The world in the 5th century BC

500 BC–401 BCWorld Heritage

Around the 5th century BC, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena began to be built on the Athenian Acropolis: the Parthenon. It is considered a pinnacle of classical Greek architecture and art, and an enduring symbol of ancient Greece, Western civilisation, and democracy. The temple was later inscribed as part of the Acropolis of Athens World Heritage site in 1987.

480 BC–479 BCAthens

The second Persian invasion of Greece took place from 480 to 479 BC, during the Greco-Persian Wars. King Xerxes I of Persia assembled a massive army and navy to conquer all of Greece. Athens and Sparta led the Greek resistance; about a tenth of the city-states joined the anti-Persian alliance, while the rest remained neutral or submitted.

431 BC–404 BCPalermo

From 431 to 404 BC, the Athenian-led Delian League and the Spartan-led Peloponnesian League fought a war for hegemony over Ancient Greece. Initially inconclusive, the conflict turned in Sparta's favour after Persian support in 413 BC, leading to Athens' decisive defeat. Sparta then established its own hegemony. The war ended Athens' classical age and permanently altered Greek civilization.

500 BC–401 BCWorld Heritage

The Erechtheion, an Ionic temple dedicated primarily to Athena, began construction on the north side of the Athenian Acropolis in 421 BC, marking the final major building project of the Periclean building program, renowned for its unconventional asymmetrical plan.

500 BC–401 BC

The Temple of Aphaea was built in ancient Greek times on the island of Aegina, dedicated to the goddess Aphaea. The Doric temple's construction marks the transition from the Archaic to the Classical period in Greek art.

500 BC–401 BC

The Xerxes Canal was a navigable waterway cut through the base of the Mount Athos peninsula in northern Greece in the early 5th century BC. Ordered by the Persian king Xerxes I, it was overseen by the engineer Artachaees as part of preparations for the second Persian invasion of Greece. It stands as one of the few Persian Empire monuments in Europe, showcasing Achaemenid engineering and strategic ambition.

500 BC–401 BCWorld Heritage

The Bam Citadel was founded around the 5th century BC in southeastern Iran along the Silk Road, later becoming the largest adobe building complex in the world.

499 BC–493 BCAnatolia

The Ionian Revolt (499–493 BC) was a military rebellion by Greek regions of Asia Minor against Persian rule, incited by Aristagoras of Miletus. It spread to Ionia, Aeolis, Doris, Cyprus, and Caria. The revolt stemmed from dissatisfaction with Persian-appointed tyrants and Aristagoras' failed Naxos expedition, sensing his imminent removal, prompting him to stoke rebellion. It led to the subsequent Greco-Persian Wars.

494 BC

In 494 BC, during the Ionian Revolt, a decisive naval battle was fought near the island of Lade between an alliance of Ionian cities and the Persian Empire. The Persians won a major victory, effectively ending the revolt.

479 BC

The Battle of Mycale, fought in August 479 BC, was a decisive engagement of the second Persian invasion of Greece. An alliance of Greek city-states, including Sparta, Athens, and Corinth, defeated the Persian forces of Xerxes I on the slopes of Mount Mycale on the Ionian coast. Together with the Battle of Plataea, it ended the invasion and secured Greek independence.

405 BC

In 405 BC, the Spartan fleet under Lysander ambushed and destroyed the Athenian navy at Aegospotami in the Hellespont, depriving Athens of sea control and the ability to import grain or communicate with its empire, effectively ending the Peloponnesian War and leading to Athens' surrender the following year.

401 BC

In 401 BC, Cyrus the Younger fought his brother Artaxerxes II at Cunaxa, north of Babylon, for the Achaemenid throne. Cyrus’s forces included Greek mercenaries who initially prevailed, but his death in battle led to the collapse of his rebellion. The surviving Greek mercenaries then began their epic retreat, immortalized in Xenophon’s Anabasis.

484 BC–468 BCBihar

The Haryanka dynasty of Magadha fought the neighboring Vajjika League, led by the Licchavikas, in a war remembered in both Buddhist and Jain traditions. The conflict ended with the defeat of the Vajjika League and the annexation of its territory by Magadha.

500 BC–401 BCUmatilla

Around 470 BCE, pit houses were constructed on the shores of the Columbia River near present-day Umatilla, Oregon, marking the beginning of seasonal sedentism at the site. The settlement relied on fishing opportunities, serving as a winter encampment. It is among the earliest known major prehistoric sites in Oregon, with remains including stone and bone artifacts, burials, and extensive animal bones.