History buff? You’ve come to the right place!

Greece is a country that’s truly rich in history. The birthplace of Western civilisation, it has long been known for its ancient philosophers, doctors, and artists. But did you know that there were civilisations that rose and fell in the area long before the “Ancient” Greeks trod here. Or that the history of Greece didn’t stop when Socrates died, but continued on, uninterrupted, to the contemporary age, through a blend of religious and political upheavals. This rocky coast and these stoic, tough islands have long withstood the test of time.

Here’s a brief guide to the history of this incredible country:

2700-1500 BCE: The Minoan civilisation. This is Greece’s oldest civilisation, and it flourished on the island of Crete. This island is still one of the country’s most important spots – for tourism now! – and it’s as good for exploring the ruins as for sunbathing on the beach.

1600-1100 BCE: The Mycenaean civilisation. Before you think that it’s short-lived, realise that the USA has been around for less time. And this civilisation’s influence may have been as great as the USA’s is today! The highlight here is a visit to the ruins of the capital, Mycenae – which are remarkably well preserved

776 BCE (the first Olympic games) to 323 BCE (the death of Alexander the Great):

Ancient Greece. From Homer to Plato and Socrates to Alexander the Great, a lot of Greece’s most well-known history occurred in the millenium before the birth of Jesus. Relics from this period abound. From the Acropolis to the temples at Delphi, this was Greece’s golden age – and a main draw for many visitors.

276-146 BCE: The Hellenistic period. A dark age for this mighty power. The global influence of Greece declined, until...

126 BCE - 393 CE: Roman Greece. This was a resurgence of Greece, under Roman rule. Much of the Romans’ most famous attributes were copied from the Greeks, from their artwork to their religion. Despite occupation, this was a high point for Greece, and many Roman monuments remain.

4th – 15th century: Byzantine Greece. From the fall of the Western Roman Empire, to the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Greece was a part of Byzantine Empire, one of the most powerful empires in history. Greek Orthodoxy developed, and many monasteries and churches were built.

15th century - 1821: Ottoman Greece. After the fall of the Byzantines, Greece fell (like most of Eastern Europe) under Ottoman rule. This was a very important period of the country’s history of which many artifacts remain, such as the ones in Thessaloniki.

1821 onward: Modern Greece. The re-emergence of Greece into the global sphere was a rocky one. The country had a revolution in 1821, followed by a kingdom, a dictatorship, occupation by the Axis forces, and finally the “Third Hellenic Republic”, which continues to this day.

As you can see, Greece has a long and varied history. But, fortunately, relics from every moment in this country’s past are still observable today. If you truly love history, you could spend decades coming back here!

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Greece has ancient history. But even Ancient Greece had ancient history!

Photo by Josiah Lewis from Pexels

The ruins of the city of Mycenae – located in the Peloponnese, in the south of the Greek mainland – represent an entire civilizations that flourished in the second millenium BCE (1000-2000 BCE). And dominated the Greek landscape in times that date back to the fall of Troy. Back to what was ancient history even as the Ancient Greeks, like Homer, were telling stories about it.

Have you heard of King Agamemnon? He was a mythical king – and the brother-in-law of the famous Helen of Troy. Who may not have been so Mythical. Mycenae is where he is purported to have ruled.

The Mycenaean culture is sort of a pre-Greece to the Ancient Greeks. By the time of Herodotus, this was already long deserted and almost a thousand years old. But, for a long time – long before the dominance of Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta – the Mycenaean culture dominated the Greek mainland.

The well-preserved city is, frankly, amazing. Even the Ancient Greeks marvelled at it, crediting the creation of the high stone walls to the Cyclops, because they couldn’t otherwise conceive of how it had been done. The architecture is quite different from that of other Greek ruins. There are no columns here! Rather, Mycenae is made up of huge blocks of stone, and – in ways – bears more resemblance to Machu Picchu than to the Acropolis.

There are other benefits to visiting Mycenae, too. Mycenae lies away from the beaten tourist path, which means that visitors will glimpse a part of the country that’s not as familiar with tourists. It’s more authentic, and the people won’t be after getting the most euros out of your wallet; they’ll be genuinely friendly. You can dine out and taste the true flavours of southern Greece. You can buy souvenirs that are truly authentic.

Many people come as a day trip from Athens, because the drive only is about an hour and a half. But if you don’t stay closer to this ancient stronghold, you’re really missing out on the experience. Mycenae is well worth at least a full day to visit – not just for the ruined city, but for the joy of exploring the Peloponnese. Stay somewhere closer, like the Apollon Hotel in Argos, a mere 11km south of the ruins.

And as you’re coming here – or leaving back to Athens – the ruined city of Corinth is well worth a visit. Yes, it’s the place where Saint Paul was sending his many letters to the “Corinthians”. It’s definitely rich in history – and features prominently in the shared knowledge of Westerners.

A visit to Mycenae is truly special. It will be unlike anything else you do in Greece: ancient or modern. So give this ancient-ancient city a chance – and let it amaze you!

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