Some historians refer to this period as "The Golden Age" of the Greeks
This period saw the development of democracy in Athens around the 6th century BC
The "Golden Age" was formed in a crucible of fire, with many tragic events taking place during this period
The Peloponnesian War of 430-404 BC tragically culminated the long rivalry of Athens and Sparta and greatly weakened both cities, especially Athens
The devastating plague that befell Athens in 430 BC and lasted two years carried off one-third of its population, including Perikles
Solon
Introduced democratic reforms in Athens
Peisistratos
Benevolent tyrant who ruled Athens from 561to527 BC
Kleisthenes
Reorganized the Athenian state and broadened the application of power, establishing true representation of the people in government for the first time in history
Athens and Sparta were close rivals both before and during the Persian Wars
Delian League
Confederacy created in 478-477 BC with Athens as its leader, including many Greek cities in addition to those of AsiaMinor
Athens was gradually turning the Delian League alliance into an empire
Perikles
Provided the leadership qualities that developed and brought together the political, financial, and cultural attributes that made Athens the unparalleled and unforgettable classical civilization
Perikles' building program transformed Athens into a beautiful and inspiring city
Prominent individuals of the Periklean Age
Anaxagoras
Hippodamos
Herodotos
Hippocrates
Protagoras
Pindar
Perikles kept the Delian League members together under Athens' leadership, even after Persia was no longer a threat and in spite of Spartan rivalry
The revolt of Samos in 441 BC, which for a time threatened to bring the Persians back into the Aegean, was severely punished by Athens
The Peloponnesian War, which began in 431 BC, and the devastating plague of 430 brought tragedy and an end to the GoldenAge of Athens
Athens' point of view
Keeping the league members together under her leadership, even after Persia was no longer a threat and in spite of Spartan rivalry
Certain court proceedings were reserved to be heard in Athens, which contributed to Athens' hold on the other city-states
A coinage law passed in 450 BC attempted to unify the currency among League members
While Athens was always helpful to cooperating members, she was harsh to rebellious ones
The revolt of Samos in 441 BC threatened to bring the Persians back into the Aegean on the island's side, but Athens prevailed after a long siege, and Samos was severely punished
The bitter consequences of the Samian revolt were not forgotten by the other members
The plague raged in Athens for two years, and about one-third of the Athenians died of it
Perikles was removed from office in the late summer of 430 BC, everyone blaming him for the war and other accumulated grievances, and even for the plague
Although he was brought back again in the spring of 429, he had already contracted the plague himself and died of it three months later
The Parthenon, crowning the hill of Akropolis in the center of Athens, is the greatest symbol of classical Greece
The existing Parthenon owes its existence to the Persians, who, invading Athens in 480 BC, destroyed the buildings that had originally stood over the Akropolis
Perikles decided to raise a new, magnificent temple to Athena, the city's patron-goddess, as a symbol of the revival of Athens
Pheidias, the most famous sculptor at the time, was appointed to be in charge of planning and overseeing the project, and Iktinos and Kallikrates were named as the architect-builders
The material used throughout was white marble, from the quarry of Mount Pentelikon, 11 miles (18kilometers) to the northeast of the city
The Classical Age
(c.600-323 BC)
Some historians refer to this period as "The Golden Age" of the Greeks
This period saw the introduction of democracy around the 6th century BC to a people who had been ruled by kings and oligarchs for many centuries
The "Golden Age" was formed in a crucible of fire, with numerous small wars between city-states, Persian invasions, the Peloponnesian War, and a devastating plague
Despite the turmoil, the rich creativity of the period and the development of democratic government in Athens under Solon has remained as its legacy
Solon
Introduced democratic reforms in Athens
Solon exiled himself from Athens for 10 years to allow his democratic reforms to become established on their own merit
Peisistratos seized power in Athens in 561 BC, but did not change Solon's reforms and even encouraged them