The 5th century BCE was marked by Persian Wars, rise of Athens, and early philosophical development in Greece.

• Major Events
  1. Persian Wars (499–449 BCE)
  2. Death of Socrates (399 BCE)
• Major Empires
  1. Achaemenid Empire (Persia)
  2. Greek City-States
• Major Conflicts
  1. Battle of Marathon (490 BCE)
  2. Peloponnesian War begins (431 BCE)
• Population Trends
  1. Growth of Athens and Sparta
  2. Urbanization in Greek city-states
• Key Leaders
  1. Pericles (Athens)
  2. Xerxes I (Persia)
• Key Intellectuals
  1. Socrates (Philosophy)
  2. Herodotus (History)
• Major Religions
  1. Greek Polytheism
  2. Zoroastrianism
• Currency
  1. Greek Drachma
  2. Persian Daric