5th Century BC

Overview

The 5th century BC began on January 1, 500 BC and ended on December 31, 401 BC.

Age/EPOCH

This period is often referred to as the "Golden Age" of ancient Greece, marked by significant cultural, philosophical, and artistic developments. It was a time of great prosperity and achievement for the Greeks, which would later influence Western civilization.

Events/Developments

### Greece

* Early 5th century BC: King Alexander I of Macedonia becomes Olympian at the Olympic Games.
* First documentary mention of Europe by the writer Hekataios von Miletus
* 494 BC: Histiaios, tyrant of Miletus and satrap of the Persian king, goes against the North Aegean islands of Chios and Lesbos and besieges Thasos.
* 500 BC: Fire of the Sardeans. Aristogoras asks Sparta and the Athenians for help against the Persians. Beginning of the Persian wars.

### Persian Wars

* The Persian Wars reached their peak during this century, with King Darius I leading a Persian attack on Greece in an attempt to conquer it.
* 490 BC: Battle of Marathon - The Greeks resisted the Persian invasion and achieved a significant victory, marking the beginning of Greek victories over the Persians.
* 480 BC: Xerxes I attempted to conquer Greece again but failed and suffered greater losses.

### Philosophy and Culture

* Ancient Greek philosophy developed during this period and became the basis for Western ideology. Notable philosophers include those who laid the foundations for Western thought, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.
* The 5th century BC saw significant developments in art, architecture, and literature in Athens and other areas of the Mediterranean region.

### Politics

* This period marked the beginning of the development of political systems in ancient Greece, with the establishment of city-states and the emergence of democratic institutions.

Notable Events

* Ionic revolution: United forces of the Ionians, Athenians, and Eretrians made a surprise attack on Sardis and burned them. (499 BC)
* Establishment of a mint in Kymi. (500 BC)

Note: The dates mentioned in the original sources have been kept intact, but some minor adjustments were made to ensure consistency and clarity throughout the article.