Athens Introduction

Athens (Greek: Αθήνα) is the capital and largest city in Greece. Athens is one of the world s oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning back 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state that emerged in conjunction with the seagoing development of the Port of Piraeus.

Release time : 2016-06-07 18:12:05

source : WTCF

reforms of Solon. It paved the way for the eventual introduction of democracy by Cleisthenes in 508 BC.

In the Greco-Persian Wars, Athens defeated the Persians at Marathon in 490 BC. However, this did not prevent Athens from being captured by the Persians within one year, after a heroic resistance by Spartans led by King Leonidas. The decades that followed became known as the Golden Age of Athenian democracy, during which time Athens became the leading city of Ancient Greece, with its cultural achievements laying the foundations of Western civilization. During Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), Athens was defeated by its rival Sparta.

By the end of Late Antiquity, the city experienced decline followed by recovery in the second half of the Middle Byzantine Period, in the 9th to 10th centuries AD, and was relatively prosperous during the Crusades, benefiting from Italian trade. In 1458 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and entered a long period of decline.

Following the Greek War of Independence and the establishment of the Greek Kingdom, Athens was chosen as the capital of the newly independent Greek state in 1834. In 1896 Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games. A democratic and republican constitution was promulgated in June 1975 following a referendum which chose to not restore the monarchy. In 2004 Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Natural environment

Athens sprawls across the central plain of Attica that is often referred to as the Athens or Attica Basin. The basin is bounded by four large mountains: Mount Aegaleo to the west, Mount Parnitha to the north, Mount Penteli to the northeast and Mount Hymettus to the east. Beyond Mount Aegaleo lies the Thriasian plain, which forms an extension of the central plain to the west. The Saronic Gulf lies to the southwest.

Athens is built around a number of hills. Lycabettus is one of the tallest hills of the city proper and provides a view of the entire Attica Basin.

Climate

Athens has a