The first Olympic Games were held in the southern city of Olympia in 700 B.C. But during that time, only men could vote! They were often at war with each other.Īthens became the most powerful, and in 508 B.C., the people instituted a new system of rule by the people called democracy. Each state controlled the territory around a single city. The largest were Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Corinth. The Minoans were conquered by the Myceneans from the mainland in 1450 B.C.ĭuring ancient times the country was divided into city-states, which were ruled by noblemen. Wall paintings found at the ruins of the palace Knossos show people doing backflips over a charging bull. The Middle Kingdom reached the pinnacle of its might under Amenemehet III.The first great civilization in Greece was the Minoan culture on the island of Crete around 2000 B.C.

The practice of co-regency was introduced during this era. During this period, Egyptian art and literature flourished. He reduced the power of the nobles and established a strong central government. There is some evidence that the Minoans successfully collected tribute from many surrounding peoples.ġ991 -1786 BC Amenemhet I Founded the Middle Kingdom. Minoans began trading with other peoples both around the Aegean and as far away as Egypt. Great palaces were built at Knossos, Phaistos and Mallia. This was the period of Greek history written about by Homer, and known as the Heroic Period- or Mycenaean Age.ġ900 BC Middle Minoan Culture Begins - Minoan culture reached its high point during this period. They also divided a circle into a 360 units.ġ900 BC Cotton Used For The First Time - Beginning around 1900 BC the Harappans became the first to grow and wove cotten into fabric.ġ900 BC Myceneans Arrive In Greece- Around 1900 B.C., the Mycenaeans arrived from the North and gained control of Greece. They also contained indoor plumbing.Ģ000 BC Babylonia Develop Mathematic System- The Babylonians developed a mathematical system based on units of 60. The palaces were designed to help keep the temperature as cool as possible. Finally, Ur was attacked and destroyed, thereby ending the golden age.Ģ000 BC Great Stone Palaces At Knossos Built- The stone palaces at Knossus and Malia were built on Crete at around 2000 BC. In about 1965 B.C., the Amorites overran Sumer and Akkad. It was also a golden period for Sumerian literature. During this period, an extensive building campaign was undertaken by the Empire.

Like his Sumerian forbearers, Shulgi declared himself to be a god. Under his son, Shulgi, the empire of Ur extended as far as Anatolia. 2060 BC Third Dynasty Of Ur Founded (Sumeria)- Urnammu of Ur seized power from Utukhegal and founded a new Sumerian dynasty.

Greek games 2000 b.c