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Classical Greece Facts

Classical Greece Facts
The term "Classical Greece" generally refers to the era of ancient Greek History that began with the beginning of the Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BC) and ending with either the end of Philip II of Macedon's rule and the beginning of his son's, Alexander the Great's rule (336 BC), or the death of the latter in 323 BC. Besides the Greco-Persian Wars, the era of Classical Greece was heavily influenced by the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), which was fought by Athens and its allies against an alliance of other Greek city-states led by Sparta. Classical Greece was an era of Athenian cultural dominance, as the great philosophers and playwrights came from the city during this era. It was also a period when Athenian finance controlled the Greek world, but Spartan military power was still dominant. The fighting between the city-states brought an end to the period and allowed the Greek speaking kingdom of Macedon to become dominant, ushering in the period of ancient Greek history known as the Hellenistic Period.
Interesting Classical Greece Facts:
Many classical historians place the precise date of the beginning of Classical Greece at 510 BC, when the Athenians overthrew the tyrant Hippias with Spartan support and replaced him with a democracy that came to symbolize Athens itself.
During the Greco-Persian Wars, the Greeks were fairly united against the common foe of the Persians. During the Peloponnesian War, though, the Greeks were at each other throats.
The Athenians started the Delian League in 478 BC ostensibly as an anti-Persian alliance of Greek city-states. The league was named for member state Delos, which was where the treasury was kept.
The Athenians gain control over the Delian treasury and used it to fund the leagues military and to beautify Athens.
The Parthenon was built from 447-438 BC on Athens' acropolis. The temple was dedicated to the city's patron, the goddess Athena.
The treasury of Delos was transferred to the Athena temple, which then became an early sort of bank. The bank was used to finance most of Athens' wars and building projects during this period.
Many of Greece's notable amphitheaters were built during this period.
Aeschylus (ca. 525-456 BC) is perhaps the best known Greek playwright from this period. One of his best known works was The Persians, which is a tragedy that takes place in the Achaemenid Empire. He was from Eleusis.
Socrates (ca. 470-399 BC) was an Athenian who influenced not just philosophers from Classical Greece, but thinkers until the present. He was forced to commit suicided by the leaders of Athens for corrupting the youth. Since he never wrote any of his thoughts, his ideas are known today through his students.
Plato (ca. 428-348 BC) was one of Socrates' many students.
Classical Greece was also the era of mathematical advances, which were led by men such as Pythagoras (ca. 570-495 BC).
Traditional Greek historiography was developed in Classical Greece and led by men such as Herodotus (ca. 484-425 BC) and Xenophon (ca. 431-354 BC), who also happened to be one of Socrates' students.


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