History of Ancient Athens

Ancient Athens was a city-state of ancient Greece and one of the most important cities of the ancient world in general. Its borders included most of today's Attica.

The ancient Athenians, beyond Attica, dominated through their powerful fleet in a large number of Ionic colonies on the Aegean islands and on the coasts of Asia Minor. Attica, in fact, was also the metropolis of most Ionic colonies.

The ancient Athenians traveled north to the Boeotians and west to the Megarians, with whom they were often in conflict. Ancient Athens played a leading role in the Persian Wars, led the Delos alliance as well as one of the two alliances that collided during the Peloponnesian War.

After the fall of Tyrania in 510 BC Cleisthenes proceeded with very important reforms, transforming the occupation of ancient Athens into democracy.

No other city of ancient Greece has developed so much the arts and letters as it did in ancient Athens, as the conditions for this admirable cultural creation have developed.

Credit: Αncient Greece