istoryworld
All Events
The Greeks observe the strange effect of electricity, seen when amber (known to them as electron) is rubbed
Darius I adopts Zoroastrianism as the religion of the Persian empire
The Magi, possibly converting from an earlier Iranian religion, become the priests of Zoroastrianism
Jains are the first to suggest that animals and plants contain tiny living organisms too small to be seen (nigodas), but such ideas can only be speculation until the invention of the microscope
The new and more sophisticated fashion in Greek vases is the red-figure style
The Lapps, hunters of reindeer, have Scandinavia to themselves before the arrival of Germanic tribes
Parmenides is the first pure philosopher, using logic as a philosophical tool in his poem Nature
The Celts, moving west from central Europe, settle in France and northern Spain
The Chinese philosophy of alternating opposites is expressed as yin and yang
The Upanishads, written over a long period from oral tradition, are the mystical texts of early Hinduism
Nok terracotta figures, found in modern Nigeria, stand at the beginning of the rich tradition of African sculpture
The followers of Pythagoras discover the mathematical basis of the octave
Hockey, like polo, is a team game in the Persian empire
The Greeks add a third bank of oars to their war galleys, turning the bireme into a trireme
The Greek cities of Ionia rebel against Persian rule, with the partial support of Athens
Pericles is born in Attica, the son of distinguished parents and the great-nephew of Cleisthenes
After six years the Persians recover control of Ionia, but Athens is now identified as a target for invasion
Darius sends a fleet across the Aegean, carrying a large army of infantry and cavalry for an attack on Athens
The Persian fleet secures the Greek island of Euboea before making the short crossing to Marathon on the mainland – where they await the Greeks
Pheidippides, given the task of running from Athens to Sparta to request help at Marathon against the Persians, completes the journey in two days
At Marathon the Athenian hoplites, heavily outnumbered, win a spectacular victory against the Persians – of whom the survivors escape in their ships
The Persian fleet moves south towards Athens, but then heads home across the Aegean without attempting an assault on the city
Ostracism is introduced in Athens as a way of getting rid of unpopular politicians
Aeschylus wins the prize for tragedy at the City Dionysia in Athens
Themistocles persuades the Athenians to build up their fleet against the expected renewal of the threat from Persia
