1050–950

Ionians colonize coast of Asia Minor aka Anatolia (present-day Albania, Turkey, Syria)
Britanica Article

753

Traditional date for founding of Rome.

750

Greek alphabet developed from Phoenician-Hebrew prototype

700

Homeric Epics, Iliad, Odyssey

594

Solon archon of Athens; law code of Solon

509

Rise of the Roman Republic

507

Cleisthenes From Wiki:" Cleisthenes was an ancient Athenian lawgiver credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 508 BC. For these accomplishments, historians refer to him as "the father of Athenian democracy." He was a member of the aristocratic Alcmaeonid clan. He was the younger son of Megacles and Agariste making him the maternal grandson of the tyrant Cleisthenes of Sicyon. He was also credited with increasing the power of the Athenian citizens' assembly and for reducing the power of the nobility over Athenian politics." (link) introduces democratic reforms in Athens

499

Start of the Persian wars (ended 448). This conflict forged Greek identity by providing a common enemy, though the Greek city states were largely autonamous and aliances constantly shifting.

497

Sophocles is born

circa 490

Protagoras is born. Dies circa 420. The Battle of Marathon, September

487

Athenian archons chosen by lot

480 - 411

Antiphon, From Wiki:" Antiphon of Rhamnus (480–411 BC) was the earliest of the ten Attic orators, and an important figure in fifth-century Athenian political and intellectual life....Antiphon was a statesman who took up rhetoric as a profession. He was active in political affairs in Athens, and, as a zealous supporter of the oligarchical party, was largely responsible for the establishment of the Four Hundred in 411 (see Theramenes); upon restoration of the democracy shortly afterwards, he was accused of treason and condemned to death....Antiphon may be regarded as the founder of political oratory, but he never addressed the people himself except on the occasion of his trial. ...His chief business was that of a logographer (λογογράφος), that is a professional speech-writer. He wrote for those who felt incompetent to conduct their own cases—all disputants were obliged to do so—without expert assistance. Fifteen of Antiphon's speeches are extant: twelve are mere school exercises on fictitious cases, divided into tetralogies, each comprising two speeches for prosecution and defence—accusation, defence, reply, counter-reply; three refer to actual legal processes. All deal with cases of homicide (φονικαὶ δίκαι). Antiphon is also said to have composed a Τέχνη or art of Rhetoric." author of The Tetralogies, paired arguments for and against, is born. The Battle of Thermopylae, Sparta, Leonides and the 300, endured for three days but Xerxes killed them all.

480

Euripides, tragedian is born. Dies 406.

476

The Birth of Rhetoric (traditionally) Thrasybulus, tyrant of Syracuse, overthrown. Corax and Tisias. The first techne.

circa 470

Socrates is born

circa 465

Prodicus of Ceos From Wiki:" Prodicus of Ceos ( c. 465 BC – c. 395 BC) was a Greek philosopher, and part of the first generation of Sophists. He came to Athens as ambassador from Ceos, and became known as a speaker and a teacher. Plato treats him with greater respect than the other sophists, and in several of the Platonic dialogues Socrates appears as the friend of Prodicus. One writer claims Socrates used his method of instruction.[1] Prodicus made linguistics and ethics prominent in his curriculum. The content of one of his speeches is still known, and concerns a fable in which Heracles has to make a choice between Virtue and Vice. He also interpreted religion through the framework of naturalism. " is born

461

Pericles From Wiki:" Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) was a prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during its golden age – specifically the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. ...Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire, and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War. The period during which he led Athens, roughly from 461 to 429 BC, is sometimes known as the "Age of Pericles"... Pericles promoted the arts and literature; it is principally through his efforts that Athens acquired the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world. He started an ambitious project that generated most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified and protected the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people. Pericles also fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist." He died of the plague in 429. begins public career in Athens. Beginning of Athenian "Golden Age"

461

Athenians institute radical democracy -- one man, one vote; First Peloponnesian War.

436

Isocrates is born. Dies 338. An older contemporary of Plato, student of Socrates, the "father of eloquence" according to Cicero.

431

Start of the second Peloponesian war, war between Athens and Sparta (ended 404, with the temporary destruction of democracy in Athens, the reign of the 30 Oligarchs)

430

Pericles' Funeral Oration
Outbreak of plague that ultimately killed 30,000 Athenians (and who knows how many non-citzens)

429

Pericles dies; Cleon leads Athens

427

Gorgias of Leontini, sophist, arrives with embassy to Athens.

circa 427

Plato is born.

425

Aristophanes, comedian, begins career; Herodotus dies.

423

Aristophanes, The Clouds (making fun of philosophy, Socrates in particular)

407

Plato joins the circle of Socrates. Isocrates is there as well.

