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Important events in the development of Athens and Sparta

By EvaShan
  • 725 BCE

    Sparta: dominate Messenians

    The Messenians became helots (HEHL•uhts), peasants forced to stay on the land they worked.
  • 650 BCE

    Sparta: Messenians revolution

    The Spartans, who were outnumbered eight to one, just barely put down the revolt. Shocked at their vulnerability, they dedicated themselves to making Sparta a strong city-state.
  • 621 BCE

    Athen: Draco's code

    Draco developed a legal code based on the idea that all Athenians, rich and poor, were equal under the law.
  • 594 BCE

    Athen: Solon democratic reform

    He organized all Athenian citizens into four social classes according to wealth. Only members of the top three classes could hold political office. However, all citizens, regardless of class, could participate in the Athenian assembly.
  • 500 BCE

    Athen: Cleisthenes reform

    He broke up the power of the nobility by organizing citizens into ten groups based on where they lived rather than on their wealth.
    He also increased the power of the assembly by allowing all citizens to submit laws for debate and passage.
    Council of Five Hundred
  • Period: 499 BCE to 449 BCE

    The Persian War

    The Persian Wars, between Greece and the Persian Empire, began in Ionia on the coast of Anatolia.