ancient athens

Athens was the largest and most influential of the Greek city-states. It had many fine buildings and was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. The Athenians invented democracy, a new type of government where every citizen could vote on important issues, such as whether or not to declare war.

1. What are 5 facts about Athens?
2. What was ancient Athens like?
3. Why did ancient Athens fall?
4. How long did ancient Athens last?
5. Is Athens rich?
6. What Athens is famous for?
7. Who destroyed Athens?
8. Did Athens have slaves?
9. What made Athens so powerful?
10. Is Athens older than Rome?
11. What was bad about ancient Athens?
12. Who built Athens?

What are 5 facts about Athens?

15 Incredible Facts About Athens

• Athens is Europe's oldest capital. ...
• Athens has experienced almost every form of government. ...
• If it weren't for an olive tree, Poseidon might have been the city's patron. ...
• The ancient Olympic games were never held in Athens. ...
• Athens is home to the first known democracy. ...
• Athens has the most theatrical stages in the world.

What was ancient Athens like?

Athens was the largest and most powerful Greek state. It was a city with lots of beautiful public buildings, shops and public baths. The people of Athens lived below the Acropolis (rocky hill). The marble Parthenon, a temple, (see picture above) was built on the highest part of the Acropolis.

Why did ancient Athens fall?

Three major causes of the rise and fall of Athens were its democracy, its leadership, and its arrogance. The democracy produced many great leaders, but unfortunately, also many bad leaders. Their arrogance was a result of great leadership in the Persian Wars, and it led to the end of Athenian power in Greece.

How long did ancient Athens last?

The History of Athens is one of the longest of any city in Europe and in the world. Athens has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years, becoming the leading city of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC; its cultural achievements during the 5th century BC laid the foundations of western civilization.

Is Athens rich?

In the fifth century B.C., Athens was one of the richest and most powerful city-states in Greece. ... Remarkably, ancient writers said the Athenian reserves could, at times, reach up to 10,000 talents (potentially 260 metric tons).

What Athens is famous for?

Athens, Modern Greek Athínai, Ancient Greek Athēnai, historic city and capital of Greece. Many of Classical civilization's intellectual and artistic ideas originated there, and the city is generally considered to be the birthplace of Western civilization. The Acropolis and surrounding area, Athens.

Who destroyed Athens?

The Achaemenid destruction of Athens was accomplished by the Achaemenid Army of Xerxes I during the Second Persian invasion of Greece, and occurred in two phases over a period of two years, in 480-479 BCE.

Did Athens have slaves?

Slavery was common in antiquity, and the Athenians used thousands of slaves in their private homes, factories, and mines, and also as civil servants. Slaves were usually captured in war and came from all over the Mediterranean, including other Greek cities.

What made Athens so powerful?

Athens developed democratic institutions and a culture of philosophy, science, and culture; it emerged as a powerful state and allied with other city-states, forming the Delian League. Resistance to Athens' power among the other Greek city-states, particularly Sparta, prompted the Peloponnesian War.

Is Athens older than Rome?

Athens is seriously old having been founded somewhere between 3000 and 5000 years BC. However Ancient Rome didn't spring into life until at least a couple of millennia after the heyday of the great early civilisations in Greece and Egypt.

What was bad about ancient Athens?

Athenian democracy also was cumbersome and operated slowly. It took longer to make political decisions than some of the city-states that operated oligarchies did. The government was also corrupted and dominated by the elite of the city-state.

Who built Athens?

The first settlement of Athens 3000 BC was situated on the rock of Acropolis. According to the tradition, Athens was founded, when the king Theseus united in a state several settlements of Attica. The last king of ancient Athens was Kodros, who sacrificed his life in order to save the homeland.