Time Line of Greek History and Literature

Preclassical Period (c. 800–500 BCE)

Literature: Homer writes the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that tell the stories of the Trojan War and the wanderings of Odysseus.
History: The Greeks begin to colonize the Mediterranean region.

Classical Period (500–323 BCE)

Literature: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides write some of the greatest tragedies of all time. Aristophanes writes comedies that satirize contemporary society. Herodotus writes the Histories, a groundbreaking work of history. Thucydides writes the History of the Peloponnesian War, a detailed account of the conflict between Athens and Sparta.
History: The Greeks defeat the Persians at the Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) and the Battle of Salamis (480 BCE). The Athenians build the Parthenon (447–432 BCE). The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) devastates Greece. Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire (334–323 BCE).

Hellenistic Period (323–31 BCE)

Literature: Callimachus writes the Aetia, a collection of elegies on a variety of topics. Theocritus writes the Idylls, a collection of pastoral poems. Menander writes comedies that explore the lives of ordinary people.
History: The Greek world is divided into three major kingdoms: Macedon, Egypt, and Syria. The Greeks spread their culture throughout the Mediterranean region.

Roman Period (31 BCE–284 CE)

Literature: Plutarch writes the Parallel Lives, a collection of biographies of famous Greeks and Romans. Lucian writes satirical dialogues and essays.
History: Greece becomes a province of the Roman Empire. The Greeks continue to contribute to Roman culture.

Byzantine Period (330–1453 CE)

Literature: Procopius writes the Secret History, a scathing account of the reign of Emperor Justinian. John Chrysostom writes sermons and other religious works.
History: The Roman Empire is divided into two halves, the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire). The Byzantine Empire survives for over a thousand years, until it is conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE.

Modern Greek Literature (1821–present)

Literature: Dionysios Solomos writes the Hymn to Liberty, the national anthem of Greece. Andreas Kalvos writes romantic poems. Kostis Palamas writes poems that celebrate Greek culture and history.
History: Greece gains its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. The Greeks experience a period of civil war and political instability. Greece becomes a member of the European Union in 1981.

This is a brief overview of the timeline of Greek history and literature. For more detailed information, please consult a textbook or other scholarly resource.