Ancient World
Harmodius and Aristogeiton (514 BC): The Tyrannicides of Athens
Hipparchus was killed but the tyranny of Hippias survived until 510 BC; the killers were later honoured as heroes of Athenian freedom.
Region
Europe
Ancient World
Darius I's Scythian Campaign (513 BC): Persia Beyond the Danube
The Scythians avoided battle and Darius withdrew without conquering them, but Persia secured Thrace and a foothold in Europe.
Ancient World
Founding of the Roman Republic (509 BC): End of the Kings
The monarchy was abolished and power passed to two annually elected consuls, beginning the Roman Republic that lasted until the late 1st century BC.
Ancient World
Cleisthenes and the Birth of Athenian Democracy (508 BC)
Athens adopted a new political order based on ten tribes, local demes and a Council of 500, generally regarded as the beginning of Athenian democracy.
Ancient World
Vix Grave: The Celtic Princess and the Giant Greek Krater
The finds revealed close contacts between Celtic elites and the Greek world and are displayed in the museum at Châtillon-sur-Seine.
Ancient World
Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC): The Spark of the Persian Wars
Persian victory; the revolt was crushed after the naval Battle of Lade and the sack of Miletus in 494 BC, and Darius turned against Athens and Eretria.
Ancient World
First Secession of the Plebs (494 BC) and the Tribunes
The plebeians returned after the patricians agreed to create sacrosanct tribunes of the plebs to protect them, opening the Conflict of the Orders.
Ancient World
Battle of Marathon (490 BC): How Athens Stopped Persia
Athenian victory; the first Persian invasion of Greece was repelled.
Ancient World
Ostracism in Athens (487 BC): Voting to Exile Leaders
A democratic procedure that exiled about a dozen known politicians for ten years before falling out of use in the late 5th century BC.
Ancient World
Battle of Himera (480 BC): Sicilian Greeks Defeat Carthage
Decisive Greek victory; Hamilcar was killed, Carthage paid an indemnity and did not invade Greek Sicily again until 409 BC.
Ancient World
Battle of Artemisium (480 BC): The Sea Fight Beside Thermopylae
Indecisive; both fleets suffered heavy losses, and the Greeks withdrew to Salamis after news that Thermopylae had fallen.
Ancient World
Battle of Salamis (480 BC): The Naval Victory That Saved Greece
Decisive Greek victory; the Persian fleet was crippled and Xerxes returned to Asia, leaving an army that was defeated at Plataea in 479 BC.