Classical Athens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Athens Ἀθῆναι (Ancient Greek)
508 BC–322 BC
Owl of Athena, patron of Athens
Delian League ("Athenian Empire") shown in yellow, Athenian territory shown in red, situation in 431 BC, before the Peloponnesian War.
Capital	Athens
Common languages	Attic Greek
Religion	Greek Polytheism
Government	Athenian direct democracy
Eponymous archon
• 508–507 BC	Isagoras
• 322–321 BC	Philocles
Legislature	Boule Ecclesia
Historical era	Classical antiquity Classical Greece
• Cleisthenes establishes Athenian democracy	508 BC
• Delian League	478–404 BC
• Thirty tyrants	404–403 BC
• Second Athenian League	378–355 BC
• Lamian War	322 BC
Population
• 5th century BC1	~250,000 (men with civil rights: ~30,000)
Currency	Drachma
Preceded by Succeeded by Peisistratids League of Corinth
1BBC History

Classical Athens was a powerful city-state in Ancient Greece. It was the most important city during the classical period (480–323 BC). Athens is famous for its art, philosophy, and for being the birthplace of democracy.

The city was located in Attica, Greece. During its peak, Athens led a group of allies called the Delian League. It often fought against Sparta, another powerful Greek city-state. The most famous leader of Athens was Pericles. He helped make the city beautiful and strong during the "Golden Age."

Athens was home to many famous thinkers and writers. Plato and Aristotle opened schools there. Socrates asked important questions about life. Playwrights like Sophocles wrote plays that are still performed today. Because of these achievements, Athens is often called the "cradle of Western civilization."

History of Athens

The Beginning of Democracy

Before democracy, Athens was ruled by tyrants (rulers with total power). In 510 BC, the tyrant Hippias was removed from power with the help of Sparta. A leader named Cleisthenes then made big changes. He wanted the people to have a say in how the city was run.

In 508 BC, Cleisthenes created a new system of government. He divided the citizens into ten tribes. This system was not based on how rich someone was. Each tribe chose members for a council called the Boule. This council helped run the city every day. There was also a large meeting called the Assembly. All male citizens could vote there. This was the start of Athenian democracy.

Early Athenian coin from the 5th century BC.

The Persian Wars

In the early 5th century BC, the powerful Persian Empire tried to invade Greece. Athens played a huge role in defending Greece.

In 490 BC, the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. Ten years later, the Persians returned with a huge army. The Spartans fought bravely at Thermopylae, but the Persians marched to Athens and burned the city. However, the Athenian navy, led by Themistocles, won a great victory at sea in the Battle of Salamis. This victory saved Greece and made Athens a naval superpower.

The Golden Age of Pericles

After the wars, Athens became very wealthy and powerful. This time is known as the Age of Pericles. Pericles was a general and a popular leader. He used money from the Delian League (an alliance of Greek cities) to rebuild Athens.

Pericles built magnificent buildings, including the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Art, theater, and learning flourished. It was a time of great pride for the Athenians.

War with Sparta

Athens' power made other Greek cities nervous, especially Sparta. In 431 BC, a long conflict called the Peloponnesian War began. It was a fight between the Athenian empire (strong at sea) and the Spartan alliance (strong on land).

The war lasted for many years. Athens suffered from a plague and bad decisions. In 404 BC, Athens was defeated. The city lost its empire and its walls were torn down. Democracy was briefly replaced by a group of rulers called the Thirty Tyrants, but the people soon took power back.

The modern National Academy in Athens, with statues of Apollo and Athena.

The Rise of Macedon

In the 4th century BC, a new power rose in the north: the kingdom of Macedon. King Philip II defeated Athens and its allies in 338 BC. This ended Athens' time as a fully independent power.

Philip's son, Alexander the Great, went on to conquer a vast empire. After Alexander died, Athens remained a center for culture and education, but it was no longer a military leader.

Geography and City Layout

The Acropolis and Agora

Map of ancient Athens showing the Acropolis in the middle and the Agora to the northwest.

Athens was built around a rocky hill called the Acropolis. This was a fortress and a sacred place. It had many temples, including the famous Parthenon dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Below the Acropolis was the Agora. This was the marketplace and the center of public life. People went there to shop, talk about politics, and meet friends. Important government buildings were also located in the Agora.

Walls and Gates

Map showing the Long Walls connecting Athens to the sea.

The city was protected by strong stone walls. The most famous were the Long Walls. These two parallel walls connected the main city of Athens to its port, Piraeus, which was about 7 kilometers away.

The Long Walls were very important during wars. They allowed Athens to get supplies from ships even if an enemy army surrounded the city on land.

Important Buildings

Athens had many beautiful public buildings:

• Temples: Besides the Parthenon, there was the Temple of Hephaestus (which is still standing today) and the huge Temple of Olympian Zeus.
• Theaters: The Theatre of Dionysus was built on the slope of the Acropolis. Thousands of people gathered there to watch plays.
• Gymnasiums: Places like the Lyceum and the Academy were used for exercise and education.

The Temple of Hephaestus in modern-day Athens.

Plan of the Roman Agora at Athens.

Artist's drawing of the Theatre of Dionysus.

Culture and Learning

The Karyatides statues on the Erechtheion temple.

Classical Athens was a brilliant center for learning and the arts. Many ideas we use today started there.

• Philosophy: Famous thinkers lived in Athens. Socrates taught people to question everything. His student, Plato, wrote down his ideas and started a school called the Academy. Plato's student, Aristotle, studied nature and science.
• Theater: The Athenians invented drama. They held festivals where playwrights competed. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides wrote tragedies (serious plays). Aristophanes wrote comedies (funny plays).
• History: Writers like Herodotus and Thucydides wrote down the history of the wars and events of their time.

Images for kids

• 

  The Acropolis imagined in an 1846 painting by Leo von Klenze

See also

In Spanish: Antigua Atenas para niños