5th century BC

Millennium: 1st millennium BC
Centuries: 6th century BC · 5th century BC · 4th century BC
Decades: 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC
440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC
Categories: Births – Deaths
Establishments – Disestablishments

The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC.

Contents

Overview

The Parthenon of Athens seen from the hill of the Pnyx to the west. Location 23°43'35.69"E 37°58'17.39"N

This century saw the beginning of a period of philosophical brilliance among Western civilizations, particularly the Greeks which would continue all the way through the 4th century until the time of Alexander the Great. Ancient Greek philosophy developed during the 5th century BC, setting the foundation for Western ideology. In Athens and elsewhere in the Mediterranean world, the 5th century marked a high point in the development of political institutions, art, architecture, and literature.

The century was also notable for the Persian Wars, fought between the Greek cities, and the vast Persian Empire. Determined to punish Athens for supporting a revolt by conquered Greek cities in Asia Minor, King Darius I sent several armies against them, only to have his plans first thwarted by a storm and later by a defeat at the Battle of Marathon. His son Xerxes attempted to finish the job 10 years later, and succeeded in capturing Athens and burning it to the ground, only to be defeated later on land at Plataea. In the latter part of the century the Greeks became locked in a bitter war among themselves, with the major cities Athens and Sparta competing for absolute domination. The Spartans were victorious in this battle.

Events

490s BC

480s BC

470s BC

460s BC

450s BC

440s BC

430s BC

420s BC

410s BC

400s BC

Significant persons

Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century AD, Musée Guimet.

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

Decades and years

Decades and years

5th century BC
7th century BC←6th century BC← ↔ →4th century BC→3rd century BC

509–500 BC 509 BC 508 BC 507 BC 506 BC 505 BC 504 BC 503 BC 502 BC 501 BC 500 BC
490s BC 499 BC 498 BC 497 BC 496 BC 495 BC 494 BC 493 BC 492 BC 491 BC 490 BC
480s BC 489 BC 488 BC 487 BC 486 BC 485 BC 484 BC 483 BC 482 BC 481 BC 480 BC
470s BC 479 BC 478 BC 477 BC 476 BC 475 BC 474 BC 473 BC 472 BC 471 BC 470 BC
460s BC 469 BC 468 BC 467 BC 466 BC 465 BC 464 BC 463 BC 462 BC 461 BC 460 BC
450s BC 459 BC 458 BC 457 BC 456 BC 455 BC 454 BC 453 BC 452 BC 451 BC 450 BC
440s BC 449 BC 448 BC 447 BC 446 BC 445 BC 444 BC 443 BC 442 BC 441 BC 440 BC
430s BC 439 BC 438 BC 437 BC 436 BC 435 BC 434 BC 433 BC 432 BC 431 BC 430 BC
420s BC 429 BC 428 BC 427 BC 426 BC 425 BC 424 BC 423 BC 422 BC 421 BC 420 BC
410s BC 419 BC 418 BC 417 BC 416 BC 415 BC 414 BC 413 BC 412 BC 411 BC 410 BC
409–400 BC 409 BC 408 BC 407 BC 406 BC 405 BC 404 BC 403 BC 402 BC 401 BC 400 BC
390s BC 399 BC 398 BC 397 BC 396 BC 395 BC 394 BC 393 BC 392 BC 391 BC 390 BC
Centuries and millennia
Millennium Century
BCE (BC)
4th 40th 39th 38th 37th 36th 35th 34th 33rd 32nd 31st
3rd 30th 29th 28th 27th 26th 25th 24th 23rd 22nd 21st
2nd 20th 19th 18th 17th 16th 15th 14th 13th 12th 11th
1st 10th 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
CE (AD)
1st 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
2nd 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th
3rd 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th
4th 31st 32nd 33rd 34th 35th 36th 37th 38th 39th 40th