Athens – the Sea empire of Ancient Greece

In search of places in Greece and discovery its natural beauties there is no how to skip the cultural and economic development of Athens. The name of the capital comes from the guardian of the city – Greek goddess Athens. The city has become a tourist center offering various destinations. By renting a yacht from AA Charter you will enjoy a memorable vacation in the Greek islands.

The history of Athens continues to be one of the most important cities for several centuries. It is inhabited at least 7 thousand years without interruption. The oldest traces of people refer to the period of the eleventh Millennium b.c. In Ancient times the settlement became one of the centers of Mycenaean civilization. Therefore the Acropolis was built the fortress, from which are preserved plots of Cyclopean masonry that can be seen today. In the next century the city declined and the Athenians have always believed they are pure Ionians without impurities from invaders.

After 900 b.c. Athens is becoming a leading center of trade and business is experiencing an upswing. The funerals was especially rich during the Iron age. The heyday of the city can be attributed to its Central location also it is a reliable fortress of the Acropolis and its easy access to the sea – an advantage over rivals, as Thebes and Sparta. In the VI century b.c. Athens becomes a significant naval power with a large fleet and help for the rebellion of the Greek cities in Asia Minor against the Persian Empire. In the end Athens along with Sparta managed to win and headed a coalition of Greek cities. Decades after that a large part of Greece was invaded and sacked by the Persians.

 

The most important city after this period again recovers and there begins a Golden age of Athens, who laid the foundations of Western civilization. During this prosperous period was creating the greatest playwrights – Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, the philosopher Socrates, the doctor Hippocrates, and the historians Herodotus and Thucydides. The city begins the reconstruction of the Acropolis including the Parthenon temple, led by Pericles. Athens builds and new own sea Empire –called Delian Maritime Union. At the end of V-th century b.c. Athens was defeated by its rival Sparta and dealing a political blow.

There is also huge interest from the Macedonian Kingdom for the big cities in Greece. The army of king Philip II put an end to the independence of Athens and Thebes in 338 b.c. Powerful shock applied and also and the Roman Republic in 146 b.c. The fortifications of the city was destroyed for many years. Under the rule of the Romans Athens continued to be an important cultural centre, famous by its schools. In the second century the Emperor Hadrian began the construction of public buildings and an aqueduct that is used in this days.

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