In Perspective

Well, I can’t go on without listing a quick historical guide just to help fit all the Greek pieces of our itinerary together.  Greece has such a long and fascinating past, I’m sure one day we’ll regret not teaching at least a little classical history (and underpinnings of our language) to our children.   

These Civilizations (in brief) include:

500,000 BC: Prehistoric

Recent discoveries (1976) in a cave near Thessaloniki reveal evidence of the earliest known Neanderthal man-made fire, used to cook foods. 

6500BC: Neolithic

A new farming culture appears in the Stone Age.  Milos is especially important due to availability of obsidian.  Its discovery elsewhere indicates sea trade; building and handling of boats.

4000 BC: Cycladic

Farming, fishing and trading communities develop on the islands

2000-1450 BC: Minoan (Bronze Age)

Settlers from Turkey & Balkans brought with them skills in pottery and metallurgy.  The Empire based itself in Crete and Thira (Santorini).  Possibly the world’s largest volcanic eruption in 1450BC abruptly ends this civilisation.

1500-1100 BC Mycenaeans, Dorians & Phoenicians (Iron Age)

The Mycenaeans ruled from Mycenae until Dorians from the north invaded, bringing with them the Iron and a Dark Age.  Phoenicians from Sidon & Tyre (Lebanon) controlled sea routes.

800-27BC: Classic & Hellenistic Greek

This was the era of city states, much colonising and cultural advancement.  Greece’s main antagonist was Persia.  Athens was the most powerful city state.  During the 700’s legendary poet, Homer, narrated tales of the Trojan War, an aristocratic society and epic voyages of hero sailors.  In 600’s, Lykourgos established a highly militaristic society, the Spartans.  In 330BC Philip of Macedon conquered Greece.  Alexander the Great (Philip’s son) continued building a massive empire.  Greece was gradually coming under Roman domination.

27BC-AD330: Roman

Greece was part of the Roman Empire but was allowed to remain reasonably independent.  Christianity begins to merge with ancient rituals & beliefs.  125AD Emperor Hadrian undertakes the renovation of ancient monuments. 

330-1204: Byzantine

Greece is swept up into the rise of Christianity’s first Empire.  Tribes from the north invade causing some population movement.

1204-1550: Franks & Venetians

In 1204, the 4^th Crusade fixed the demise of Byzantium.  Venetians established castles & forts along Aegean trade routes.

1460-1830: Ottoman 

Turks seized Constantinople and gradually occupied Greece.  In the 17^th c Venice regained some of its strongholds thus allowing Greece to be included in English travellers venerated “Grand Tour”.

1822-1830: The War of Independence

The massacre in Chios saw the start of uprising against Turkish occupation.  Lord Byron offered his name & resources to the cause of an independent Greece.  The Turkish Fleet was decimated at the Battle of Navarino (Pylos).

(The above times are not exclusive as we’ve discovered.)  Modern history also makes interesting reading.  Thus ends today’s lecture.