5th century BC 34839 223573679 2008-07-04T18:04:10Z SilvonenBot 6351353 robot Modifying: [[bat-smg:V omžios pr. Kr.]] {{Centurybox}} The '''5th century BC''' started the first day of [[500 BC]] and ended the last day of [[401 BC]]. ==Overview== [[Image:ac.parthenon5.jpg|thumb|300px|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 advanced civilizations, particularly the Greeks which would continue all the way through the [[4th century]] until the time of [[Alexander the Great]]. [[Ancient Greece|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 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 I of Persia|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 [[Peloponnesian War|war]] among themselves, with the major cities [[Athens]] and [[Sparta]] competing for absolute domination. ==Evidence== The events of the 5th century BC come down to us mainly through the works of the Greek historian [[Herodotus]], who does much to explain the [[Persian Wars]]. For Chinese history there is the ''[[Zuo Zhuan]]'' historical text of [[Zuo Qiuming]], compiled no later than [[389 BC]], as well as the ''[[Shiji]]'' historical text of historian [[Sima Qian]], completed in [[91 BC]]. ==Events== *[[Demotic Egyptian|Demotic]] becomes the dominant script of [[history of Egypt|ancient Egypt]] ===490s BC=== * [[499 BC]] — [[Aristagoras]], acting on behalf of the [[Persian Empire]], leads a failed attack on the rebellious island of [[Naxos, Greece|Naxos]]. * 499 BC — [[Aristagoras]] instigates the [[Ionic Revolt]], beginning the [[Persian Wars]] between [[Greece]] and [[Persian Empire|Persia]]. * 499 BC — [[Sardis]] destroyed by [[Athenian]] and [[Ionia]]n troops. * [[498 BC]] — [[Lentini|Leontini]] subjugated by [[Hippocrates of Gela]]. * 498 BC — [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]] succeeds his father [[Amyntas I of Macedon|Amyntas I]] as king of [[Macedon]]. * [[497 BC]] — [[Potidaea]] is struck by a [[tsunami]]. * [[496 BC]] — [[Battle of Lake Regillus]]: A legendary early [[Roman Republic|Roman]] victory, won over either the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]]s or the [[Latin]]s. * 496 BC — [[King Goujian of Yue|King Goujian]] of [[Yue (state)|Yue]] defeats and banishes [[King Fuchai of Wu|King Fuchai]] of [[Wu (state)|Wu]], gaining a temporary hegemony in ancient [[China]] during the [[Spring and Autumn Period]]. * [[495 BC]] — [[Temple]] to [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] on the [[Circus Maximus]] in [[Rome]] is built. * [[494 BC]] — The [[Battle of Lade]], where [[Persians]] take back [[Ionia]]. * 494 BC — Two [[tribune|tribunes of the plebs]] and two [[aedile|plebeian aediles]] are elected for the first time in [[Ancient Rome|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 [[Volsci]]an 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 the Younger|Miltiades]]. * 490 BC — [[Phidippides (Marathon runner)|Phidippides]] runs 40 kilometers from [[Marathon, Greece|Marathon]] to [[Athens]] to announce the news of the Greek victory; origin of the [[marathon (sport)|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 [[mental illness|insane]]. * [[487 BC]] — [[Egypt]] revolts against the [[Persian Empire|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 Empire|Persia]]n 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 of Persia|Darius I]] as King of [[Persia]]. * [[484 BC]] — [[Athens|Athenian]] playwright [[Aeschylus]] wins a poetry prize. * 484 BC — [[Xerxes I]] abolishes the [[Kingdom of Babel]] and removes the golden statue of [[Bel (mythology)|Bel]] ([[Marduk]], [[Merodach]]). * 484 BC — [[Persian Empire|Persians]] regain control of [[Egypt]]. * [[483 BC]] — [[Xerxes I]] of [[Persian Empire|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 [[Persian Empire|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 Empire|Persian]] fleet fights an inconclusive battle with the [[grecian|Greek]] allied fleet. * [[August 11]], 480 BC — The [[Battle of Thermopylae]], a victory by [[Persia]]ns over the [[Greece|Greek]]s. * [[September 23]], 480 BC — [[Battle of Salamis]] between [[Greece]] and [[Persia]], leading to a [[Greece|Greek]] victory. * 480 BC — [[Battle of Himera (480 BC)|Battle of Himera]] — The [[Carthage|Carthaginians]] under [[Hamilcar]] are defeated by the [[Greeks]] of [[Sicily]], led by [[Gelon of Syracuse]]. * 480 BC — [[Roman Republic|Roman]] troops march against the [[Veii|Veientines]]. ===470s BC=== * [[479 BC]] — The [[Battle of Plataea]], the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]]s 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 Yuan of Zhou|King Xuan of Zhou]] becomes King of the [[Zhou Dynasty]]. * [[474 BC]] — [[Battle of Cumae]] — The [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracusans]] under [[Hiero I]] defeat the [[Etruscans]] and end [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] expansion in [[southern Italy]]. * 474 BC — [[Greek literature|Greek]] [[poet]] [[Pindar]] moves to [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. * [[473 BC]] — The [[China|Chinese]] [[Wu (state)|State of Wu]] is annexed by the [[Yue (state)|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]] — [[Athens|Athenian]] [[politician]] [[Themistocles]] is [[ostracism|ostracized]]. * [[470 BC]] — The philosopher [[Socrates]] is born. ===460s BC=== * [[468 BC]] — [[Sophocles]], [[Greek theatre|Greek]] [[playwright]], defeats [[Aeschylus]] for the [[Athenian Prize]]. * 468 BC — [[Antium]] captured by [[Roman Republic|Roman]] forces. * [[468 BC]] — [[King Zhending of Zhou]] becomes King of the [[Zhou Dynasty]] of [[China]]. * [[466 BC]] — [[Delian League]] defeats [[Persia]] at the [[Battle of Eurymedon]]. * 466 BC — The [[ancient Greece|Greek]] [[colony]] of [[Taranto|Taras]], in [[Magna Graecia]], is defeated by ''[[Iapyges]]'', a native population of ancient [[Apulia]]; [[Tarentine]] [[monarchy]] falls, with the installation of a [[democracy]] and the expulsion of the [[Pythagoreans]]. * [[465 BC]] — King [[Xerxes I]] of the [[Persian Empire]] is murdered by [[Artabanus of Persia|Artabanus the Hyrcanian]]. He is succeeded by [[Artaxerxes I]], possibly with Artabanus acting as [[Regent]]. * 465 BC — [[Thasos]] revolts from the [[Delian League]]. * [[464 BC]] — An [[earthquake]] in ancient [[Sparta]], [[Ancient Greece|Greece]] leads to a [[Helots|Helot]] uprising and strained relations with [[Athens]], one of the factors that lead to the [[Peloponnesian War]]. * 464 BC — [[Regent]] King [[Artabanus of Persia]] is killed by his charge [[Artaxerxes I]]. * 464 BC — [[Third Messenian war]]. * [[462 BC]] — The revolt of [[Thasos]] against the [[Delian League]] comes to an end with their surrender. * [[461 BC]] — [[Athens|Athenian]] [[politician]] [[Cimon]] is [[ostracism|ostracized]]. * [[460 BC]] — [[Egypt]] revolts against [[Persian Empire|Persia]], starting a six year war. An [[Athens|Athenian]] force sent to attack [[Cyprus]] is diverted to support this revolt. * 460 BC — [[Cincinnatus]] becomes [[consul]] of the [[Roman Republic]]. ===450s BC=== *[[459 BC]] — [[Pleistoanax]] succeeds his father [[Pleistarchus]] as king of [[Sparta]]. *459 BC — Destruction of the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] town of [[Morgantina]] by [[Ducetius|Douketios]], leader of the [[Sicels|Sikels]], according to [[Diodorus Siculus|Diodoros Siculus]]. *459 BC — [[Ezra]] leads the second body of [[Jews]] from [[Babylon]] to [[Jerusalem]]. *[[458 BC]] — [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[playwright]] [[Aeschylus]] completes the [[Oresteia]], a [[trilogy]] that tells the story of a family blood feud. The plays will have a great influence on future writers. *458 BC — [[Cincinnatus]] is named [[Roman dictator|dictator]] of the [[Roman Republic]] in order to defend it against [[Aequi]]. Sixteen days later, after defeating the invaders at the [[Battle of Mons Algidus]], he resigns and returns to his farm. *[[457 BC]] — [[Athenian]] [[statesman]] [[Pericles]]' greatest reform, allowing common people to serve in any state office, inaugurates [[Golden Age]] of Ancient [[Athens]]. *457 BC — [[Battle of Tanagra (457 BC)|Battle of Tanagra]] — The [[Sparta]]ns defeat the [[Athens|Athenians]], near [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. *457 BC — [[Battle of Oenophyta]] — The [[Athens|Athenians]] defeat the [[Thebes, Greece|Thebans]] and take control of [[Boeotia]]. *457 BC — Decree of [[Artaxerxes I]] to re-establish the city government of [[Jerusalem]]. See Ezra 7, Daniel 9 and Nehemiah 1 in [[Old Testament]]. *[[455 BC]] — A thirty years' [[truce]] concluded between [[Athens]] and [[Lacedaemon]]. *455 BC — [[Euripides]] presents his first known [[tragedy]], ''[[Peliades]]'', in the [[Athens|Athenian]] [[festival]] of [[Dionysia]]. *[[454 BC]] — [[Athens]] loses a fleet and possibly as many as 50 000 men in a failed attempt to aid an [[Egypt]]ian revolt against [[Persian Empire|Persia]]. *454 BC — The [[treasury]] of the [[Delian League]] is moved from [[Delos]] to [[Athens]]. *454 BC — Hostilities between [[Segesta]] and [[Selinunte]], two [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] cities on [[Sicily]]. *[[453 BC]] — [[Taiyuan]], a city in [[China]], gets flooded. *[[451 BC]] — [[Athens]] makes peace with [[Sparta]] and wages a war against [[Persian Empire|Persia]]. *451 BC — The [[decemviri]] come to power in the [[Roman Republic]]. They enact the [[twelve tables]], the foundation of [[Roman Law]]. *[[450 BC]] — [[Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (450 BC)|Battle of Salamis]]: [[Athenians]] under [[Cimon]] defeat the [[Persian Empire|Persian]] fleet. *450 BC — [[Perdiccas II of Macedon|Perdiccas II]] succeeds [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]] as king of [[Macedon]]ia (approximate date). ===440s BC=== * [[449 BC]] — The [[Peace of Callias]] between the [[Delian League]] and [[Persian Empire|Persia]] ends the [[Persian Wars]]. * 449 BC — Construction begins on the [[Temple of Hephaestus]] in [[Athens]]. * 449 BC — The [[Twelve Tables]] are promulgated to the people of [[Rome]] — the first public laws of the [[Roman Republic]]. * 449 BC — [[Roman Republic|Romans]] revolt against the [[decemvirate]]. The [[decemvirs]] resign and the [[tribunate]] is re-established. * 449 BC — [[Herodotus]] completes his ''[[The Histories of Herodotus|History]]'', which records the events concerning the [[Greco-Persian Wars|Persian War]]. * [[448 BC]] — [[Phidias]] finishes a 9 meter high statue of [[Athena]] on the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]]. * [[447 BC]] — [[Athens]] begins construction of the [[Parthenon]], at the initiative of [[Pericles]]. * 447 BC — [[Battle of Coronea (447 BC)|Battle of Coronea]] — The [[Athens|Athenians]] are driven out of [[Boeotia]]. * 447 BC — [[Achaeus of Eretria]], a [[Greece|Greek]] [[playwright]], shows his first play. * [[445 BC]] — [[Pericles]] declares [[Thirty Years Peace]] between [[Athens]] and [[Sparta]]. * 445 BC — [[Artaxerxes I]] gives [[Nehemiah]] permission to rebuild [[Jerusalem]]. * 445 BC — The [[Lacus Curtius]] is created by a lightning strike in [[Rome]]. It is consecrated by [[Gaius]], [[Mettius]] or [[Marcus]] [[Curtius]]. * [[443 BC]] — The [[Roman Republic]] creates the office of [[Censor (ancient Rome)|censor]], initially exclusive to [[patrician]]s. * 443 BC — Foundation of the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[colony]] of [[Thurii]] in [[Italy]]. Its [[colonist]]s include [[Herodotus]] and [[Lysias]]. * [[442 BC]] — [[Sophocles]] writes ''[[Antigone (Sophocles)|Antigone]]''. * [[441 BC]] — [[King Ai of Zhou]] becomes King of the [[Zhou Dynasty]] of [[China]] but dies before the year's end. * [[440 BC]] — [[Famine]] in [[Rome]]. * 440 BC — [[King Kao of Zhou]] becomes King of the [[Zhou Dynasty]] of [[China]]. * 440 BC — [[Meron]] determines the two points of the solstice. * 440 BC — [[Democritus]] proposes the existence of indivisible particles, which he calls [[atom]]s. ===430s BC=== * [[439 BC]] — [[Cincinnatus]] again becomes [[Roman dictator|dictator]] of the [[Roman Republic]]; during his term he defeats the [[Volsci]]. * 439 BC — According to [[legend]], [[Gaius Servilius Ahala]] saves [[ancient Rome|Rome]] from [[Spurius Maelius]]. * [[438 BC]] — [[Ictinus]] and [[Callicrates]] finish construction of the [[Parthenon]], located on [[Athens]]' [[Acropolis]]. * [[435 BC]] — The [[Statue of Zeus at Olympia]] by [[Phidias]], one of the seven [[wonders of the world]], is completed. * [[434 BC]] — Conflict occurs between the [[Greece|Greek]] island of [[Kerkyra]] and its mother-city [[Corinth]]. * 434 BC — [[Anaxagoras]] tries to square the [[circle]] with [[straightedge]] and [[compass]]. * [[433 BC]] — [[Battle of Sybota]] between [[Corcyra]] and [[Corinth, Greece|Corinth]]. * 433 BC (or later) — [[Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng|Burial of Marquis Yi of Zeng]] in [[China]]. * [[432 BC]] — [[Athens]] adopts a 19-year cycle of synchronizing [[solar calendar|solar]] and [[lunar calendar]]s. * 432 BC — [[Athens]] defeats [[Corinth]] in the [[battle of Potidaea]]. * 432 BC — The [[Greece|Greek]] [[colony]] of [[Heraclea (Lucania)|Heraclea]] is founded by [[Taranto|Tarentum]] and [[Thurii]]. * [[431 BC]] — The [[Peloponnesian War]] begins between [[Sparta]] and [[Athens]] and their allies. * 431 BC — Defeat of the [[Aequians]] by the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] under the [[dictator]] [[A. Postumius Tubertus]]. * 431 BC — The [[ancient Greece|Greek]] [[physician]] and [[philosopher]] [[Empedocles]] articulates the notion that the human body has [[the four humors|four humors]]: [[blood]], [[bile]], [[black bile]], and [[phlegm]], a belief that dominates [[medicine|medical]] thinking for centuries. * [[430 BC]] — [[Athens]] suffers a major [[pestilence]], believed to be caused by [[epidemic typhus]]. * c. [[430 BC]] — First performance of [[Sophocles]]'s ''[[Oedipus the King]]''. ===420s BC=== * [[429 BC]] — [[Battle of Chalcis]] — [[Chalcidians]] and their allies defeat [[Athens]]. * 429 BC — [[Battle of Naupactus (429 BC)|Battle of Naupactus]] — [[Phormio]] defeats the [[Peloponnesian]] fleet. * 429 BC — An outbreak of [[Plague of Athens|plague]] kills over one-third of the population of [[Athens]]. * 429 BC — King [[Sitalkes]] of [[Thrace]] invades [[Macedon]]ia. * [[428 BC]] — [[Mytilene]] rebels against [[Athens]] but is crushed. * 428 BC — [[Sparta]] attempts to crush a rebellion on [[Corcyra]], but cancels the effort when the Athenians try to intercept them. * 428 BC — The Greek colony of [[Cumae]] in [[Italy]] falls to the [[Samnites]]. * [[427 BC]] — The leaders of the Mytilenian revolt are executed. * 427 BC — [[Platea]] surrenders to the Spartans, who execute over 200 prisoners and destroy the city. * 427 BC — The Athenians intervene in [[Sicily]] to blockade Sparta from the island. * [[426 BC]] — [[Demosthenes]] unsuccessfully besieges the [[Corinth]]ian colony of [[Leukas]]. * 426 BC — When [[Ambracia]] invades [[Acarnania]], they seek help from the Spartans and Athenians respectively. The Athenians then defeat the Spartans in the [[Battle of Olpae]]. * [[425 BC]] — Demosthenes captures the port of [[Pylos]] in the [[Peloponnesus]]. * 425 BC — The Athenians invade [[Sphacteria]] and defeat the Spartans in the [[Battle of Pylos]]. * [[424 BC]] — [[Sicily]] withdraws from the war and expels every foreign power. Thus, [[Athens]] is forced to withdraw from the island. * 424 BC — The Athenians try to capture [[Megara]], but are defeated by the Spartans. * 424 BC — The Spartan general [[Brasidas]] captures [[Amphipolis]], which is a setback for Athens. [[Thucydides]] is held responsible for the Athenian failure and is ostracised. This gives him time to start writing his [[History of the Peloponnesian War|history book]]. * [[423 BC]] — The Athenians propose a cease-fire, which the Spartan general Brasidas ignores. * [[422 BC]] — The Spartans defeat the Athenians in the [[Battle of Amphipolis]], where the Athenian [[Cleon]] and the Spartan [[Brasidas]] are both killed. * [[421 BC]] — The [[Peace of Nicias]] puts a temporary end to the hostilities between [[Athens]] and [[Sparta]]. * [[420 BC]] — [[Alicibiades]] is elected [[strategos]] of Athens and begins dominating Athenian politics. ===410s BC=== * [[419 BC]] — The [[Peace of Nicias]] is broken when Sparta defeats [[Argos]]. * [[418 BC]] — The Spartans win a major victory over the Athenians in the [[Battle of Mantinea]], the biggest land battle of the [[Peloponnesian War]]. * [[416 BC]] — The Athenians capture the island of [[Melos]] and treat the inhabitants with great cruelty. * 416 BC — The Athenians adheres a plea of help from [[Sicily]] and starts planning an invasion of the island. * [[415 BC]] - The sacred [[Herma]]e busts in Athens are mutilated just before the expedition to Sicily is sent away. One of the culprits, [[Andocides]], is captured and is forced to turn informer. He names the other mutilators, among them Alcibiades, who are sentenced to death in their absence. * 415 BC — Alcibiades defects from Athens to Sparta after having learned about his death sentence. * [[414 BC]] — The Athenians try to make a breakthrough in their siege of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]] but are defeated by the Spartans. * [[413 BC]] — [[Demosthenes (general)|Demosthenes]] suggests the Athenians leave Syracuse in order to return to Athens, where help is needed. However, [[Nicias]] refuses and they are again [[Battle of Syracuse|defeated in battle]] by the Spartans. Both Demosthenes and Nicias are killed. * 413 BC — [[Caria]] allies itself with Sparta. * [[412 BC]] — The [[Persian Empire]] starts preparing an invasion of [[Ionia]] and signs a treaty with [[Sparta]] about it. * [[411 BC]] — The democracy in Athens is overthrown and replaced by the oligarchic [[The Four Hundred (oligarchy)|Council of Four Hundred]]. This council is itself soon defeated and order is almost restored, when the Five Thousand start ruling. Early next year, they are also overthrown and the old democracy is restored. * [[410 BC]] — Athens regains control over its vital grain route from the [[Black Sea]] by defeating Sparta in the [[Battle of Cyzicus]]. ===400s