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{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}[[File:The Parthenon in Athens.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|The ruins of the Parthenon today.]]The rise of Athens in the late 6th century and early 5th century BCE not only ushered in the Classical Age that , but it went on to influence not only the ancient world but also Europe European and Western culture in the millennia after its prominence. This rise occurred in large part due to its prominent location and control for for thousands 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 influenceyears.

This rise occurred in large part 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 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. [[File:Greek-Persian_duel.jpg|300px|left|thumbnail|Greek hoplite and Persian warrior fighting]]The bases of city wealth helped Athens to use that wealth in subsequent events that were to shape all of the Greek world. 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 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 a force of about 10,000 Athenians and Plataeans were able to defeat the Persians, 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 was much larger, forcing Athens to create alliances, in particular with Sparta.  Initially the Persian force was successful at the battle of Thermopylae against the Greek allies, although possibly at 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 and this begins Athens' leadership in an alliance that eventually formed the Delian league, which continued the wars against the Persians, mostly now 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>

At around 508 BCE, Cleisthenes rose to power as a leader ====Leader of Athensthe Delian League====[[File:2000px-Map Greco-Persian Wars-en.svg.png|thumbnail|275px|left|Figure 1. He is typically credited with being Cities (in blue) that fought against the father Persians and formed members of Athenian democracy. While Athenian democracy looks very different from our own democratic systems, his reforms gave more power to the common gentryDelian League.<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 excuse that the nobility threat of Persia gave and common free citizens of Athens were able to participate in the city's government assembly. Common citizens were also able wealth proved to be appointed to key government postsin Athens consolidating power within the Delian league (Figure 1). While one might assume these democratic style reforms This led to strife within the league, as the rise Greek cities began to revolt against Athens increased consolidation of power. Under the Athenian Pericles, the reality is Athenians moved the treasury of the league to Athens was already beginning . The city also continued to benefit from consolidate and take monetary resources, increasing its control of key trade along the Mediterraneanwealth and power.<ref>For more on The cities and regions that followed Athens essentially formed an empire under Athens' maritime powerleadership by the 450s. In fact, see: Nijf, Onno vanin 460 BCE, tensions were high and Fik Meijerthe Peloponnesian Wars began as rebellions of Greek cities against Athenian hegemony. 2014. ''Trade, Transport and Society The Athenians were initially successful in taking control much of the Ancient World a Sourcebook'', pg. 33Peloponnese peninsula.</ref> The region of Attica is not highly fertileHowever, leading to costly wars against the Persians eventually led Athens becoming a city highly dependent on its external links to colonies make peace with Persia, although they had lost many men and tradespent much of their wealth in being defeated in Egypt.

The bases of city wealth helped Athens to use Athenian brutality against not only those cities that wealth in subsequent events revolted but also regions that were neutral, such as Melos, created further animosity with now Sparta beginning to shape all take control of the Greek world. Athens was involved in the rebellion in Ionia, along the coast an alliance of Asia Minor, that saw the Greek cities revolt against their Persian overlordsAthens. These revolts were put down; however, Persia was agitated by Athens' support for While the rebels. This led Athenians continued to Dariusgain power by expanding and creating colonies that were dependent on them, the Achaemenid Persian king, Spartans began to invade consolidate power and even allied with the Peloponnese peninsula Persians as a way to take revenge against Athenscounteract Athenian control. In particularSparta then formed its own league, called the burning of Sardis by the Ionian rebels greatly upset the PersiansPeloponnesian League, given that city's great 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 importance armies able to control large areas in Greece and beyond, including on the PersiansWestern coast of Anatolia.<ref>For more on the Ionian revoltDelian League, see: Mac SweeneyFine, NaoíseJohn Van Antwerp. 20131983. ''Foundation Myths and Politics in The Ancient IoniaGreeks: A Critical History''. Cambridge Classical Studies, Mass. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, pgHarvard Univ. 175Pr.</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 a force of about 10,000 Athenians and Plataeans were able to defeat the Persians, 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 was much larger, forcing Athens to create alliances, in particular with Sparta. Initially the Persian force was successful at the battle of Thermopylae against the Greek allies, although possibly at 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 and this begins Athens' leadership in an alliance that eventually formed the Delian league, which continued the wars against the Persians, mostly now in Egypt and Cyprus.<ref> For more on the Grecodh-Persian wars, see: Green, Peter, and Peter Green. 1996. ''The Greco-Persian Wars''. Berkeley: University of California Press.<ad/ref>

