Timeline Description: The ancient Greek philosopher (427 to 347 BCE) Plato was a follower of Socrates, and was later the teacher of Aristotle. Plato formed the foundations of much of Western philosophy, and provided records of Socratic teachings.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 427 BC | Plato Was Born(427 BCE) Plato, the best known of Socrates' followers, was born in 427 BCE in the city of Athens. He was still a young man when his teacher died. |
| 407 BC | Plato Met Socrates(407 BCE) At around 20 years old, Plato met Socrates. He took a strong interest in politics at this time. |
| 403 BC | Plato Took an Interest in Philosophy(403 BCE) Plato, having already given up playwriting, abandoned his interest in politics for an interest in Socratic philosophy. |
| 399 BC | Socrates Died(399 BCE) After the trial, Socrates was condemned to die by poison. He took the poison and died in 399 BCE. |
| 398 BC | Plato Fled to Megara(398 BCE) Plato and others in Socrates' close circle fled to the city of Megara following Socrates' death to avoid potential prosecution in Athens. |
| 398 BC | Plato Travelled(398 to 380 BCE) For nearly 20 years, Plato travelled through much of the ancient Greek world, including Egypt, Italy, Syracuse and Sicily. |
| 380 BC | Plato Founded Academy(380 BCE) In 380 BCE, Plato founded the Academy outside of Athens to teach philosophy. The best-known of his students, Aristotle, would go on to have a lasting impact of his own. |
| 367 BC | Second Trip to Syracuse(367 BCE) Plato made his second trip to Syracuse around 367 BCE. He was in close contact with the king of Syracuse. |
| 367 BC | Aristotle Began Studies(367 BCE) In 367 BCE, Aristotle began his studies at Plato's Academy. |
| 361 BC | Final Trip to Syracuse(361 BCE) In 361 BCE, Plato made his final trip to Syracuse. He had been, for some time, attempting to turn the king of Syracuse into a philosopher-king. He was not successful. |
| 347 BC | Plato Died(347 BCE) Plato died in 347 BCE at the Academy where he lived and worked. |
| 347 BC | Aristotle Left the Academy(347 BCE) After Plato's death, Aristotle left the Academy, moving on to found his own philosophical academy. |
| 529 | Plato's Academy Closed(529 CE) Plato's Academy functioned for nearly 1000 years, until it was closed by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. |