Greeks, Classical

The ethnogenesis of the Greek nation is linked to the development of Pan-Hellenism in the eighth century BCE.

According to some scholars, the foundational event was the Olympic Games in 776 BCE, when the idea of a common Hellenism among the Greek tribes is first translated into a shared cultural experience and Hellenism was primarily a matter of common culture.

The works of Homer (i.e., Iliad and Odyssey) and Hesiod (i.e., Theogony) are written in the eighth century BCE, becoming the basis of the national religion, ethos, history and mythology.

The Oracle of Apollo at Delphi is established in this period.

The classical period of Greek civilization covers a time spanning from the early fifth century BCE to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 BCE (some authors prefer to split this period into "Classical", from the end of the Persian wars to the end of the Peloponnesian War, and "Fourth Century", up to the death of Alexander).

It is so named because it set the standards by which Greek civilization would be judged in later eras.

The Classical period is also described as the "Golden Age" of Greek civilization, and its art, philosophy, architecture and literature will be instrumental in the formation and development of Western culture.

While the Greeks of the classical era understand themselves to belong to a common Hellenic genos, their first loyalty is to their city and they see nothing incongruous about warring, often brutally, with other Greek city-states.

The Peloponnesian War, the large scale civil war between the two most powerful Greek city-states Athens and Sparta and their allies, leaves both greatly weakened.

Most of the feuding Greek city-states are, in some scholars' opinions, united under the banner of Philip's and Alexander the Great's Pan-Hellenic ideals, though others might generally opt, rather, for an explanation of "Macedonian conquest for the sake of conquest" or at least conquest for the sake of riches, glory and power and view the "ideal" as useful propaganda directed towards the city-states.

In any case, Alexander's toppling of the Achaemenid Empire, after his victories at the battles of the Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela, and his advance as far as modern-day Pakistan and Tajikistan, provide  an important outlet for Greek culture, via the creation of colonies and trade routes along the way.

While the Alexandrian empire does not survive its creator's death intact, the cultural implications of the spread of Hellenism across much of the Middle East and Asia are to prove long lived as Greek becpmes the lingua franca, a position it will retain even in Roman times.

Many Greeks settle in Hellenistic cities like Alexandria, Antioch and Seleucia.

Two thousand years later, there are still communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan, like the Kalash, who claim to be descended from Greek settlers.

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