==Leader of the Delian League==Stagnation====[[File:2000px-Map GrecoLawrence_Alma-Persian WarsTadema_-en.svg_Phidias_Showing_the_Frieze_of_the_Parthenon_to_his_Friends.pngjpg|thumbnail|Figure 1. Cities (in blue) that fought against left|360px|Phidias Showing the Persians and formed members Frieze of the Delian League.Parthenon to Pericles and friends, by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1868]]The excuse A significant blow to Athens was a plague that broke out in 430 BCE that the threat ultimately not only killed many of Persia gave its soldiers and Athens' wealth proved to be naval personnel but its key in Athens consolidating power within the Delian league (Figure 1)leaders such as Pericles. This led to strife within the league<ref>For more on this plague, see: Kagan, as the Greek cities began to revolt against Athens increased consolidation of powerDonald. 1998. Under the Athenian ''Pericles, of Athens and the Athenians moved the treasury Birth of the league to AthensDemocracy. The city also continued to consolidate and take monetary resourcesNew York: Free Press'', increasing its wealth and powerpg. 249. The cities and regions that followed </ref> However, Athens essentially formed an empire under Athens' was soon re-energized with new leadership by in the 450s. In factform of Cleon, in 460 BCE, tensions were high and who now took the war to the Peloponnesian Wars began as rebellions of Greek cities against Athenian hegemonySpartan-led alliance. The Athenians were initially He was successful in taking control much defeating Sparta at the battle of the Peloponnese peninsula. HoweverSphacteria, costly wars against the Persians eventually led Athens but once again this victory proved to make be short-lived. Cleon was soon killed in battle and a peace with Persia, although they had lost many men was then signed between the warring sides. Eventually a new war broke out and spent much of their wealth this time the war was fought in being defeated in Egypt. Athenian brutality against not only those cities that revolted but also regions that were neutralSicily, such as Melos, created further animosity with now Sparta beginning Athens tried to take control of an alliance of cities against Athensexpand its influence there. While the Athenians continued to gain power once again initially finding some success by expanding and creating colonies that were dependent on having some cities join them, Syracuse led the Spartans began to consolidate power effort against Athens and even allied itself with the Persians as a way to counteract Athenian control. Sparta then formed its own league, called the Peloponnesian League, that included Corinth and other prominent cities. Nevertheless, Athens maintained its naval and trade supremacy, enabling it The Spartans reacted by sending a force 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 beyondSicily, including on the Western coast where after a series of Anatoliabattles resoundingly defeated Athens.<ref>For more on the Delian Leaguebattles of Cleon and Athens against Sparta, see: FinePritchard, David, John Van Antwerped. 19832010. ''The Ancient Greeks: A Critical HistoryWar, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens''. Cambridge ; New York: CambridgeUniversity Press, Mass.: Harvard Univpg. Pr83.</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.<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 were never able to 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 eventually 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 the Macedonians and Athens against Sparta, see: Pritchard, David, ed. 2010. ''War, Democracy and Culture in Classical Athens''. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, pg. 83later under Rome.</ref>

Although severely weakenedAthens 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 Athenians held a large reserve time of naval forces it could still use. By 406 BCEPericles, a series of naval philosophers and land victories once again led scholars alike traveled to Athens from throughout the Greek world to a reinvigorated Athenian Empirestudy under Athens patronage. At another naval engagement in 406, The famous Platonic school and the Athenians won a major victory; however, a severe storm led Lyceum were two institutions of learning that became famous within Athens and helped to them loosing some of their fleetshape Western though. For this lossFamous philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates were all associated with Athens at some of their naval leaders were executed, resulting point in a further depletion of their strengthlives. Lysander, a new Spartan general, arose The Parthenon (Figure 2) and he took advantage of this loss Acropolis became inspirations for architecture in leadership by forcing battle the Classical Age and Western Enlightenment in the Hellespontlate 17th and 18th centuries, where the Athenians were defeated and much of their army destroyedwhen Greek thought became influential once more. Among relatively few cities, Athens was now trapped, as it did not have given the status of a significant army and the free city now was directly attacked by Sparta. With the city under siege, it was forced to surrender, leading where its schools and institutions continued to thrive in the total loss of power for Roman period. This insured that Athens continued to be influential despite its lost political and the fall of its great empireeconomic power.<ref> For more on the last phases of the war against SpartaAthens' impact, see: PowellWaterfield, AntonRobin. 20162004. ''Athens and Sparta: Constructing Greek Political and Social A History , from 478 BCAncient Ideal to Modern City''. Third edition. Milton Park, AbingdonNew York, OxonNY: RoutledgeBasic Books.</ref>

<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles==Conclusion and Impact==While Athens *[[How did recover in the decades to come, Athens and the Greek city-states Silk Road develop?]]*[[What were never able to recover their full power and continued their internal wars in the Corinthian conflict in the early 4th century BCE. This paved the rise causes of the Macedonians under Philip II and eventually Alexander Peloponnesian War?]]*[[When was Insurance First Used?]]*[[How did Early Empires facilitate the Great, who ultimately united the Greeks under their leadership. While the rise Rise of Investment Banking?]]*[[What was the Macedonians meant that the Athenians never regained centralized power once again as they had in the 5th century BCE, they were now part impact of much larger political entities, first under the leadership defeat of the Macedonians and later under Rome. Athens became renown as 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.<ref> For more Sicilian Expedition on Athens' impact, see: Waterfield, Robin. 2004. Athens: A History, from Ancient Ideal to Modern City. New York, NY: Basic Books.?]]</refdiv>

====References====

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