Classical Athens

Classical Athens refers to the city of Athens from 508 to 322 BC. Athenian democracy was established in 508 BC under Cleisthenes, after the tyranny of the Peistratids and the rule of Isagoras. This system remained remarkably stable, and with a few brief interruptions remained in place for 180 years, until 322 BC. Athens was one of the most powerful cities in ancient times. It was important because there democracy developed.^[1]

In 477 B.C. Athens began the Delian League to join the city-states for protection. Their rival was the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. The Delian League's money was kept in the temple of Apollo.

In the classical period, Athens was a center for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Akademia and Aristotle's Lyceum.^[2][3] Athens was also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles, and other philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world. It is widely referred to as the cradle of western civilization, and the birthplace of democracy.^[4] Its culture and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC had widespread effects.^[5]

The classical period is usually dealt with by its most important political events, as follows:

• Athenian hegemony or Age of Pericles (448–430 BC)
• Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC)
• Corinthian War and the Second Athenian League (395–355 BC)
• Athens under Macedon (355–322 BC)

1. ↑ Hofflund, Ethel. History and Geography 603 The Civilizations of Greece and Rome. Rock Rapids: Alpha Omega Publications.
2. ↑ "Plato's Academy". Hellenic Ministry of Culture. www.culture.gr. Archived from the original on 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
3. ↑ CNN & Associated Press (1997-01-16). "Greece uncovers 'holy grail' of Greek archeology". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 2005-04-04. Retrieved 2007-03-28. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
4. ↑ "BBC - History - Ancient History in depth The Democratic Experiment". Retrieved 2007-12-26.
5. ↑ Encarta: Ancient Greece Archived 2009-01-29 at the Wayback Machine—Retrieved on 26 January 2007. 2009-10-31.