Athens History - Background and Details of a Classical Civilization #749682

For over 5,000 years, Athens has held its name as one of the world's oldest cities. Situated in southern Europe, it ascended to prominence as the capital of Ancient Greece in the first millennium BC, laying the cultural foundations for Western civilization during the remarkable achievements of the 5th century BC.

While experiencing a decline in the early Middle Ages, Athens found rejuvenation under the later Byzantine Empire, thriving notably during the Crusades (12th and 13th centuries) due to flourishing Italian trade. After enduring a significant downturn under Ottoman rule, Athens emerged anew in the nineteenth century as the capital of an independent and self-governing Greek state.

The city's name, associated with the goddess Athena, has roots in an earlier Pre-Greek language.