Ancient Athens: Rise, Dominance, and Legacy

The Persian Wars: Athenian Triumph

In the 5th century BC, the Persians (Medes), an eastern power, had subjected the Greek city-states of Asia Minor and set out to conquer Greece in what became known as the Persian Wars.

In 490 BC, the Persians landed on the plain of Marathon, but were repulsed by an army of Athenian hoplites.

Ten years later, the Athenians returned to defeat the Persians in the decisive naval Battle of Salamis. The maritime Persians, finally defeated, left Greece.

Athens Dominates Greece: The Delian League

The victory over the Persians awarded Athens a dominant role over the other Greek city-states. This led to the formation of the Delian League, a partnership led by Athens. The city-states contributed money to maintain a navy, in anticipation of a new Persian attack.

Athens collected the taxes paid by these city-states and kept the treasury on the island of Delos, thus beginning a period of great splendor.

When some city-states, tired of Athens' abusive dominance, wanted to abandon the alliance, Athens prevented them by force. Athens then established Athenian settlers and soldiers in various strategic points, which allowed it to obtain land for its surplus population and markets for its merchants.

In addition, Athens transferred the treasury of the League to the city of Athens and forced the other city-states to pay a new tax to maintain its army and fleet. The League had effectively become an Athenian Empire.

The End of Athenian Hegemony

Athenian domination lasted until the Peloponnesian War, which pitted it against other Greek city-states (Corinth, Sparta, etc.). These wars ruined Athens and ended its period of hegemony over the rest of the polis.

Half a century later, almost all the city-states came under the command of a Macedonian king named Philip II.

The Acropolis of Athens: Symbol of Splendor

In the 5th century BC, Athens, as a leading city-state, wanted to demonstrate the superiority of its political and social system by beautifying its city and hosting philosophers and artists. One of the architects of that greatness was Pericles.

The Acropolis was a hill where the first Athenians settled, around which the old city of Athens arose.

Following the burning of Athens by the Persians during the Persian Wars, the Athenians rebuilt their city, built high walls around the Acropolis, and transformed this space into a religious center.

Great artists such as the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, and the sculptor Phidias, participated in the reconstruction project.