404

End of the Peloponnesia War, Athens defeated, oligarchy sponsored by Sparta is established in Athens.

circa 400

Other rhetoricians flourishing about this time: Evenus of Paros, Callippus, Pamphilus, Lycophron, Polus, Licymnius, unknown author of Dissoi Logoi.

399

Socrates condemned, offered exile, chooses suicide

393

Isocrates opens his school at Athens
391: Against the Sophists

384

Demosthenes and Aristotle are born. Both die in 322.

380

Plato's Gorgias is published.

367

Aristotle joins Plato's Academy.
First plebeian consul elected to assembly at Rome; plebeians become eligible to serve as magistrates and thus eventually to enter the Senate.

circa 360

Plato's, Phaedrus is published (20 years after Gorgias).

353

Isocrates' Antidosis (38 years after Against the Sophists)

347

Plato dies.

341

Anaximines, Rhetoric to Alexander

338

Philip of Macedon (Alexander's father) defeats Athenians and Thebans at Chaeronea.
Isocrates dies. He was a champion of Philip's conquest or unification of Helenic cities and expansion of Greek empire.

335

Aristotle settles at Athens, after having taught Alexander in Macedon, founds Peripatetic School near Lyceum. Produces Rhetoric Bks. I-II. Preceded by the Organon: Categories, On Interpretation, Topics, Prior Analytics, Posterior Analytics. Followed by On Sophistical Refutations, Nichomachean Ethics, Politics, Poetics, and Rhetoric Bk. III. Lost works: Synagoge technon; Rhetoric to Theodectes; Gryllus.

323

Death of Alexander, beginning of the "hellenistic age", constant battles among Alexander's generals for dynastic control, spread of Greek language, culture, and education.

322

Athenian constitution altered; oligarchy imposed, enforced by Macedonian garrison
Aristotle dies (born 384), Demosthenes dies (born 384).
Hyperides, Funeral Oration for Athenian dead in last battle against Macedon.

300

Theophrastus' On Characters is published. He was Aristotle's successor.

250

Demetrius' On Style is published.

161

Rome expels all rhetoricians and philosophers.

circa 150

Hermagoras of Temnos. Credited with introduction of stasis system of invention.

circa 110 - 40

The Epicurean philosopher Philodemos writes, On Rhetoric

106

Cicero (Marcus Tullius) is born.

92

Crassus issues edict forbidding the teaching of rhetoric in Latin.

86

Cicero writes De Inventione (age 14).

circa 86 - 83

Rhetoric ad Herrenium

55

Cicero, De Orator.

53

Dionysious of Halicarnassos is born. Moves to Rome around 30 B.C.E.
Most important works, Prologue to the Ancient Orators and Critical Essays, On Literary Composition.

49 - 45

Civil War

46

Cicero writes Brutus and Orator

March 15, 44

Ceaser assasinated

43

Cicero dies


Before Current Era

Current Era

37

Nero is born

crica 40

Seneca the Elder publishes Suasoria and Controversia, a memoir about oratory in Rome with many examples.

40

Dio Cocceianus Chrysostomus "Dio Chrysostom of Prusa or Dio Cocceianus (c. 40 – c. 115 AD), was a Greek orator, writer, philosopher and historian of the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD. Eighty of his Discourses (or Orations; Λόγοι) are extant, as well as a few Letters and a funny mock essay "In Praise of Hair", as well as a few other fragments. His surname Chrysostom comes from the Greek chrysostomos (χρυσόστομος), which literally means "golden-mouthed." (link) of Prusa is born. dies 115

circa 42

Quintilian is born. Dies 118.

50

Longinus, On the Sublime.

circa 55

Cornelius Tacitus is born. Dies 117. Published Dialogue on Oratory in 75.

circa 60

Dionysius of Halicarnasus

80

Quintilian appointed head of state school of oratory in Rome.

88

Polemo (Marcus Antonius) of Smyrna is born.

92

Quintilian publishes Institio Oratoria

circa 120

Lucian (Lucianus of Samosata) is born. He dies in 180. The Parasite. The Rhetorician's Way of Life.

117

Aelius Aristides is born. Dies 187.

160

Sextus Empiricus, Phronian Skeptic is born. Dies 210 Against The Rhetoricians. (PDF)

170

Philostratus

circa 175

Hermogenes of Tarsus, Techne, including On Staseis and On Qualities of Style.

circa 314

Libanius of Antioch is born. Prolific sophist. Many speeches and letters have survived, including an autobirography. Dies 394.

330

Constantinople founded

395

Division of Roman Empire into East (Constantinople = Byzantium) and West (Rome)

395

Augustine of Hippo is Born. Dies 430

circa 400

Apthonius, Progymnasmata.

410

Rome falls to the Vandals