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When did ancient Greek civilization begin and end?

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The Parthenon stands atop the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece, surrounded by ancient stone walls and ruins, with city buildings and a distant hill in the background. — ancient Greek civilization The Acropolis, Athens.

Ancient Greek civilization is generally defined as the period following the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization, which ended around 1200 BCE, and lasting until the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE.1

While this specific span defines the core of ancient Greek civilization, it is often discussed within the broader context of Classical antiquity. This larger historical era began in the 8th century BCE—marked by the literary output of Homer and the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE—and concluded with the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE.12