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[[File:The Parthenon in Athens.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|The ruins of the Parthenon today.]]__NOTOC__The rise of Athens in the late 6th century and early 5th century BCE not only ushered in the Classical Age, but it went on to influence European and Western culture for for thousands of years.  This rise occurred in large part largely due to its prominent location and control of key trading routes and leadership in the wars against Persia. While other Greek cities held more powerful armies, such as Sparta, it was Athens' leadership that proved attractive and helped pave the way for its influence.__NOTOC__====Rise to Prominence====At around 508 BCE, Cleisthenes rose to power as a leader of Athens. He is typically credited with being the father of Athenian democracy. While Athenian democracy looks very different from our own democratic systems, his reforms gave more power to the common gentry.<ref>For more on this period of Cleisthenes' rise to power, see: Fine, John Van Antwerp. 1983. ''The Ancient Greeks: A Critical History''. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Pr, pg. 122.</ref> Both the nobility and common free citizens of Athens were able to could participate in the city's government assembly. Common citizens were also able to be appointed to key government posts.  While one might assume these democratic style reforms led to the rise of power, the reality is Athens was already beginning to benefit from its control of key trade along the Mediterranean.<ref>For more on Athens' maritime power, see: Nijf, Onno van, and Fik Meijer. 2014. ''Trade, Transport and Society in the Ancient World a Sourcebook'', pg. 33.</ref> The region of Attica is not highly fertile, leading to Athens becoming a city highly dependent on its external links to colonies and trade.

The bases of city wealth helped Athens to use that wealth in subsequent events that were to shape all of the Greek worldworlds. Athens was involved in the rebellion in Ionia, along the coast of Asia Minor, that saw the Greek cities revolt against their Persian overlords. These revolts were put down; however, Persia was agitated by Athens' support for the rebels. This led to Darius, the Achaemenid Persian king, to invade the Peloponnese peninsula to take revenge against Athens. In particular, the Ionian rebels' burning of Sardis by the Ionian rebels greatly upset the Persians, given that city's great wealth and importance to the Persians.<ref>For more on the Ionian revolt, see: Mac Sweeney, Naoíse. 2013. ''Foundation Myths and Politics in Ancient Ionia''. Cambridge Classical Studies. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, pg. 175.</ref> The invasion then sparked what ultimately developed to be the Greco-Persian wars of the 5th century BCE, where Athens played a leading role among the Greek city-states involved. The initial beginning of this war in 492-490 went well for the Persians, as they destroyed the Greek city of Eretria and captured territory in the Cyclades and Thrace. However, at the Battle of Marathon, about 10,000 Athenians and Plataeans were able to defeat the Persians, perhaps the Greeks' first significant victory against the Persians. This created a setback for the Persians as they could not invade Greece for another 10 years. The second invasion of Greece by the Persian army and fleet was much larger, forcing Athens to create alliances, particularly with Sparta.  Initially, the Persian force was successful at Thermopylae's battle against the Greek allies, although possibly at a great loss. After the battle of Plataea, the Persians were defeated and were forced to retreat once again. From this point, Athens and the Greek allies were on the offensive. This begins Athens' leadership in an alliance that eventually formed the Delian League, which continued the wars against the Persians, mostly in Egypt and Cyprus.<ref> For more on the Greco-Persian wars, see: Green, Peter, and Peter Green. 1996. ''The Greco-Persian Wars''. Berkeley: University of California Press.</ref> ====Leader of the Delian League====[[File:2000px-Map Greco-Persian Wars-en.svg.png|thumbnail|275px|left|Figure 1. Cities (in blue) that fought against the Persians and formed members of the Delian League.]]The excuse that Persia's threat gave and Athens' wealth proved to be key in Athens consolidating power within the Delian league (Figure 1). This led to strife within the league, as the Greek cities began to revolt against Athens's increased power consolidation. Under the Athenian Pericles, the Athenians moved the treasury of the league to Athens. The city also continued to consolidate and take monetary resources, increasing its wealth and power. The cities and regions that followed Athens essentially formed an empire under Athens' leadership by the 450s.  In fact, in 460 BCE, tensions were high, and the Peloponnesian Wars began as Greek cities' rebellions against Athenian hegemony. The Athenians were initially successful in taking control of much of the Peloponnese peninsula. However, costly wars against the Persians eventually led Athens to make peace with Persia, although they had lost many men and spent much of their wealth in being defeated in Egypt.  Athenian brutality against those cities that revolted and neutral regions, such as Melos, created further animosity with now Sparta beginning to take control of an alliance of cities against Athens. While the Athenians continued to gain power by expanding and creating colonies dependent on them, the Spartans began to consolidate power and even allied with the Persians to counteract Athenian control. Sparta then formed its own league, called the Peloponnesian League, which included Corinth and other prominent cities.  Nevertheless, Athens maintained its naval and trade supremacy, enabling it to not only win key battles but also its wealth that fueled its ability to keep its allies and armies able to control large areas in Greece and beyond, including on the Western coast of Anatolia.<ref>For more on the Delian League, see: Fine, John Van Antwerp. 1983. ''The Ancient Greeks: A Critical History''. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Pr.</ref> <dh-ad/>

