Answer:
The period of Greek history that took place between 700 BC and 338 BC is often referred to as "Ancient Greece." This span of time encompasses several important historical periods and developments in Greek history:
1. **Archaic Period (c. 700 BC - 480 BC):** This period saw the emergence of city-states (polis), the development of Greek colonization, the spread of the Greek alphabet, and the early developments of Greek art, philosophy, and political institutions. The Persian Wars (490 BC - 479 BC) also occurred during this time.
2. **Classical Period (c. 480 BC - 323 BC):** The Classical period is characterized by the zenith of Greek culture, especially in Athens. It includes the Golden Age of Athens under leaders like Pericles, the flourishing of philosophy with figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and the creation of iconic works of art and architecture, such as the Parthenon. This period also witnessed the Peloponnesian War (431 BC - 404 BC) between Athens and Sparta.
3. **Hellenistic Period (c. 323 BC - 31 BC):** After the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek influence expanded throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. This period is marked by the spread of Greek culture, known as Hellenism, which combined Greek, Persian, Egyptian, and other influences. It also saw the rise of Hellenistic kingdoms, such as the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt.
4. **Macedonian Conquest (c. 359 BC - 338 BC):** The period leading up to the conquests of Alexander the Great, who was a Macedonian, is sometimes referred to as the Macedonian or Macedonians period. In 338 BC, Philip II of Macedon defeated the Greek city-states in the Battle of Chaeronea, effectively ending the independence of the Greek city-states and laying the groundwork for Alexander's later conquests.
The year 338 BC, with the Battle of Chaeronea, is often considered a significant turning point in Greek history as it marked the end of the city-states' autonomy and the beginning of the Macedonian hegemony in Greece. Alexander's conquests would then expand Greek influence to a vast empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt, Persia, and India.
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