BC=== * [[409 BC]] — Athens recaptures [[Byzantium]], thereby putting and end to its revolt against Athens and taking control of the whole [[Bosporus]]. * 409 BC — The city of [[Rhodes]] is founded. * 409 BC — The Carthaginians invade [[Sicily]]. * [[408 BC]] — The Persian king, [[Darius II of Persia|Darius II]], decides to aid Sparta in the war and makes his son [[Cyrus the Younger|Cyrus]] a [[satrap]]. However, Cyrus starts collecting an army to benefit his own interests, rather than his father's. * 408 BC — [[Alcibiades]] returns to Athens in triumph after an absence of seven years. * [[407 BC]] — The Athenian fleet is routed by the Spartan one in the [[Battle of Notium]], which gives Alcibiades' opponents a reason to strip him of command. He never returns to Athens again. * [[406 BC]] — Athens defeats Sparta in the [[Battle of Arginusae]] and the blockade of [[Conon]] is lifted. * 406 BC — Sparta sues for peace, but Athens rejects this. * 406 BC — The [[Carthage|Carthaginians]] once again invade Sicily and return to Carthage with spoils of war, but also with the plague. * [[405 BC]] — The Spartan king [[Pausanias of Sparta|Pausanias]] lays siege to [[Athens]], which makes the city start starving. * 405 BC — [[Dionysius the Elder]] rises to power in [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]]. He signs a peace with Carthage and starts consolidating and expanding his influence. * [[April 25]] [[404 BC]] — Athens surrenders to Sparta, ending the [[Peloponnesian War]]. Sparta introduces an oligarchic system, the [[Thirty Tyrants]], in Athens. * 404 BC — [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] rebels against Persian rule. * [[403 BC]] — Some exiled Athenians return to fight the Thirty Tyrants and restore democracy in Athens. The are, however, narrowly defeated by the Spartans in the [[Battle of Piraeus]]. After this, the Spartan king [[Pausanias]] allows democracy to be restored in Athens. * 403 BC — [[Thrasybulus]] restores the Athenian democracy and grants an almost general amnesty. * 403 BC — The Athenians adopt the Ionian alphabet. * [[401 BC]] — [[Cyrus the Younger]] rebels against the Persian king [[Artaxerxes II]] but is, however, eventually slain in battle. * [[400 BC]] — After Cyrus has been killed, his Greek mercenaries make their way back to Greece, where Sparta is so impressed with their feats in and march through Persia that they declare war on the Persians. * 400 BC — The Carthaginians occupy [[Malta]]. * 400 BC — The Egyptians successfully revolts against Persian rule. * ca. 400 BC — [[London]] has its origins as far back as this time. ==Significant persons== [[Image:StandingBuddha.jpg|thumb|Standing [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], ancient region of [[Gandhara]], northern [[Pakistan]], 1st century AD, [[Musée Guimet]].]] * [[498 BC]] — death of [[Amyntas I of Macedon|Amyntas I]], king of [[Macedon]]ia *[[Pythagoras]] of [[Samos Island|Samos]], Greek mathematician, discoverer of the [[Pythagorean theorem]] ([[582 BC|582]]–[[496 BC]]) * [[491 BC]] — death of [[Hippocrates of Gela|Hippocrates]], [[Tyrant]] of [[Gela]] *[[Gautama Buddha]], founding figure of [[Buddhism]] (c. [[563 BC|563]]–[[483 BC]]) *[[Confucius]], founding figure of [[Confucianism]] ([[551 BC|551]]–[[August 27]], [[479 BC]]) *[[Mahavira]] of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], the 24th [[Tirthankara]] of [[Jainism]](possibly [[599 BC]]–[[527 BC]]) *[[Aeschylus]] of [[Athens]], [[playwright]] ([[525 BC|525]]–[[456 BC]]) *[[Darius I of Persia|Darius I]], [[History of Persia|King of Persia]] (reigned [[521 BC|521]]–[[485 BC]]) *[[Panini (scholar)|Panini]], [[Hindu]] [[India]]n [[grammarian]], ([[520 BC]]–[[460 BC]]) *[[Sophocles]] of [[Athens]], [[playwright]] ([[496 BC|496]]–[[406 BC]]) *496 BC — death of [[Sun Tzu]], [[military philosopher]] and [[author]] of [[The Art of War]] (most likely a colloquial date) *[[Pericles]] of [[Athens]], [[politician]] (c. [[495 BC|495]]–[[429 BC]]) *[[Zeno of Elea]], [[Hellenic civilization|Greek]] [[philosopher]] ([[495 BC]]–c. [[430 BC]]) *[[Phidias]], [[Hellenic civilization|Greek]] [[sculptor]]([[490 BC]]–c. [[430 BC]]) *[[Empedocles]], [[Hellenic civilization|Greek]] [[philosopher]], ([[490 BC]]–c. [[430 BC]]) *[[489 BC]] — Birth of [[Eudoxus of Cnidus]], early [[mathematician]] and adherent of [[Pythagoras]] [[Dion]], student of [[Plato]] and [[tyrant]] of [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]] *[[488 BC]] — Death of [[Miltiades the Younger|Miltiades]], [[Athenian]] [[general]] *[[Herodotus]] of [[Halicarnassus]], [[historian]] (c. [[485 BC]]) *[[Euripides]] of [[Athens]], [[playwright]] (c. [[480 BC|480]]–[[406 BC]]) *[[479 BC]] — death of [[Mardonius]], [[Persian Empire|Persia]]n [[commander]] at [[Plataea]] *479 BC — death of [[Ephialtes]], [[betrayer]] of [[Greece]] at the [[Battle of Thermopylae]] *[[476 BC]] — death of [[King Jing of Zhou (Ji Gai)|King Jing of Zhou]] / [[Ji Gai]], King of the [[Zhou Dynasty]] of [[China]] *[[475 BC]] — death of [[Heraclitus]] of [[Ephesus]], [[Greece|Greek]] [[philosopher]] *[[Socrates]] of [[Athens]], philosopher ([[470 BC|470]]–[[399 BC]]) *[[470 BC]] — birth of [[Mozi]], [[China|Chinese]] [[philosopher]] (d. c. [[391 BC]]) *c. [[469 BC]] — birth of [[Aspasia]] of [[Miletus]], mistress of [[Pericles]] of [[Athens]] (d. c. [[406 BC]]) *[[469 BC]] — [[King Yuan of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou Dynasty]] of [[China]] *469 BC — death of [[Leotychides]], king of [[Sparta]] *469 BC — death of [[Simonides of Ceos]], [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[Lyric poetry|lyric]] [[poet]] *[[468 BC]] — death of [[Aristides]], [[Athenian]] [[statesman]] *[[465 BC]] death of [[Xerxes I]], king of [[Persian Empire|Persia]] (murder) *[[464 BC]] — death of [[Artabanus of Persia]], [[Regent]] King for [[Artaxerxes I]] *[[461 BC]] — [[Ephialtes]], leader of the [[Extremism|radical]] [[democracy|democrats]], assassinated. *[[Thucydides]], [[grecian|Greek]] [[historian]], ([[460 BC]]–[[395 BC]]) *[[Hippocrates]] of [[Kos|Cos]], [[grecian|Greek]] [[physician]], ([[460 BC]]–[[377 BC]]) *[[Democritus]] of [[Abdera, Thrace|Abdera]], [[grecian|Greek]] [[philosopher]], ([[460 BC]]–[[370 BC]]) *[[459 BC]] — death of [[Pleistarchus]], King of [[Sparta]] *[[451 BC]] — death of [[Verginia]], legendary victim of the [[decemviri]] *c. [[450 BC]] — birth of [[Alcibiades]], [[Athens|Athenian]] [[general]] and [[politician]] *c. 450 BC — death of [[Cimon]], major [[political]] figure in [[Athens]] and the son of [[Miltiades the Younger|Miltiades]] *c. 450 BC — death of [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]], king of [[Macedon]]ia *[[449 BC]] — death of [[Appius Claudius]], former [[decemvir]] (suicide) *449 BC — death of [[Spurius Oppius]], former [[decemvir]](suicide) *[[Aristophanes]] of [[Athens]], [[playwright]] (a. [[446 BC|446]]–[[385 BC]]). *[[446 BC]] — birth of [[Marcus Furius Camillus]], [[Roman Republic|Roman]] [[soldier]] and [[statesman]] (traditional date) *[[443 BC]] — death of [[Pindar]], [[Hellenic Greece|Greek]] [[poet]] *[[442 BC]] — death of [[King Zhending of Zhou]], king of the [[Zhou Dynasty]] of [[China]] *[[437 BC]] — death of [[Volumnius]], [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] ruler, in [[Veii]] *[[436 BC]] — birth of [[Isocrates]], [[Athens|Athenian]] [[orator]] *c. 436 BC — birth of [[Artaxerxes II]], king of [[Persian Empire|Persia]] *[[435 BC]] — birth of [[Philoxenus]] of [[Cythera]], [[Hellenistic civilization|Greek]] [[dithyrambic]] [[poet]] (d. [[380 BC]]). *[[Dionysius I of Syracuse|Dionysius]], [[tyrant]] of [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]] (c. [[432 BC]]–[[367 BC]]). *c. [[430 BC]] — death of [[Empedocles]], [[Hellenic civilization|Greek]] [[philosopher]] *c. 430 BC — death of [[Phidias]], [[Hellenic civilization|Greek]] [[sculptor]] *c. 430 BC — death of [[Zeno of Elea]], [[Hellenic civilization|Greek]] [[philosopher]] *[[Darius II of Persia|Darius II]], king of [[Iran|Persia]] (reigned [[423 BC|423]]–[[404 BC]]) *[[Ezra]] and [[Nehemiah]] active in Judea *[[Tollund Man]], [[Human sacrifice]] victim on the [[Jutland]] [[Peninsula]] in [[Denmark]], possibly the earliest known evidence for worship of [[Odin]] *[[Zengzi]], [[505 BC]]–[[436 BC]], student of Confucius, wrote [[Great Learning]] *[[Zuo Qiuming]], ?-? [[Chinese historiography|Chinese historian]] and author of the ''[[Zuo Zhuan]]''. ==Inventions, discoveries, introductions== *[[Cast iron]] is first used in the Chinese [[Kingdom of Wu]] with the innovation of the [[blast furnace]], and soon becomes widespread for agricultural tools and weapons during the [[Warring States]]. *[[Trebuchet]] [[catapult]] is first used by followers of the Chinese philosopher [[Mozi]]. *The Greeks invent the [[Anchor]] with flukes. *The Greeks start to use shear-leg cranes for construction and loading of ships. *The Greeks invent linear perspective. *The Greeks develop an indirect lost wax process for casting [[bronze]]. *The Chinese [[hydraulic]] engineer [[Ximen Bao]] (西門豹) oversees an enormous [[canal]] system for agricultural [[irrigation]], while employed by [[Marquis Wen of Wei]] (文侯) ([[445 BC]]-[[396 BC]]). *The Chinese philosopher [[Li Kui (legalism)|Li Kui]] writes the ''Book of Law'' (Fajing, 法经) in [[407 BC]], the basis for the law codes of the following [[Qin Dynasty]] and partially that of the [[Han Dynasty]]. ==Decades and years== {{DecadesAndYears}} {{Centuries}} [[Category:1st millennium BC|-5]] [[Category:5th century BC| ]] [[Category:Centuries|-95]] [[af:5de eeu v.C.]] [[ast:Sieglu V edC]] [[az:E.ə. V əsr]] [[bn:খ্রিস্টপূর্ব ৫ম শতাব্দী]] [[be:5 стагоддзе да н.э.]] [[bs:5. vijek p.n.e.]] [[bg:5 век пр.н.е.]] [[ca:Segle V aC]] [[cs:5. století př. n. l.]] [[da:5. århundrede f.Kr.]] [[de:5. Jahrhundert v. Chr.]] [[et:5. sajand eKr]] [[el:5ος αιώνας π.Χ.]] [[es:Siglo V a. C.]] [[eo:5-a jarcento a.K.]] [[eu:K. a. V. mendea]] [[fa:سده ۵ (پیش از میلاد)]] [[fr:Ve siècle av. J.-C.]] [[fy:5e ieu f. Kr.]] [[ko:기원전 5세기]] [[hr:5. stoljeće p. n. e.]] [[io:5ma yar-cento aK]] [[id:Abad ke-5 SM]] [[is:5. öldin f.Kr.]] [[it:V secolo a.C.]] [[he:המאה ה-5 לפנה"ס]] [[ka:ძვ. წ. V საუკუნე]] [[ku:5. sedsala berî zayîne]] [[la:Saeculum 5 a.C.n.]] [[lb:5. Joerhonnert v. Chr.]] [[lt:V amžius pr. m. e.]] [[hu:I. e. 5. század]] [[mr:इ.स.पू.चे ५ वे शतक]] [[ms:Abad ke-5 SM]] [[nl:5e eeuw v.Chr.]] [[nds-nl:5e eeuw v. Chr.]] [[ja:紀元前5世紀]] [[no:5. århundre f.Kr.]] [[nn:400-talet fvt.]] [[uz:Mil. av. V asr]] [[nds:5. Johrhunnert v. Chr.]] [[pl:V wiek p.n.e.]] [[pt:Século V a.C.]] [[ro:Secolul al V-lea î.Hr.]] [[ru:V век до н. э.]] [[sq:Shekulli V p.e.s.]] [[scn:Sèculu V a.C.]] [[sk:5. storočie pred Kr.]] [[sl:5. stoletje pr. n. št.]] [[sr:5. век п. н. е.]] [[su:Abad ka-5 SM]] [[fi:400-luku eaa.]] [[sv:400-talet f.Kr.]] [[tl:Ika-5 siglo BC]] [[tt:MA 5. yöz]] [[tr:M.Ö. 5. yüzyıl]] [[uk:5 століття до н.е.]] [[bat-smg:V omžios pr. Kr.]] [[zh:前5世纪]]