5th century BC

This period saw Mahavira and Buddha spreading their respective teachings in the northern plains of India.

The life of Socrates represented a major milestone in Greek philosophy though his teachings only survive through the work of his students, most notably Plato and Xenophon.

The tragedians Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, as well as the comedian Aristophanes all date from this era and many of their works are still considered classics of the western theatrical canon.

Meanwhile, Athens counter-attacked, liberating Greek subjects of the Persian Empire up and down the Ionian coast and mobilizing a new coalition, the Delian League.

Tensions between Athens, and its growing imperialistic ambitions as leader of the Delian League, and the traditionally dominant Sparta led to a protracted stalemate in the Peloponnesian War.

The Parthenon in Athens, a symbol of Ancient Greece and Western Philosophy.
Map of the Eastern Hemisphere in 500 BC, the beginning of the fifth century BC.
Map of the world in 400 BC, the end of the fifth century BC.