776 BC       The first Olympic games.         about 750 BC     Early Greek culture. Homer writes the epics 'The Iliad' and the 'Odyssey'.   650 - 580 BC     Corinth is ruled by the tyrant Kypselos and then his son Periander.         508 BC        Democracy begins in Athens   490 and 480 BC     Greeks defeat Persian invaders at the battles of Marathon (490 BC) and Salamis (480 BC).         by 450 BC       Athens becomes a very powerful city, and controls an empire.