Major events between the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars
| 478 | Pausanias, Spartan regent, leads Hellenic League fleet, capturing Cyprus & Byzantium from Persians. Founding of Delian League dominated by Athens |
| 470s | Themistocles ostracized for Medism, lived in Argos, then fled to Persia |
| 460s | Cimon, commanded operations at Eion, Skyros & Thasos, was most powerful man in Athens. Cimon favored Sparta over Persians |
| 469 to 399 | Socrates, called the "moral" philosopher, born in Athens, the son of a sculptor and a midwife; Plato was his student |
| 465 | Artaxerxes becomes Persian king, gives Themistocles asylum |
| 464 | Earthquake at Sparta and revolt of Messenia |
| 463 | Thasos seceded from Delian League and is captured by Athens |
| 462 | Ephialtes, opponent of Cimon, reforms Athenian courts - Several popular courts, jury of 500 over 30 years of age. Each case was brought before an archon that gave a preliminary hearing. Procedures for hearing complaints against retiring magistrates from archons to courts. |
| 462 | Athenians Cimon ostracized and Ephilates murdered |
| 462 | Sparta appeals for help with the Messinian Revolt from Athens. Cimon leads Athenian force to Messenia but is spurned by Spartans |
| 461 to 429 | The "Golden Age of Pericles." Pericles, born 490, passed proposal introducing pay for jurors. Pericles preferred to make peace with Persians and oppose Spartans |
| 460 to 446 | 1st Peloponnesian War due to rejection of aid to Sparta in 462 and alliance with Thessaly, Megara & Argos, at war with Sparta. Indecisive outcome. |
| 460 to 454 | Athens and allies send fleet of 200 to conquer Egypt from Persians. Expelled in 454. Greatest disaster for Delian League |
| 460 to 451 | War between Argos and Sparta |
| 457 | Pericles commands Athens at battle of Tanagra against Sparta, first direct battle. Spartan victory at Tanagra, Athenian victories at Boetia & Aegina |
| 454 | Transfer of Delian League treasury to Athens. Disaffection of League allies from 454 to 450. Miletus revolts |
| 451 | Five year truce between Athens & Sparta |
| 450 | Cimon leads 200 ships against Persians in Egypt and Cyprus. Cimon dies in battle, no further large scale battles between Delian League and Persians. "Peace of Callias?" |
| 450 to 400 | Thucydides, historian of Peloponesean Wars |
| 447 to 433 | Parthenon built |
| 446 | 1st Peloponessian War ends. Thirty Years Peace. Parties swore to abide peacefully for 30 years. |
| 444 | Ostracism between Thucydides and Pericles Former ostracized. |
| 443 to 428 | Pericles hold office of general |
| 440s | Samos & Byzantium Revolt from Delian League suppressed by Pericles |
| 438 | Statue of Athene Parthenos created by Phidias set up in Parthenon |
| 437 | Prosecution of Phidias by enemies of Pericles.. First accused of stealing gold from statue of Athena, then of impiety for putting likeness of himself and Pericles' on Athena's Shield. |