The island of
Naxos wishes to secede from the
Delian League, but is blockaded by
Athens and forced to surrender.
Naxos becomes a tribute-paying member of the Delian League. This action is considered high-handed and resented by the other Greek city states.
Cimon carries the war against
Persia into
Asia Minor and wins the
Battle of the Eurymedon in
Pamphylia. This is a decisive defeat of the Persians as Cimon's land and sea forces capture the Persian camp and destroy or capture the entire Persian fleet of 200
triremes (manned by
Phoenicians). Many new allies of
Athens are now recruited, such as the trading city of
Phaselis on the
Lycian-Pamphylian border.
King
Xerxes I of the
Persian Empire,[3] together with his eldest son, is murdered by one of his Ministers,
Artabanus the Hyrcanian. The Persian general,
Megabyzus, is thought to have been one of the conspirators in the assassination.
Artabanus gains control of the
Achaemenid state for several months. However, he is betrayed by Megabyzus and is killed by Xerxes' son,
Artaxerxes.
Greece
Thasos revolts from the
Delian League. The revolt arises from rivalry over trade with the
Thracian hinterland and, in particular, over the ownership of a gold mine.
Athens under
Kimon lays siege to Thasos after the Athenian fleet defeats the Thasos fleet
When the
Messenian helots (serfs) revolt against their Spartan masters following the severe earthquake, King
Archidamus II organises the defence of Sparta. The helots fortify themselves at Mount
Ithome.
Persian Empire
Egypt seizes the opportunity created by the murder of
Xerxes I to revolt against
Persia. The revolt is led by
Inaros, a
Libyan, who gains control of the Delta region and is aided by the Athenians.
Artaxerxes I succeeds Xerxes as king of the Persian empire.
The Senate and People of Rome appoint Gaius Aemilius Mamercus
interrex.
Greece
In
Athens, the democratic statesman
Ephialtes and the young
Pericles attempt to get the oligarchic
Kimonostracized for allegedly receiving bribes. Kimon is charged by Pericles and other democratic politicians with having been bribed not to attack the King of
Macedonia (who may have been suspected of covertly helping the
Thasian rebels). Though Kimon is acquitted, his influence on the Athenian people is waning.
Themistocles, who is in exile, approaches the Persian King
Artaxerxes I seeking
Persian help in regaining power in Athens. Artaxerxes is unwilling to help him, but gives him the
satrapy of Magnesia.
After a two year siege,
Thasos falls to the Athenians under Kimon who compels the Thasians to destroy their walls, surrender their ships, pay an indemnity and an annual contribution to Athens.
The
Spartans try to conquer the mountain stronghold of Mt
Ithome in
Messenia, where a large force of rebellious
helots have taken refuge. They ask their allies from the
Persian Wars, including the
Athenians, to help.
Kimon seeks the support of
Athens' citizens providing help to
Sparta. Although
Ephialtes maintains that Sparta is Athens' rival for power and should be left to fend for itself, Kimon's view prevails. Kimon then leads 4,000
hoplites to Mount Ithome.
After an attempt to storm Mt. Ithome fails, the Spartans start to distrust the Athenians over concerns that they may take the side of the helots. Retaining their other allies, the Spartans sent Kimon and his men home. This insulting rebuff causes the collapse of Kimon's popularity at Athens. Outrage over the dismissal swings Athenian opinion towards
Ephialtes' views.
Ephialtes passes a law in the Athenian
ecclesia, which reforms the
Areopagus, limiting its power to judging cases of
homicide and religious crimes. He considers the Areopagus to be the centre of conservatism and Ephialtes' victory is seen as a defeat for the conservatives and the members of the
oligarchy.
Argos, taking advantage of Spartan preoccupation with the revolt of its helots, finally conquers
Mycenae. The inhabitants of the town are dispersed, with some finding their way into
Macedonia.
Ephialtes, with the support of Pericles, reduces the power of the Athenian Council of
Areopagus (filled with ex-
archons and so a stronghold of
oligarchy) and transfers them to the people, i.e. the
Council of Five Hundred, the Assembly and the popular law courts. The office of
Judge is made a paid position and is recruited by lot from a list to which every citizen can have his name added.
Egypt revolts against
Persian rule. The Egyptian leader,
Inaros, asks
Athens for assistance, which is willingly provided as Athens has plans to trade with and colonise Egypt. A force of 200 Athenian
triremes, which is campaigning in Cyprus, is immediately ordered to Egypt to render assistance.
Achaemenes, Persian
satrap (governor) of Egypt, is defeated and slain in a battle at
Papremis, on the banks of the Nile River, by Egyptian forces.
The
First Peloponnesian War breaks out between the
Delian League (led by
Athens) and a Peloponnesian alliance (led by
Sparta), caused in part by Athens' alliance with
Megara and
Argos and the subsequent reaction of Sparta. The Athenians have built long walls for the Megarans to their port at
Nisaea, thereby earning the enmity of Megara's old rival
Corinth.
Argos rises against
Sparta.
Athens supports Argos and
Thessaly. The small force that is sent by Sparta to quell the uprising in Argos is defeated by a joint Athenian and Argos force at
Oenoe. (
Battle of Oenoe)
Ducetius, a
Hellenised leader of the
Siculi, an ancient people of
Sicily, takes advantage of the confusion that follows the collapse of the
tyranny in
Syracuse and other Sicilian states. With the support of the Syracusan democracy, he drives out the colonists of the former tyrant
Hieron from
Catana and restores it to its original inhabitants.
The sculpture Apollo with battling Lapiths and centaurs is built on the west pediment of the
Temple of Zeus in
Olympia (approximate date). Only fragments remain and are today preserved at the
Archaeological museum in Olympia.
A metope relief of Athena, Heracles and Atlas are made on a frieze in the Temple of Zeus in Olympia (approximate date). It is now preserved at the Archaeological museum in Olympia.
A statue of
Apollo is cast (approximate date), of which today remains one leg, preserved at the
Louvre, and the head, known as the
Chatsworth Head, preserved at the
British Museum.