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The Athenian Democracy

By Santiagou
  • 508 BCE

    Foundation of democracy in Athens

    Cleisthens establishes democracy in Athens in 509- 508 BC. Previous to that, the form of government was an oligarchy
  • 499 BCE

    Ionia rebellion

    Ionia rebels against the Persians and asks for Greece's help. With led to the start of the Greco-Persian wars.
  • 494 BCE

    Birth of Pericles

    Pericles, great nephew of Cleisthenes, is born in 494 BCE.
  • Period: 494 BCE to 429 BCE

    Pericles establishes the Misthophoria in 5th century BC

    The misthophoria is the institutionalized remuneration of Ancient Athens citizens, who temporarily left their
    jobs to participate in public services. It was first established in the 5th century BC by Pericles for citizens who held the
    positions of jurors. It allowed for the average Athenian citizen to perform public duties without having to rely or be dependent on the wealthiest.
  • Period: 492 BCE to 490 BCE

    First Persian invasion of Greece

    The first Persian invasion of Greece began in 492 BC and reached its peak in 490 BC with the battle
    of Marathon where the Persians were defeated.
  • 480 BCE

    Second Persian invasion of Greece

    Xerxes(Darius' son) leads the second Persian invasion of Greece. The victory over the allied Greek city states at the Battle of Thermopylae allowed the Persians to torch Athens and overrun most of Greece. However the Persians suffered a severe defeat at the Battle of Salamis.
  • 478 BCE

    Establishment of the Delian League

    Athens creates, in 478 BCE, the Delian League. A military and political alliance between voluntary cities.
    The members of the alliance had to pay tribute, called Phoros, to Athens. Sparta and Peloponnesian cities did not join the alliance.
  • 478 BCE

    Athens confiscates the League's treasure

    In 478 BC, Athens confiscated the League’s treasure (to perceive and decide of the Phoros)
  • 454 BCE

    The treasure is transferred to the Parthenon

    The treasure was transferred to the Parthenon. The Boule decided the Phoros and its amount
    every 4 years. It was collected during the Panathenaic festivities.
  • Period: 445 BCE to 440 BCE

    Athens imposes units of money and weight

    Athens imposed its units of money and weight(drachma), with secured its commercial domination.
  • 441 BCE

    205 cities pay the Phoros

  • 435 BCE

    The Odeon of Athens is built and then remodeled.

    The Delian League phoros allowed Pericles to be able to construct new edifices or remodel ruined ones, such as the Odeon of Athens. It was first built in 435 BC by Pericles for the musical contests that
    formed part of the Panathenaea. The Acropolis (destroyed in 480 BC) was renovated with the treasure of
    the Delian league. These works gave employment and stimulated commerce.
  • Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

    The Peloponnesian War

    The tyranny that Athens imposed on its allies weakens its strength to face the Peloponnesian
    League. The Peloponnesian War was won by Sparta.
  • 338 BCE

    Victory of the Macedonians at the battle of Cheronea

    The Macedonians led by Philip II of Macedon (father of
    Alexander the Great) won at the battle of Cheronea which marked the end of Athens’ golden age.
  • 332 BCE

    Democracy is abolished in Athens

    Democracy was restored for a short period of
    time after the war and is definitely abolished in 322 BC. This due to the fact that Philip II of Macedon integrated Athens to his
    Empire. This led to the establishment of a plutocracy, a form of government were there is an elite or ruling class whose power derives from their
    wealth.