The Golden Age of Athens refers to a period of cultural and political flourishing in the 5th century BCE.

This era began after the Greek victory in the Persian Wars and ended with the Peloponnesian War.

It was dominated by the influential statesman and general, Pericles, who championed democracy.

Athens became the leader of the Delian League, an alliance of Greek city-states, which it effectively turned into an Athenian empire.

Wealth from the empire's treasury was used to fund a massive public building program in Athens.

This program included the construction of the magnificent temples on the Acropolis, most notably the Parthenon.

The period saw a remarkable flourishing of arts and philosophy.

It was the era of the great tragic playwrights Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

The philosopher Socrates was active during this time, questioning the citizens of Athens.

This age of Athenian power and cultural achievement created resentment among other Greek states, particularly Sparta.