What happened in the 5th century BC

World19

• 499 BCAristagoras instigates the Ionian Revolt, beginning the Persian Wars between Greece and Persia.
• 496 BCSophocles is born.
• 492 BCFirst 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.
• 490 BCThe Battle of Marathon, where Darius I of Persia is defeated by the Athenians and Plataeans under Miltiades
• 480 BCKing Xerxes I of Persia sets out to conquer Greece.
• 480 BCBattle of Himera—The Carthaginians under Hamilcar are defeated by the Greeks of Sicily, led by Gelon of Syracuse.
• 479 BCThe Battle of Plataea, the Greeks defeat the Persians, ending the Persian Wars.
• 479 BCBattle of Mycale.
• August 11, 480 BC: The Battle of Thermopylae, a costly victory by Persians over the Greeks.
• September 23, 480 BC: Battle of Salamis between Greece and Persia, leading to a Greek victory.
• The biblical book of Genesis may have been written, according to scholars.
• August, 480 BC: Battle of Artemisium—The Persian fleet fights an inconclusive battle with the Greek allied fleet.
• 450 BCWars of the Delian League: Athenians under Cimon defeat the Persian fleet.
• 430 BCThe philosopher Xenophon is born.
• 427 BCThe leaders of the Mytilenian revolt are executed.

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Europe48

• 490 BCPhidippides runs 40 kilometers from Marathon to Athens to announce the news of the Greek victory; origin of the marathon long-distance race.
• 480 BCCimon and his friends burn horse-bridles as an offering to Athena and join the marines
• 480 BCPleistarchus succeeds his father Leonidas I as king of Sparta.
• 480 BCRoman troops march against the Veientines.
• 479 BCPotidaea is struck by a tsunami.
• April 25, 404 BC: Athens surrenders to Sparta, ending the Peloponnesian War. Sparta introduces an oligarchic system, the Thirty Tyrants, in Athens.
• 435 BCThe Statue of Zeus at Olympia by Phidias, one of the seven wonders of the world, is completed.
• 431 BCThe Peloponnesian War begins between Sparta and Athens and their allies.
• 429 BCBattle of Chalcis—Chalcidians and their allies are defeated by Athens.
• 429 BCBattle of Naupactus—Phormio defeats the Peloponnesian fleet.
• 429 BCAn outbreak of a plague kills over one-third of the population of Athens.
• 427 BCPlatea surrenders to the Spartans, who execute over 200 prisoners and destroy the city.
• 427 BCThe Athenians intervene in Sicily to blockade Sparta from the island.
• 406 BCAthens defeats Sparta in the Battle of Arginusae and the blockade of Conon is lifted.
• 406 BCSparta sues for peace, but Athens rejects this.

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Asia8

• 500 BCFoundation of first republic in Vaishali Bihar India.
• 500 BCSa Huynh-Kalanay Interaction Sphere extensive trade network started between the Sa Huynh and the Philippines and later expanded to Taiwan, Southern Thailand, and northeastern Borneo.
• 484 BCXerxes I abolishes the Kingdom of Babel and removes the golden statue of Bel (Marduk, Merodach).
• 479 BCChinese philosopher Confucius dies.
• 475 BCKing Xuan of Zhou becomes King of the Zhou dynasty.
• 5th century BC (disputed)The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) founds BuddhismHe reached enlightenment in northern India and taught. Whether he lived in the 6th or 5th century BC is still debated.
• 403 BCThe Chinese state of Jin is divided into three smaller nations.
• 403 BCThe first hydraulic engineering in China for a large irrigation canal system is designed by Ximen Bao.

Middle East8

• 500 BCRefugees from Teos resettle Abdera.
• 500 BCDarius I of Persia proclaims that Aramaic be the official language of the western half of his empire.
• 499 BCAristagoras, acting on behalf of the Persian Empire, leads a failed attack on the rebellious island of Naxos.
• 494 BCThe Battle of Lade, where Persians take back Ionia.
• 484 BCPersians regain control of Egypt.
• 465 BCKing Xerxes I of the Persian Empire is murdered by Artabanus the Hyrcanian. He is succeeded by Artaxerxes I, possibly with Artabanus acting as Regent.
• 404 BCEgypt rebels against Persian rule.
• 401 BCCyrus the Younger rebels against the Persian king Artaxerxes II but is, however, eventually slain in battle.

Africa3

• 500 BCBantu-speaking people migrate into south-west Uganda from the west (approximate date).
• 406 BCThe Carthaginians once again invade Sicily and return to Carthage with spoils of war, but also with the plague.
• 405 BCDionysius the Elder rises to power in Syracuse. He signs a peace with Carthage and starts consolidating and expanding his influence.