The invasion then sparked what ultimately developed to be ====Stagnation====[[File:Lawrence_Alma-Tadema_-_Phidias_Showing_the_Frieze_of_the_Parthenon_to_his_Friends.jpg|thumbnail|left|360px|Phidias Showing the Greco-Persian wars Frieze of the 5th century BCEParthenon to Pericles and friends, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, where 1868]]A significant blow to Athens played was a leading role among the Greek city-states involvedplague that broke out in 430 BCE that ultimately not only killed many of its soldiers and naval personnel but its key leaders such as Pericles. The initial beginning of <ref>For more on this war in 492-490 went well for the Persiansplague, see: Kagan, as they destroyed the Greek city Donald. 1998. ''Pericles of Eretria Athens and captured territory in the Cyclades and ThraceBirth of Democracy. New York: Free Press'', pg. 249. </ref> However, Athens was soon re-energized with new leadership in Cleon, who now took the war to the Spartan-led alliance. He successfully defeated Sparta at the Battle of Marathon a force of about 10Sphacteria,000 Athenians and Plataeans were able but this victory proved to defeat the Persiansbe short-lived once again. Cleon was soon killed in battle, perhaps the first significant victory of the Greeks against the Persians. This created a setback for the Persians as they could not invade Greece for another 10 years. The second invasion of Greece by the Persian army and fleet peace was much larger, forcing Athens to create alliances, in particular with Spartathen signed between the warring sides.

Initially Eventually, a new war broke out, and this time the Persian force war was successful at the battle of Thermopylae against the Greek alliesfought in Sicily, although possibly at great lossas Athens tried to expand its influence there. After the battle of Plataea, the Persians were defeated and were forced to retreat While once again. From this point Athens and the Greek allies were on the offensive and this begins Athens' leadership in an alliance that eventually formed the Delian leagueinitially finding some success by having some cities join them, which continued Syracuse led the wars effort against the PersiansAthens and allied itself with Sparta. The Spartans reacted by sending a force to Sicily, mostly now in Egypt and Cypruswhere a series of battles resoundingly defeated Athens.<ref> For more on the Greco-Persian warsCleon and Athens's battles against Sparta, see: GreenPritchard, PeterDavid, and Peter Greened. 19962010. ''The Greco-Persian WarsWar, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens''. BerkeleyCambridge ; New York: Cambridge University of California Press, pg. 83.</ref>

==Leader of Although severely weakened, the Delian League==[[File:2000px-Map Greco-Persian Wars-en.svg.png|thumbnail|Figure 1. Cities (in blue) that fought against the Persians and formed members Athenians held a large reserve of the Delian Leaguenaval forces it could still use.]]The excuse that the threat By 406 BCE, a series of Persia gave naval and Athens' wealth proved to be key in Athens consolidating power within the Delian league (Figure 1). This land victories once again led to strife within the league, as the Greek cities began to revolt against Athens increased consolidation of power. Under the a reinvigorated Athenian Pericles, the Athenians moved the treasury of the league to AthensEmpire. The city also continued to consolidate and take monetary resources, increasing its wealth and power. The cities and regions that followed Athens essentially formed an empire under Athens' leadership by the 450s. In fact, At another naval engagement in 460 BCE406, tensions were high and the Peloponnesian Wars began as rebellions of Greek cities against Athenian hegemony. The Athenians were initially successful in taking control much of the Peloponnese peninsula. Howeverwon a major victory; however, costly wars against the Persians eventually a severe storm led Athens to make peace with Persialosing some of their fleet. For this loss, although they had lost many men and spent much some of their wealth naval leaders were executed, resulting in being defeated in Egyptfurther depletion of their strength.

Athenian brutality against not only those cities that revolted but also regions that were neutralLysander, such as Melosa new Spartan general, created further animosity with now Sparta beginning to take control arose. He took advantage of an alliance of cities against Athens. While this loss in leadership by forcing battle in the Hellespont, where the Athenians continued to gain power by expanding were defeated and creating colonies that were dependent on themdestroyed much of their army. Athens was now trapped, the Spartans began to consolidate power and even allied with the Persians as it did not have a way to counteract Athenian control. Sparta then formed its own leaguesignificant army, called and the Peloponnesian League, that included Corinth and other prominent citiescity now was directly attacked by Sparta. Nevertheless, Athens maintained its naval and trade supremacyWith the city under siege, enabling it was forced to not only win key battles but also its wealth that fueled its ability surrender, leading to keep its allies and armies able to control large areas in Greece and beyond, including on the Western coast total loss of Anatoliapower for Athens and its great empire's fall.<ref>For more on the Delian Leaguelast phases of the war against Sparta, see: FinePowell, John Van AntwerpAnton. 19832016. ''The Ancient GreeksAthens and Sparta: A Critical Constructing Greek Political and Social Historyfrom 478 BC. Third edition''. CambridgeMilton Park, Abingdon, Mass.Oxon: Harvard Univ. PrRoutledge.</ref>

