Ancient Greece's history began to unfold after the fall of advanced bronze age societies in the second millennium BC. These societies, which were centered around palaces in Crete, the Greek mainland, and the Aegean islands, utilized writing for administrative purposes and dominated the surrounding agricultural areas. However, they experienced a decline following disturbances in the 13th century BC.

In the subsequent centuries, the early iron age Greek communities were predominantly small, self-reliant farming settlements. As these communities expanded and engaged in more trade, they evolved into independent city-states. Each city-state had its own set of laws, administrative positions, and calendars. Despite these differences, they were bound together by a common language, religious rituals, and a collective identity as Greeks.

After the dark age, the Greeks were left without a writing system. To overcome this, they adapted the Phoenician alphabet into a format that could be widely taught and learned. They also embraced the concept of coinage from the Lydians of western Asia Minor in the 6th century BC. This innovation facilitated the growth of trade and fostered stronger connections between cities.

By the 8th century BC, Greece was transitioning from a period of isolation to a time of expansion and interaction with neighboring civilizations. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Ancient Greece, characterized by increased trade, cultural exchange, and the development of unique city-states.