Athens

Athens was a state in Balkans and Greece (Europe) that lasted from 508 to 322 BCE, about 186 years. Its people spoke Greek languages (Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, modern Greek).

Cleisthenes made Athens a democracy in 508 BCE. It led the Delian League, built the Parthenon and was home to Socrates and Plato. It lost the Peloponnesian War in 404 BCE and its democracy to Macedon in 322.

See Athens on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: 508 to 322 BCE
Duration: 186 years
Type: State
Region: Balkans and Greece, Europe
Language family: Greek
Capital: Athens

Events in Europe during its time

508 BCE Athenian democracy
480 BCE Battle of Salamis
334 BCE Alexander invades Persia

Neighbours in Europe

Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE
Empire of Alexander the Great 336 to 323 BCE
Sparta c. 900 to 192 BCE
Etruscan civilization c. 720 to 90 BCE
Kingdom of Macedon c. 700 to 168 BCE
Syracuse c. 734 to 212 BCE
Bosporan Kingdom c. 480 BCE to 370 CE
Phoenician colonies in Iberia c. 800 to 237 BCE
Massalia c. 600 to 49 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE, South Asia
Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE, Middle East

Questions

When did Athens exist?

508 to 322 BCE, about 186 years.

Where was Athens?

Balkans and Greece, in Europe. Its capital was Athens.

What language did Athens speak?

Greek. This family includes Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine, modern Greek.