5th century BC

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The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC.

Overview

The Parthenon of Athens seen from the hill of the Pnyx to the west. Location 23°43'35.69"E 37°58'17.39"N

This century saw the beginning of a period of philosophical brilliance among Western civilizations, particularly the Greeks which would continue all the way through the 4th century until the time of Alexander the Great. Ancient Greek philosophy developed during the 5th century BC, setting the foundation for Western ideology. In Athens and elsewhere in the Mediterranean world, the 5th century marked a high point in the development of political institutions, art, architecture, and literature.

The century was also notable for the Persian Wars, fought between the Greek cities, and the vast Persian Empire. Determined to punish Athens for supporting a revolt by conquered Greek cities in Asia Minor, King Darius I sent several armies against them, only to have his plans first thwarted by a storm and later by a defeat at the Battle of Marathon. His son Xerxes attempted to finish the job 10 years later, and succeeded in capturing Athens and burning it to the ground, only to be defeated later on land at Plataea. In the latter part of the century the Greeks became locked in a bitter war among themselves, with the major cities Athens and Sparta competing for absolute domination.

Events

• Demotic becomes the dominant script of ancient Egypt

490s BC

• 499 BC — Aristagoras, acting on behalf of the Persian Empire, leads a failed attack on the rebellious island of Naxos.
• 499 BC — Aristagoras instigates the Ionic Revolt, beginning the Persian Wars between Greece and Persia.
• 499 BC — Sardis destroyed by Athenian and Ionian troops.
• 498 BC — Leontini subjugated by Hippocrates of Gela.
• 498 BC — Alexander I succeeds his father Amyntas I as king of Macedon.
• 497 BC — Potidaea is struck by a tsunami.
• 496 BC — Battle of Lake Regillus: A legendary early Roman victory, won over either the Etruscans or the Latins.
• 496 BC — King Goujian of Yue defeats and banishes King Fuchai of Wu, gaining a temporary hegemony in ancient China during the Spring and Autumn Period.
• 495 BC — Temple to Mercury on the Circus Maximus in Rome is built.
• 494 BC — The Battle of Lade, where Persians take back Ionia.
• 494 BC — Two tribunes of the plebs and two plebeian aediles are elected for the first time in Rome: the office of the tribunate is established.
• 494 BC — The year Rome changed from an Aristocratic Republic to a Liberalized Republic.
• 493 BC — Piraeus, the port town of Athens, is founded.
• 493 BC — Coriolanus captures the Volscian town of Corioli for Rome.
• 492 BC — First expedition of King Darius I of Persia against Greece, under the leadership of his son-in-law Mardonius. This marks the start of the campaign that culminated in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
• 491 BC — Leotychidas II succeeds his cousin Demaratus as king of Sparta.
• 491 BC — Gelo becomes Tyrant of Gela.
• September 12, 490 BC — The Battle of Marathon, where Darius I of Persia is defeated by the Athenians and Plataeans under Miltiades.
• 490 BC — Phidippides runs 40 kilometers from Marathon to Athens to announce the news of the Greek victory; origin of the marathon long-distance race.

480s BC

• 489 BC Cities of Rhodes unite and start construction of the new city of Rhodes.
• 488 BC — Leonidas I succeeds his brother Cleomenes I as king of Sparta after Cleomenes is judged insane.
• 487 BC — Egypt revolts against the Persians.
• 487 BC — Aegina and Athens go to war.
• 487 BC — Athenian Archonship becomes elective by lot, an important milestone in the move towards radical Athenian democracy.
• 486 BC — First part of the Grand Canal of China is built.
• 486 BC — Xerxes I succeeds Darius I as Great King of Persia.
• 486 BC — Egypt revolts against Persian rule.
• 486 BC — First Buddhist Council at Rejgaha, under the patronage of King Ajatasattu. Oral tradition established for the first time.
• October, 485 BC — Xerxes I succeeds Darius I as King of Persia.
• 484 BC — Athenian playwright Aeschylus wins a poetry prize.
• 484 BC — Xerxes I abolishes the Kingdom of Babel and removes the golden statue of Bel (Marduk, Merodach).
• 484 BC — Persians regain control of Egypt.
• 483 BC - Gautama Buddha died.
• 483 BC — Xerxes I of Persia starts planning his expedition against Greece.
• 481 BC — The Congress at the Isthmus of Corinth ends a war between Athens and Aegina.
• 480 BC — King Xerxes I of Persia sets out to conquer Greece.
• 480 BC — Cimon and his friends burn horse-bridles as an offering to Athena and join the marines.
• 480 BC — Pleistarchus succeeds his father Leonidas I as king of Sparta.
• August, 480 BC — Battle of Artemisium — The Persian fleet fights an inconclusive battle with the Greek allied fleet.
• August 11, 480 BC — The Battle of Thermopylae, a costly victory by Persians over the Greeks.
• September 23, 480 BC — Battle of Salamis between Greece and Persia, leading to a Greek victory.
• 480 BC — Battle of Himera — The Carthaginians under Hamilcar are defeated by the Greeks of Sicily, led by Gelon of Syracuse.
• 480 BC — Roman troops march against the Veientines.

470s BC

• 479 BC — The Battle of Plataea, the Greeks defeat the Persians, ending the Persian Wars.
• 479 BC — Battle of Mycale.
• 478 BC — Establishment of the Temple of Confucius at (modern-day) Qufu.
• 477 BC — The Delian League is inaugurated.
• 476 BC — Archidamus II succeeds his grandfather Leotychides, who is banished to Tegea, as king of Sparta.
• 475 BC — King Xuan of Zhou becomes King of the Zhou Dynasty.
• 474 BC — Battle of Cumae — The Syracusans under Hiero I defeat the Etruscans and end Etruscan expansion in southern Italy.
• 474 BC — Greek poet Pindar moves to Thebes.
• 473 BC — The Chinese State of Wu is annexed by the State of Yue.
• 472 BC — Carystus in Euboea is forced to join the Delian League. (approximate date)
• 472 BC — The tragedy The Persians is produced by Aeschylus.
• 471 BC — Athenian politician Themistocles is ostracized.
• 470 BC — The philosopher Socrates is born.