1050–950
Ionians colonize coast of Asia Minor aka Anatolia 
(present-day Albania, Turkey, Syria)
Britanica Article
Ionians colonize coast of Asia Minor aka Anatolia (present-day Albania, Turkey, Syria)
Britanica Article
Traditional date for founding of Rome.
Greek alphabet developed from Phoenician-Hebrew prototype
Homeric Epics, Iliad, Odyssey
Solon archon of Athens; law code of Solon
Rise of the Roman Republic
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
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.
Sophocles is born
Protagoras is born. Dies circa 420. The Battle of Marathon, September
Athenian archons chosen by lot
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.
Euripides, tragedian is born. Dies 406.
The Birth of Rhetoric (traditionally) Thrasybulus, tyrant of Syracuse, overthrown. Corax and Tisias. The first techne.
Socrates is born
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
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"
Athenians institute radical democracy -- one man, one vote; First Peloponnesian War.
Isocrates is born. Dies 338. An older contemporary of Plato, student of Socrates, the "father of eloquence" according to Cicero.
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)
Pericles' Funeral Oration
Outbreak of plague that ultimately killed 30,000 Athenians (and who knows how many non-citzens)
Pericles dies; Cleon leads Athens
Gorgias of Leontini, sophist, arrives with embassy to Athens.
Plato is born.
Aristophanes, comedian, begins career; Herodotus dies.
Aristophanes, The Clouds (making fun of philosophy, Socrates in particular)
Plato joins the circle of Socrates. Isocrates is there as well.
End of the Peloponnesia War, Athens defeated, oligarchy sponsored by Sparta is established in Athens.
Other rhetoricians flourishing about this time: Evenus of Paros, Callippus, Pamphilus, Lycophron, Polus, Licymnius, unknown author of Dissoi Logoi.
Socrates condemned, offered exile, chooses suicide
Isocrates opens his school at Athens
391: Against the Sophists
Demosthenes and Aristotle are born. Both die in 322.
Plato's Gorgias is published.
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.
Plato's, Phaedrus is published (20 years after Gorgias).
Isocrates' Antidosis (38 years after Against the Sophists)
Plato dies.
Anaximines, Rhetoric to Alexander
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.
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.
Death of Alexander, beginning of the "hellenistic age", constant battles among Alexander's generals for dynastic control, spread of Greek language, culture, and education.
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.
Theophrastus' On Characters is published. He was Aristotle's successor.
Demetrius' On Style is published.
Rome expels all rhetoricians and philosophers.
Hermagoras of Temnos. Credited with introduction of stasis system of invention.
The Epicurean philosopher Philodemos writes, On Rhetoric
Cicero (Marcus Tullius) is born.
Crassus issues edict forbidding the teaching of rhetoric in Latin.
Cicero writes De Inventione (age 14).
Rhetoric ad Herrenium
Cicero, De Orator.
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.
Civil War
Cicero writes Brutus and Orator
Ceaser assasinated
Cicero dies
Nero is born
Seneca the Elder publishes Suasoria and Controversia, a memoir about oratory in Rome with many examples.
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
Quintilian is born. Dies 118.
Longinus, On the Sublime.
Cornelius Tacitus is born. Dies 117. Published Dialogue on Oratory in 75.
Dionysius of Halicarnasus
Quintilian appointed head of state school of oratory in Rome.
Polemo (Marcus Antonius) of Smyrna is born.
Quintilian publishes Institio Oratoria
Lucian (Lucianus of Samosata) is born. He dies in 180. The Parasite. The Rhetorician's Way of Life.
Aelius Aristides is born. Dies 187.
Sextus Empiricus, Phronian Skeptic is born. Dies 210 Against The Rhetoricians. (PDF)
Philostratus
Hermogenes of Tarsus, Techne, including On Staseis and On Qualities of Style.
Libanius of Antioch is born. Prolific sophist. Many speeches and letters have survived, including an autobirography. Dies 394.
Constantinople founded
Division of Roman Empire into East (Constantinople = Byzantium) and West (Rome)
Augustine of Hippo is Born. Dies 430
Apthonius, Progymnasmata.
Rome falls to the Vandals