==Stagnation==[[File:Lawrence_Alma-Tadema_-_Phidias_Showing_the_Frieze_of_the_Parthenon_to_his_Friends.jpg|thumbnail|300px|Phidias Showing the Frieze of the Parthenon to Pericles Conclusion and friends, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1868]]Impact====A significant blow to While Athens was a plague that broke out did recover in 430 BCE that ultimately not only killed many of its soldiers and naval personnel but its key leaders such as Pericles.<ref>For more on this plague, see: Kaganthe decades to come, Donald. 1998. ''Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy. New York: Free Press'', pg. 249. </ref> However, Athens was soon reGreek city-energized with new leadership states could never recover their full power and continued their internal wars in the form of Cleon, who now took Corinthian conflict in the war to the Spartan-led allianceearly 4th century BCE. He was successful in defeating Sparta at This paved the battle rise of Sphacteria, but once again this victory proved to be short-lived. Cleon was soon killed in battle and a peace was then signed between the warring sides. Eventually a new war broke out Macedonians under Philip II and this time Alexander the war was fought in SicilyGreat, as Athens tried to expand its influence therewho ultimately united the Greeks under their leadership. While the rise of the Macedonians meant that the Athenians never regained centralized power once again initially finding some success by having some cities join them, Syracuse led as they had in the effort against Athens and allied itself with Sparta. The Spartans reacted by sending a force to Sicily5th century BCE, where after a series they were now part of battles resoundingly defeated Athens.<ref> For more on much larger political entities, first under the battles leadership of Cleon and Athens against Sparta, see: Pritchard, David, ed. 2010. ''War, Democracy the Macedonians and Culture in Classical Athens''. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, pg. 83later under Rome.</ref>

Although severely weakenedAthens became renowned not just for its democratic system, the Athenians held a large reserve of naval forces it could still usewhich lasted for over 100 years, but also for scholars and philosophers. By 406 BCEFrom Pericles's time, a series of naval philosophers and land victories once again led scholars alike traveled to a reinvigorated Athenian Empire. At another naval engagement in 406, Athens from throughout the Athenians won a major victory; however, a severe storm led Greek world to them loosing some of their fleetstudy under Athens patronage. For this loss, some of their naval leaders were executed, resulting in a further depletion of their strength. Lysander, a new Spartan general, arose The famous Platonic school and he took advantage of this loss in leadership by forcing battle in the Hellespont, where the Athenians Lyceum were defeated and much two institutions of their army destroyed. learning that became famous within Athens was now trapped, as it did not have a significant army and the city now was directly attacked by Spartahelped shape Western thinking. With the city under siegeFamous philosophers such as Plato, it was forced to surrenderAristotle, leading to the total loss of power for Athens and the fall of its great empire.<ref> For more on the last phases of the war against Sparta, see: Powell, Anton. 2016. ''Socrates were all associated with Athens and Sparta: Constructing Greek Political and Social History from 478 BC. Third edition''. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledgeat some point in their lives.</ref>

==Conclusion The Parthenon (Figure 2) and Impact==While Athens did recover Acropolis became inspirations for architecture in the decades to come, Athens Classical Age and Western Enlightenment in the late 17th and 18th centuries when Greek thought became influential once more. Among relatively few cities, Athens was given a free city-states were never able to recover their full power , where its schools and institutions continued their internal wars in the Corinthian conflict to thrive in the early 4th century BCERoman period. This paved the rise of the Macedonians under Philip II ensured that Athens continued to be influential despite its lost political and eventually Alexander the Greateconomic power.<ref> For more on Athens' impact, see: Waterfield, who ultimately united the Greeks under their leadershipRobin. 2004. While the rise of the Macedonians meant that the Athenians never regained centralized power once again as they had in the 5th century BCE''Athens: A History, they were now part of much larger political entitiesfrom Ancient Ideal to Modern City''. New York, first under the leadership of the Macedonians and later under RomeNY: Basic Books. </ref>

Athens became renown not just for its democratic system, which lasted for over 100 years, but also as a place for scholars and philosophers. From the time of Pericles, philosophers and scholars alike traveled to Athens from throughout the Greek world to study under Athens patronage. The famous Platonic school and the Lyceum were two institutions of learning that became famous within Athens and helped to shape Western though. Famous philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates were all associated with Athens at some point in their lives. The Parthenon (Figure 2) and Acropolis became inspirations for architecture in the Classical Age and Western Enlightenment in the late 17th and 18th centuries, when Greek thought became influential once more. Among relatively few cities, Athens was given the status of a free city, where its schools and institutions continued to thrive in the Roman period. This insured that Athens continued to be influential despite its lost political and economic power.<refyoutube> For more on Athens' impact, seehttps: Waterfield, Robin//www. 2004. ''Athens: A History, from Ancient Ideal to Modern City''. New York, NY: Basic Booksyoutube.com/watch?v=ar8S6virCwM</refyoutube>

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