Koine → Modern Greek
A concise timeline from Hellenistic koine to contemporary Greek with key phonology, morphology, and script notes.
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What this is
A simple, three‑era timeline from Koine to Modern Greek, with the most impactful changes only.
Why it matters
It frames what shifted (sounds, forms, script) so learners see continuity, not chaos.
How to read it
Each era card shows time span, name, and one‑line gist. Use ‘Notable shifts’ for detail, then skim ‘See also’.
Greek Timeline
Three eras you can hold in your head
4th c. BCE → 4th c. CE
Koine Greek
Common Hellenistic Greek; simplifies Classical morphology; levels dialect differences.
Medieval → Early Modern
Byzantine & Middle Greek
Phonology shifts continue; diglossia grows between learned and vernacular styles.
19th–20th c. → Today
Modern Greek
Standardization toward Demotic; 1982 monotonic orthography for everyday writing.
Notable shifts
- Vowel mergers (iotacism): several vowels/diphthongs converge toward /i/.
- Loss of dative in common usage; increased use of prepositions.
- Participles reduced in everyday speech; periphrastic constructions grow.
- Accent reforms: monotonic replaces polytonic for everyday use in 1982.
Koine in context
Koine served as a lingua franca. Variation existed across regions and time; the timeline emphasizes clarity over exhaustive detail.
See also
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