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Historians have not yet established the date Athens was founded but physical evidence documents a continuous human presence since at least 1,000 B.C. It was named after the Ancient Greek goddess [[Athena]] and it was one of leading city-states of Ancient Greece having a long running rivalry with [[Sparta]].  The city of Athens was taken by the [[Persians]] in 480 B.C. during their war with Greece but was reclaimed near the end of the war.

Historians have not yet established the date Athens was founded but physical evidence documents a continuous human presence since at least 1,000 B.C. It was named after the Ancient Greek goddess [[Athena]] and it was one of leading city-states of Ancient Greece having a long running rivalry with [[Sparta]].  The city of Athens was taken by the [[Persians]] in 480 B.C. during their war with Greece but was reclaimed near the end of the war.

The Western notion of [[Democracy]] first developed in Athends in the 6th century BC. Since that time, until the end of Antiquity in 5th c. A.D. it was a major center of Philosophy, Sciences, and the Arts.  Later becoming Christian under [[Roman]] rule, the closure of the [[Plato]]'s Academy by [[Justinian]] (because of its association with paganism) marked the final turning from the ancient ways. Intellectual and artistic activity continued during the [[Byzantine]] period and masterpieces of Byzantine architecture are still to be seen in Athens.  

The Western notion of [[Democracy]] first developed in Athens in the 6th century BC. Since that time, until the end of Antiquity in 5th c. A.D. it was a major center of Philosophy, Sciences, and the Arts.  Later becoming Christian under [[Roman]] rule, the closure of the [[Plato]]'s Academy by [[Justinian]] (because of its association with paganism) marked the final turning from the ancient ways. Intellectual and artistic activity continued during the [[Byzantine]] period and masterpieces of Byzantine architecture are still to be seen in Athens.  

Athens re-emerged in the 19th century as the capital of the independent Greek state even though it was little more than a village. The main reason for that is that Athens represented Ancient Greece which was the main (if not the only) period of Greek History that interested the West at the time. Since then Athens has grown enormously, its population receiving a boost with the arrival of refugees expelled from [[Turkey]] in the 20's.  

Athens re-emerged in the 19th century as the capital of the independent Greek state even though it was little more than a village. The main reason for that is that Athens represented Ancient Greece which was the main (if not the only) period of Greek History that interested the West at the time. Since then Athens has grown enormously, its population receiving a boost with the arrival of refugees expelled from [[Turkey]] in the 20's.