The battle of Chaeronea, in 338, at which Philip of Macedon defeated Athens, Thebes and their allies, marks the end of Greek freedom in the sense that after that the Greek states enjoyed only as much freedom as the greater powers of the Mediterranean region chose to allow them. However, the smaller Greek states had commonly had their freedom limited by one or more of the larger. The absolute freedom which was no longer available had never been available except to Sparta, Athens and a few other cities: their position was indeed worsened, but most states for most of the time, though not absolutely free, were not subjected to direct rule by the greater powers, and after Chaeronea life continued to be lived very much as it had been lived before.

Greek city states and their institutions remained vigorous, and indeed Greeks and Greek cities were transplanted to barbarian territory by Alexander the Great. Kings expected to be flattered, and we find grateful states naming new tribes after kings and giving messages from kings priority in the agenda of their assemblies, but we have the impression of continuity as we see the states running their internal affairs, quarrelling and negotiating with other states, and combining in federations and leagues. Even the Roman conquest did not make an abrupt change.