCE: '''Miltiades'''’ punitive expedition against Paros fails; he is prosecuted at Athens and dies soon after his conviction.

488–487 BCE: Athens conducts the first '''ostracisms''', inaugurating a new civic mechanism against would‑be tyrants.

487 BCE: '''Archonships''' at Athens begin to be assigned by lot among preselected candidates, widening elite participation and curbing faction.

486 BCE: '''Xerxes I''' succeeds Darius I; a major Egyptian revolt preoccupies Persia and delays the renewed campaign against Greece.

483 BCE: A rich silver strike at Laurion enables '''Themistocles'''’ naval program; Athens votes to build a large fleet of '''triremes''', reorienting its military toward the sea.

482 BCE: '''Aristides''' is ostracized at Athens, clearing political opposition to the Themistoclean naval policy.

481 BCE: Congress at Corinth forms the '''Hellenic League''' under Spartan leadership; Greek poleis agree a truce and joint strategy against Persia.

480 BCE: Xerxes bridges the Hellespont and invades; Greeks fight at '''Thermopylae''' while their fleet engages at '''Artemisium'''; Athens is evacuated and sacked; the Greek fleet wins a decisive victory at '''Salamis''', forcing Xerxes to withdraw with part of his army; in Sicily, Gelon of Syracuse and Theron of Akragas defeat Carthage at Himera.

479 BCE: '''Mardonius''' is defeated by the Greek land army at Plataea; on the same campaigning season the allied fleet destroys the Persian naval camp at Mycale and Ionia revolts again; Greek forces seize Sestos on the Hellespont, reopening the straits and conventionally closing the Archaic period.