In 800 BCE, almost 300 years after the Dark Age began, Greek civilization slowly emerged again. The Greeks started trading more with the outside world, they held the first Olympic Games and they fought off the invading Persian army. This period is known by historians as the Archaic period of Greek history. During this time many of the cities in Greece were ruled by a king-like figure.

Around 480 BCE, Greece entered a golden age which lasted for 200 years. The people built fantastic temples, made scientific discoveries, wrote plays and founded the first proper democracy. Historians call this ‘Classical Greece’.

The final period of Greek history is known as the ‘Hellenistic' period. This lasted from 323 BCE to 30 BCE, when the Romans took control of Greece. The Romans didn't destroy Greek life, though. They respected the Greeks and copied many things about their culture, including their buildings, beliefs and clothes.