Early Greek culture began about 6,500 BC (or about 8,500 years ago!) About 900 BC, Greece began to emerge from the Greek Dark Ages. The ancient Greeks started to write things down again, which of course helps us today to better understand their culture. After the Greeks defeated the Dorians and took back the Greek peninsula, they established many Greek city-states, each with their own government. They had learned from the Dorians that they had to work together if they were going to survive an attack from a common enemy. The Greek city-states did work together. They also went to war with each other.
As time went by, the ancient Greeks created marvelous statues, wonderful theater, gorgeous fabrics and vases, incredible myths and legends, and developed into a fascinating civilization. Their culture and the many gifts we received from the Greeks, like our alphabet, roots of democracy, comedy and satire, Greek columns, the Olympics, fables and more, still impacts our culture today.
Here is a link to Softschools timeline of the history and development of the ancient Greek civilization for kids: Timeline of Ancient Greece (Softschools)
Here are a whole bunch more: Google images, ancient Greece timelines
The timeline below uses our original, free use clipart: Free Use Clipart for Teachers and Students to use in your classroom or homework assignment. This original art was created for us (the Donns) by our friend Phillip Martin and used in their 6th grade Ancient Greek timeline by GESS landS MYP I&S (St Paul Schools.) We are always delighted to see our cartoon art online in use by other teachers. If you click on the timeline below, the link will take you this school's website where you will find other interesting ideas from their 6th grade unit on ancient Greece.
